SATURDAY KUENSELTHAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED SEPTEMBER 12 COVID-19: Bhutan: 238 | Global: 28,343,841 | Recovered: 20,133,031 | Death: 914,123 | US: 6,588,181 | West Bengal: 193,175 | Assam: 135,805 | Arunachal Pradesh: 5,672 | Sikkim: 2,009 Flu vaccination for all to start from November Health ministry has spent Nu 1.1 billion for Covid-19 containment eforts so far Younten Tshedup With growing evidence suggesting that flu vac- cines could provide certain protection against Covid-19, the government will start vaccination for the public in November. Protection here primarily means reducing the strain on the health care system and hos- pital resources in the event of the second wave of the pandemic. Health Minister Dechen Wangmo during a press briefing yesterday said that the ministry has started to provide flu vaccines to the high- risk population – health workers, pregnant mothers, people with comorbidities, elderlies above the age of 65 and children below the age of two – beginning last year. Lyonpo said that the flu season in the coun- try peaks by mid-October and that is when Mass test: Swab samples from 1,343 people were collected yesterday as mass surveillance began in the the priority groups receive the vaccination. In four zones of Samdrupjongkhar thromde. The samples will be sent to Dewathang testing centre. the following two months, as the rest of the Pg 12 population also starts getting the flu, the mass vaccination would begin. The vaccines would cost the government more than Nu 120 million. So far the health ministry alone has spent about Nu 1.1 billion for Covid-19 containment Risks high in re-opening efforts. The cost incurred is for the procure- ment of personal protective equipment (PPE), test kits, testing reagents and ventilators, Classes PP-VIII : MoH among others and does not include the cost of quarantine. Pg 2 minister Focus Point Yangchen C Rinzin WASH station, proper ventilated classes shut. areas, and a response team in case “Globally, outbreaks are usu- ased on the risk as- of an outbreak. ally from lower-grade schools. We sessment, the health “If these measures are in place, must learn from others too.” ministry has advised the government could go ahead Lyonpo told Kuensel that based the government with the re-opening of schools.” on the risk assessment if one stu- against reopening Lyonpo at the press briefing dent from lower grade tests posi- BClasses Pre-Primary to VIII for the yesterday said that it was analysed tive for Covid-19, the rest of the remaining academic session. from all aspects: impact on chil- students and their parents have to Health Minister Dechen Wang- dren, economy, and other possible be quarantined. This was because mo said that the ministry’s deci- situations. no parents would want to leave sion came after several discussions “For high schools, there is a their minors alone at the quaran- with the education ministry and milestone they need to achieve, tine. the parents and considering all the so there are no options than to “I wouldn’t want to leave my external factors. re-open. Otherwise, for the health 8-year-old son inside the quar- The minister earlier had said ministry, we would be happy if all antine alone and small children that for schools to re-open, they the schools remain close because wouldn’t be able to communicate must have adequate public health one positive would infect all.” if they develop symptoms.” measures such as physical distanc- Several other logistic issues . Pg 2 ing, enough testing provisions, also attributed to keeping lower HOME PAGE 2 Saturday, September 12, 2020| KUENSEL Risks high in re-opening Classes PP-VIII : MoH minister From Pg 1 tinue mobile teaching since Lyonpo said that going students cannot access online by the teacher-student ratio platforms,” a teacher said. it would be difficult to moni- Few teachers also shared tor students to follow health that those students who used safety measures all time. to access online education “All the measures are based through television are also on the learning from other deprived now that BBS broad- countries, some of the best casts only movies. “They don’t examples, global practices have internet access to watch and recommendations from through other social media the experts,” Lyonpo said. platforms.” “When we talk about In such cases, the health safety, there are two levels minister agreed that they of safety, physical safety and could continue teaching but safety of self, which the small the decision would be solely children will not be able to left to the education ministry. practice diligently.” “They’ve their own re- Health Minister interacts with reporters after the press conference yesterday Lyonpo said the decision striction and certain stand- percent of teachers are De- and