Except for Phuentshogling, lockdown in thromdes and satellite towns in southern districts has been lifted from today. This is following a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The southern bordering districts went under lockdown on Friday, last week, after a son and mother tested positive in Phuentshogling from the community.
As per the press release shared by the PMO today, it stated that the lifting of lockdown is following the outcome of enhanced surveillance in the last three days. Except for Phuentshogling, the rest of the southern bordering towns did not detect any positive cases till today.
Following the press release from the PMO, the East COVID-19 TaskForce lifted the lockdown after lunch in areas under its jurisdiction. The areas are Samdrup Jongkhar thromde which includes Dewathang town, Samdrupcholing satellite town, Samrang Gewog, and Jomotsangkha satellite town. Likewise, Pangbang satellite town in Zhemgang and Nganglam satellite town under Pema Gatshel also fall under the same jurisdiction. Nearly 1,500 individuals were tested in these bordering areas under the eastern region.
Similarly, the Sarpang district also lifted the lockdown from midday today. Earlier the District COVID-19 Taskforce imposed lockdown in Gelegphu thromde, Sheychamthang, Sarpang Tar satellite town, and four gewogs along the Sarpang-Gelegphu highway and Gelegphu Gewog. More than a thousand people were tested for the virus in the last three days.
However, unlike other districts, Samtse Dzongkhag has taken a cautious approach to unlock. In a notification issued earlier, people were allowed to travel within the district from 3 PM today except to Tading Gewog. Tading Gewog has been identified as a buffer zone between Phuentshogling and Samtse. However, people in Tading Gewog can move within the gewog area. Likewise, the district also put a halt to all sporting activities, including the gym. More than 2,500 tests were conducted in the district.
As per the press release, since the lockdown, last week, nearly 10,000 individuals were tested across the country. Meanwhile, the PMO also stated that the surveillance will be intensified across the country and frequent mass testing will be initiated in the coming days.
Kinley Dem
