KUENSELTHAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020 COVID-19 Jomotshangkha recuperates BHUTAN - 24 from lockdown effect GLOBAL Younten Tshedup COVID-19 Life is normal and busi- SITUATION ness continues as usual in Jomotshangkha drungkhag in Samdrupjongkhar today. However, things were 5,408,327 different a few weeks ago. CONFIRMED CASES The reclusive drung- khag in the south is the only community in the country to go into lockdown after a 2,247,900 shopkeeper tested positive RECOVERED to coronavirus on the rapid diagnostic test on April 30. A weeklong restriction on movement of people 344,029 was imposed as a preven- DEATHS tive measure. While anxiety and fear gripped the community, the local authority and resi- dents say they managed to High risk come out of it ‘successfully’. countries Drungpa Lamdrak Bhutan not ready Wangdi credits the feat to USA 1,666,828 the proactive role the local Brazil 349,113 task force played including the cooperation and sup- to welcome Russia 335,882 port from the community Spain 282,370 residents during the lock- UK 257,154 down. Italy 229,327 tourists France 182,469 Walking the extra mile Tourism Council DG clarifes Everything was closed except the hospital in Jo- Yangchen C Rinzin tourists, the DG said that there interview was focused on motshangkha where treat- is no decision taken to open how tourism in the country Cases in the ment continued as usual. pening tour- tourism in Bhutan. is coping up with the current region The small group of staff ism would The headline of the article pandemic situation and the depend on the remained prepared to pro- in Forbes, which went viral on plans to welcome tourists post India 131,920 vide any emergency medical government’s social media read, “Bhutan Covid-19. Bangladesh 32,078 service. directives and Ready to Welcome Back Tour- The entry of tourists was The hospital had line- Ohow the pandemic situation ism Following Zero Covid-19 banned after the first Covid-19 Singapore 31,616 listed all pregnant mothers, will unfold, according to the Deaths.” “In the long range dis- case was detected in 73-year Thailand 3,040 people with comorbidities Director General (DG) of the cussion with the director gen- old American tourist on March Nepal 584 and disabilities including Tourism Council of Bhutan, eral, it is apparent that country 6. Bhutan today has no tour- the elderly. The mobile Dorji Dhradhul. is ready to begin welcoming ist after the only tourist in the Refuting the claims made tourists once the borders are country who was the women health clinic was activated Source: The Straits Times, ANN by an international media open with other countries,” the that tested positive for Covid- to provide services at the As of May 24, 2020 doorstep to all these vulner- company, Forbes, that said article reported. 19 left in April. able groups. Pg 2 Bhutan is ready to welcome The DG clarified that the Pg 2 HOME PAGE 2 Monday, May 25, 2020| KUENSEL Bhutan not ready to welcome tourists From Pg 1 sessment and the current norms like compulsory quar- far.” preparation for tourism post- “It was the headline of the situation Bhutan cannot be antine and requirement of Dorji Dhradhul said that Covid-19.” story that looked like Bhutan opened to tourism at least physical distancing. tourist could be expected only The ban on tourist, after will open up for tourism since not before November. “Even “I can see zero tourists by 2022, but we might receive the pandemic, has resulted there is zero Covid-19 death,” if we open after November coming to Bhutan in 2020 only about 50 percent of what in a national revenue loss of the DG said. “From the TCB’s this year, tourism will still even if we open unless a few we see today and start receiv- USD 4.4 million after 2,550 in- side, this was definitely not take time to pick up especially high-end tourists decide to ing full tourists only by 2025. ternational tourists cancelled our view expressed during the tourists visiting Bhutan,” he come,” he said. “If it opens “However, this is based on due to Covid-19 between interview.” said. in 2021, we might get 10,000 what we have assessed so far. January 15 and March 23. It According to the DG, He added tourists would more tourists, which is less It is going to take time, and excludes cancellations from based on the council’s as- have to go through certain than what we used to get so we’re already working on the regional tourists. Jomotshangkha recuperates from lockdown effect From Pg 1 answer their doubts im- Health assistant, Pema mediately,” he said, adding Lhadon ran the mobile that correct information health clinic single-hand- was gathered after discuss- edly. Her husband, a Desu- ing with officials concerned. up, assisted her during her “It was a challenging week