Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar
Samdrupjongkhar’s Covid-19 Task Force started the first phase of unlocking from the town until the Pinchina checkpoint beginning yesterday.
Movement of people on foot and cycling within the respective zones are allowed with the movement cards while all children, including the students of Samdrupjongkhar MSS and Samdrupjongkhar PS, shall not be permitted to come outdoors until complete unlocking is announced.
No inter-zone movements would be permitted, but the inter-zone movement of utility, emergency and authorised vehicles are allowed, and registration for seven-day mandatory quarantine for those travelling from high-risk to low-risk areas shall be suspended until further notice.
The movement of stranded individuals from green zones shall be facilitated within the dzongkhag except for Jomotshangkha.
Schools and offices, including the financial institutions, will remain closed. Businesses shall operate from 8am to 7pm.
According to the notification, only essential and hardware shops identified by the logistic desk can operate, and automobile workshops are to allow 50 percent of its staff only.
Sporting activities, gym, spa and swimming pools will be not allowed. Integrated vegetable market will be accessible for the lower market or core town with 50 percent capacity; wholesalers will supply to the retail shops for other zones.
The notification stated that the respective gewog offices would facilitate the agriculture marketing, milk and dairy products on a case-based following the health protocols, while the funeral rites shall be limited to 10 family members and relatives.
The task force will facilitate the essential supplies to low-risk dzongkhags and movements of gypsum trucks as per the revised standard operation procedure (SoP). Export and import of essential goods shall be permitted as per the existing SoP.
The dzongkhag Covid-19 task force imposed a complete lockdown in the town until the Pinchina checkpoint on May 7 after detecting the second community Covid-19 case from the police station on May 6.
Zoning system was activated on May 11.
The task force imposed a complete lockdown again on May 18 after detecting five community cases during the second mass testing in the town on May 17.