Bhutan continues to hold COVID-19 with just five positive cases

Thimphu’s first COVID-19 positive case was registered on 5 March, on 2 April the count rose to five, and till date it has stayed the same. Extensive testing, intelligence tracking systems, and advance activation of mechanisms continue to fuel Bhutan’s success story as it continues to hold out against the pandemic outbreak

New Delhi:  While many countries in the Indian subcontinent continue to witness a rise in the infection count of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Bhutan has remarkably been able to contain the spread. Bhutan continues to report five confirmed cases of the pandemic, with two recoveries.

Bhutan’s first COVID-19 positive case was registered on 5 March, on 2 April the count rose to five, and to date, it has stayed the same. The country has been widely praised for its effective management of the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, for more than three weeks now the country has not witnessed even a single increase in its infected count.

The focus has largely been on the royal kingdom’s extensive virus testing program. This could well be vital learning for more liberal countries in the subcontinent that might be less tolerant of such intrusive measures coupled with exhaustive testing drills but are hoping to emulate Bhutan’s success.

Countries in the subcontinent and Indian Ocean Region are now realizing that the best strategies to deal with the COVID-19 virus are to conduct large numbers of tests followed by contact tracing, quarantine, isolation, and treatment.

According to the numbers released by the Bhutanese Ministry of Health (MoH), the country has conducted 5,100 tests. Of this around 1,200 are RT-PCR tests that take longer and the rest around 3,890 or so are rapid tests. This number includes around 2,500 tests for DeSuups, reported Health Minister Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo.

Compared with other South Asian nations and their population count, these numbers are the highest across the continent. Bhutan’s test becomes even more than when extrapolated to tests per million population.

By comparison as of last week, Nepal has tested 55 per million, Bangladesh has tested 34 per million, India has tested 129 per million and Sri Lanka has tested 152 per million. Followed by Thailand at 1,030 per million and Myanmar at 26 per million.

Across the IOR and other foreign nations – Mauritius carried out 5,292 tests per million, Malta tested 31,100, Cyprus has done 11,822, Bahrain completed 32,379, Singapore has done 11,110, Norway with 22,326, Ireland has done 10,734, and South Korea registering 9,812 tests per million.

An additional factor is that while Bhutan has tested 5,100 people, it may have to test another 5,000 or so Bhutanese who are coming back and this itself entails around 5,000 more tests.

As per MoH officials, Bhutan has around 3,900 rapid test kits remaining and enough material for around 4500 RT-PCR tests. However, Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji added that Bhutan will be getting around 100,000 test kits in a couple of days. The MoH has placed orders (27,200 test kits) it will also be receiving tests kits from various developmental partners, the minister was reported saying by local media.

Intelligence Tracking

The Bhutanese government within days of putting the first group of possible contracted in quarantine started backtracking spread.

According to government officials, with assistance from the Royal Bhutanese Police, a task force was formed which worked on war-footing to primarily track the count and movements of Chinese nationals in the country.

As per their finding – from 1 January to 7 February, a total of 2,890 tourists had visited Bhutan of which there were 629 Chinese tourists.

“We were monitoring everyone through Bhutan’s surveillance system is in place. We tracked the tourists and their tours,” Director-General of Tourism Council Board, Dorji Dhradhul said.

MoH was Preparing for COVID-19 Since January

Sources revealed that the MoH was preparing for the worst-case scenario regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and Bhutan, since January 2020. Resources and infrastructure and response plan were strengthened, and continuous monitoring of the preparedness and response status was being carried out at all the border and inter-city checkpoints.

The MoH also rehearsed regular press briefings to inform the nation on what has been the development, both in terms of the country’s preparedness and also studies and scientific development that are taking place globally.

This was followed by the ministry activating the national disaster committee and has also simultaneously alerted the national health disaster committee within the department. A core team and the ministers started having meetings every day and working on the coronavirus threat, since first week of February.

“With such preparations, the government was confident and requested the public not to worry or panic. We also started addressing some of the various mis-communication about the virus, dietary habits, hygiene standards, and most importantly buying of personal safety equipment like masks, gloves,” the official added.

India to Reprioritize Projects in Bhutan: PM Modi

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Bhutanese Foreign Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering extending concern and support for Bhutan as countries deal with COVID-19 situation.

‘It is because of the overriding humane and compassionate qualities in you (PM Modi), which makes you keep the neighboring countries in your heart despite the immense challenge of managing one of the largest countries in the world,’ read a post on PM Tshering’s official Facebook account.

The post further read that, PM Modi also agreed to the reprioritization of activities and projects supported by India in Bhutan.

The Bhutanese PM thanked the close cooperation extended by the Indian Embassy in Bhutan, as Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj worked closely with Bhutan round the clock. PM Lyonchhen said it would have been difficult without the support. Among others, Bhutan expressed gratitude for ensuring the supply of goods and essentials, despite lockdown in India, as well as for medical donations.