NEW DELHI, Dec 24: Bhutan has imposed a nation-wide lockdown for a week from Thursday following discovery of “local transmission of intermittent cases of flu” in Thimphu, Paro, and Lhamoizingkha.
The lockdown in the first phase will remain in force till December 29.
A statement from the Bhutanese Prime Minister’s Office stated, “in the continuity of the enforced inter-district movement restrictions, the National COVID-19 Task Force has agreed on the need for tougher action and the lockdown across the nation would allow the government to monitor the spread of the disease, and assess the degree of transmission in the communities.
The official sources said though the lockdown had been declared for a period of seven-days, the pattern of disease transmission would dictate the way forward.
Bhutan underwent its first lockdown from August 11 to August 31 after which it was relaxed from September 1.
Prime Minister Lotay Tshering under the leadership of the National Task Force has, announced a zoning structure and has directed that there should be minimum of inconvenience for the people of Bhutan. He has also asked all-district officials to take control and ensure the smooth operation of the zone system.
People are allowed to leave their homes only to buy essentials for a total of six hours per day. While only designated shops and critical facilities inside the zones would be open, all educational institutions, offices, and business establishments would remain closed.
The concerned authorities have been directed to ensure that there were no delays in the supply of goods, vegetables, and other critical goods, including animal feed, throughout the region. The government would also ensure minimal disturbance in the import and export of all goods.
To date, Bhutan has recorded 519 cases of Covid-19 with no casualties.
(Venkatesh Iyer)