The mass testing in Thimphu Thromde started from the south Mega Zone today. About 6,600 samples were collected today. The testing will continue in the Core 2 Mega Zone tomorrow. Meanwhile, a series of community screenings for COVID-19 to determine the epidemiological status is happening in other parts of the country as well.
A total of 31 health teams in coordination with DeSuups are carrying out the tests. At least one person from every household in the capital is being tested.
According to a Press Release from the Prime Minister’s Office, it is an important move towards understanding Thimphu’s epidemiological status and tracking down any residual COVID-19 cases.
The office also cautioned that any household found dodging the tests will not be tolerated and will be dealt with separately.
The Mega Zones without positive cases will attain the “green” status and open up for all activities within that Mega Zone and beyond after the testing process is complete. If any positive cases are detected, the existing protocol of identifying red buildings and clusters for focused outbreak management will be followed.
Meanwhile, transitional testing besides the daily enhanced surveillance and symptomatic testing is being carried out in other districts to determine the epidemiological status of districts and areas to graduate to the next colour code.
The samples collected will help design an effective path ahead amid the pandemic.
As of today, there are nine red districts that include Sarpang, Tsirang, Dagana, Chhukha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Samtse and Pema Gatshel.
Only Thimphu is under the yellow category. The remaining ten districts are all green districts.
Kinzang Lhadon
