As a step-up measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to assess the situations, all inter-district travel for both vehicles and people is restricted starting today. The Royal Bhutan Police issued a notification early this morning. According to the notification, only vehicles ferrying essentials and fuel will be allowed to move with movement passes.
With increasing cases of COVID-19 in Thimphu and Paro, other districts across the country are implementing restrictions on gatherings and banning all sporting activities.
In Trongsa, intradistrict travel is allowed, except for a few villages. However, social gatherings and sporting activities are strictly banned from yesterday. People who entered the district after 19th December are also home quarantined and being monitored strictly.
Similarly, in Samtse, the dzongkhag COVID-19 Taskforce has suspended all sporting activities, starting this morning. However, travel within the dzongkhag is still allowed.
‘’We have issued a notification on restriction on all sorts of mass gathering such as celebration, marriages, and festivals,’’ said Passang Dorji, the Samtse Dzongdag. However, for religious activities and rituals, people have been instructed to arrange lams from their respective gewogs.
Similarly in Bumthang, social gatherings and sporting events have been strictly restricted since Sunday.
In Wangdue Phodrang, the dzongkhag administration has served a public notice which suspended archery. it is one of the common sporting activities in the dzongkhag. however, vehicles on official duty were allowed to travel within the district since this morning.
Likewise, in Tsirang, people who have travelled to Thimphu after 7th December are all being tested. The dzongkhag COVID-19 Taskforce is also ensuring that all the health and safety norms and preventive measures are strictly followed.
Meanwhile, the health ministry has notified the general public to visit flu clinics, only if individuals are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Tshering Dendup