Dechen Dolkar

All businesses, including bakeries, stationery, hardware and pan shops can operate until 7pm if owners reside in the same zone, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

It, however, stated that takeaway restaurants could only operate from March 21 after movement is allowed within respective mega-zones.

It also stated that from March 28, all other business entities can open except for entertainment centres.




Thimphu thromde also issued a notification yesterday that automobile workshops, garment and yarn shops, kitchen utensil or home decor shops, electronics shops, mobile phone repair, barbers, cobblers, bookstores, shops with religious products, flower, farm and agriculture machinery shops, cosmetic and accessories shops and optical shops are permitted to open if owners or workers live in the same zone.

Paro dzongkhag Covid-19 taskforce has also announced that bakeries, stationery, vegetable market shed, garment shops and pan shops are allowed to open with the condition that the owners or employees stay in the same gewog or throm.

It also stated that except for the red cluster, inter-gewog or throm or satellite town movement will be allowed.

According to the PMO, businesses can operate until 9pm from April 24.

The press release stated that business timing will be maintained and studied for a month, and if the situation doesn’t worsen, it will be lifted along with consideration of opening of all entertainment centres thereafter.




A garment shop owner in Thimphu said that they have been paying the salary for five sales girls with full payment although the shops remained closed. “We have also been paying half of the rents.”

The owner said that they would not be able to clear the winter stock. “By this month, all the winter stock gets cleared.”