Kelzang Wangchuk  | Samdrupjongkhar

Eighty-eight people including trucker drivers who came from Phuentsholing before the lockdown were quarantined in Nganglam, Pemagatshel on August 16.

All of them tested negative to rapid Covid-19 antibody test and antigen (AG) test on the same day.

Dr Sonam Dolkar from Nganglam Basic Health Unit (BHU), said, “But they are not the primary contacts with those people who tested Covid-19 positive in Phuentsholing.”

She said that four truck drivers were put under facility quarantine in Nganglam because they had visited the Regional Revenue and Customs Office (RRCO) in Phuentsholing before they came to Nganglam.

She said they had also put 84 people under strict home quarantine including 10 in Chokhorling gewog who came from Phuentsholing before the lockdown.

“We monitor them through telephonic conversations.”

The doctor said the health officials conducted the Covid-19 antigen (AG) test on the villagers in

Chokhorling who came to attend the final rites of a relative from Phuentsholing on August 8.

“We have told them to inform us if there are any symptoms of Covid-19.” 

She said that they had listed people who came from Phuentsholing between August 1 and 10 while they had collected some information from the checkpoints.

“We are still carrying out the contact tracing.”

Meanwhile, of the fifteen drivers quarantined at Tashigatshel hotel in Samdrupjongkhar who came from Phuentsholing last week before the lockdown,  two were under strict home quarantine since August 11.

The health officials said that although they tested negative during the Covid-19 antigen test, the health officials would conduct a test after three days. 

The officials said they were quarantined because they have no place to stay in Samdrupjongkhar. They are given free food and lodging.

 “It is also our extra initiative to make sure that they are 100 percent negative and don’t pose a risk in the community,” an official said.