Despite limited resources, Bhutan reported no coronavirus fatalities so far. While the most advanced countries across the globe report spiking cases along with deaths every day, Bhutan has succeeded in averting deaths from the deadly virus.
Bhutan is located between the two giants, China in the north where the virus originated and India in the south which is now the country with third highest cases. Bhutan’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, however, has been a success story with only imported cases and no community transmission. While Bhutan has no community transmission, the country also does not have any deaths from the pandemic.
Dr Tshokey, the Clinical Microbiologist with the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital says one of the reasons Bhutan recorded no fatalities is because all patients were young and able to fight the virus. “Scientifically, although anyone can get infected by the virus, elderly people have more risk from the virus including death. All our patients are young mostly between the ages of 25 and 35. Our oldest Bhutanese patient was a 40-year-old man and no one fell severely sick,” he said.
He said except for the index case that is the American tourist, no single COVID-19 positive patient has been required to use the ventilator. “Outsiders may think Bhutan is a poor and underdeveloped country but we prepared well and all necessary action was taken on time. All doctors, nurses and supporting staff were trained well,” he added.
He said timely policies and measures from the highest level, cooperation from people and support from the monastic body has led to this success story. But it is far from claiming victory over the pandemic. He said people should, however, never be complacent as Bhutan reports high recovery rate and zero death from the virus.
Kinley Dem