we keep receiving issues public ECCD centres would is based on practical perspec- ards put in place when it Suups. like shortages of De-Suup not be allowed to open. It is tives and from the disease comes to re-opening schools. “We have the most im- volunteers at the borders,” left for the private centres to perspectives. The ministry cannot re-open portant task in places like Lyonchhen said. “Re-opening decide and in case they open Meanwhile, some of the a few schools and keep other Phuentsholing where every schools would disturb that.” the safety protocols have to be teachers from remote schools schools closed.” day patrolling is important, Health Minister said that implemented strictly. and highlands said their Earlier Prime Minister schools should be allowed to Dr Lotay Tshering said that teach face-to-face learning. the government would have “It’s becoming difficult to to look into re-opening of reach out to students and con- Classes PP-VIII, as almost 65 Flu vaccination for all to start from November From Pg 1 Lyonpo said that if peo- new information continues TV Schedule Fight against Covid-19 ple could sincerely follow the to evolve. One such evolve- continues Covid-19 guidelines and safety ment has been in the field of Sept 12, 2020 Save for a few high-risk places protocol for at least three testing. (southern locations), as the to four months, the country To begin with, the reverse The Straight Path (Short Film) 9am country resumes its regular would pass the threshold. transcription-polymerase Udumvara 10am activities, Lyonpo cautioned of “These few months are very chain reaction (RT-PCR) test the impending threat should critical for all of us.” was the only testing mecha- Gaki Choe Lu Gha 3:30pm people let their guard down. The minister called for nism to detect Covid-19 ini- With the movement of collective responsibility to tially. The Travel Show 7:30pm people now allowed across the get through these trying times. Lyonpo said that as experts country, Lyonpo said that the She said that while most of began to learn new knowledge Storyville Global 9:10pm biggest concern for the govern- the countries have started to about the virus, they came Global Questions 11:30pm ment now was the detection impose fines for not wearing up with the rapid diagnostic of multiple cases from various face masks, the government test (RDT) that uses blood as did not want to follow a simi- samples for testing. Recently World ‘s Deadliest 1:30pm parts of the country. The minister said that if lar path. another rapid testing method Discovery School Super League 2:30pm people were not careful, the “For the health minis- (antigen) was discovered. try, we want to empower our All three methods are cur- Biggest and Baddest 7:20pm overwhelming number of cases could collapse the health citizens so that they can make rently in use in the country. facilities in the country. the right choice. This is also a Now there are reports “We have seen this happen means for sustaining our inter- about Covid-19 tests being NBA Action 2019/20 3:30pm in some of the most developed ventions put in place.” conducted using saliva and countries. And given our limit- However, Lyonpo said that breadth as samples. Lyonpo UFC Classics 7:30pm ed resources, we cannot afford despite the numerous requests said that although not widely UNL 2020/21 HLs 11:30pm to be casual.” and pleas from the govern- used, these methods have Almost 10 months into the ment, if people don’t follow the been piloted in some of the safety protocols, at some point countries. The Meg 7:15pm pandemic, Lyonpo said that the world knows only little in time, enforcements have to “For now the literature is Batman Vs superman 9:30pm about the virus and there was come in. limited on these methods. We “But I personally think this have to see and understand I Am Legend 11:59pm no specific treatment yet. “These are unprecedented won’t happen. Our people the efficacy of the test – its times, which we are experienc- have been very supportive es- sensitivity and specificity,” the X-men: Apocalypse 10am ing for the first time in history. pecially during the lockdown.” minister said. As a small country, in such “If these methods are bet- Ice Age 12:30pm situations, we must focus and New testing methods ter than what we currently Mulan 11:15pm prioritise on preventive meas- As experts continue to learn have, we would definitely ures.” about the novel Coronavirus, consider it.” HOME Saturday, September 12, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 3 Govt. offers bonds worth 3B for public subscription MB Subba Nu 1,000 (face value) while the September 26, 2023, on which been raising much of its fi- the Royal Monetary Authority maximum limit has not been the principal amount and final nancial requirements through (RMA).