visits to various far-flung and it could have been more villages. Given the shortage difficult if the lockdown had of official vehicles, the cou- prolonged.” ple used their private bolero The restrictions were to move around. lifted on May 8, after the “We were already 55-year-old shopkeeper briefed on our responsibili- tested negative for Covid-19 ties should we enter such for the third time during the a situation. There were not week. many challenges except for Drungpa Lamdrak the bad weather and poor Wangdi said that despite road conditions,” she said. the shortage of manpower to reach all the scattered com- The health assistant Covid-19 messages in Jomotshangkha delivered basic health ser- munities, the drungkhag ef- vices to about 140 people citated nearly for an hour fectively managed the week- that included elderly care, after the delivery. The hos- long lockdown. “Compared immunization and fam- pital team managed to save to a partial lockdown, it was ily planning services and the baby. Both the mother easier to handle a complete follow-up and delivery of and baby are in good health lockdown situation.” medicines to patients with today. He said that because comorbidities and those the drungkhag was already with mental health issues. Local hotline 1210 in a state of isolation due to Pema Lhadon said she To disseminate accurate in- the closure of border gates, also treated OPD (outpa- formation during the lock- things did not escalate, as it tient department) cases as down, the drungkhag had would have otherwise. “How- people could not visit the established a local hotline ever, if the lockdown had hospital. service, 1210. Three indi- prolonged, we could have “As a health worker, it viduals manned the centre faced further difficulty as was routine work for me. 24-7 for a week. The centre is the stocked essential goods The only thing different operational even today. would have exhausted.” was that I had to go to the Jomotshangkha Wildlife The drungpa said that patients myself,” she said. Sanctuary’s chief forest of- from the experience, every- Pema Lhadon said that ficer, Ugyen Tshering, who one was now better prepared it was a learning experience is the planning team leader to handle a similar situation for her personally and that of the local task force, said in the future. her husband was support- there were over 300 calls so Jomotshangkha drung- ive. far. Most of them enquired The health worker and her husband visited villages to khag shares porous inter- “But, my parents were about Covid-19 and its provide health services during the lockdown national border with two worried about our safety.” symptoms. Indian districts – Udalguri in Back at the hospital, the Some enquired about health services. Our team de- leum gas (LPG) cylinders to Assam (south) and West Ka- lone doctor was seen rush- roadblocks, reported on livered the essentials to their 15 households. meng, in Arunachal Pradesh ing for a delivery case im- illegal price hike on com- doorsteps,” Ugyen Tshering The CFO said that they (east). The drungkhag has mediately after attending modities by shopkeepers, said. have made about 190 outgo- one formal entry point and an emergency meeting that and sighting new people in Essential goods were de- ing calls to the public. “We over 20 informal entry and concluded around 10pm. the community. “People also livered to about 115 house- had to call them back when exit points along the inter- The baby had to be resus- called for food items and holds including liquid petro- hotline operators could not national boundary. HOME Monday, May 25, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 3 PHPA II readjusts workforce to stay on track Supply of materials and critical components resolved Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue cruiting Bhutanese nationals,” said the managing director. The Punatsangchhu-II hydro- The project is today chal- electric project (PHPA II) is lenged with lack of highly readjusting its manpower to skilled manpower for DSSG ensure continuity of work after works, hydro-mechanical and the issue of import of critical electromechanical works. materials and components are However, the management resolved. said the government recently With the help of the gov- approved to mobilise around ernment and the Indian Em- 11 specialists for grouting, drill- bassy in Thimphu, import of ing and erection of dam gate. critical materials such as drill- Mobilisation will be in ing accessories, construction accordance with the health materials, structural steel and ministry’s Covid-19 standard lubricants are continuing. operating procedures, which The PHPA II imports mate- would mean that the special- rials worth Nu 4 to Nu 5 billion ists would be quarantined for on an average every year.