Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

Health officials in Samdrupjongkhar collected samples from the Dzong-Workshop zone yesterday. With this, the mass testing in the four zones of the thromde that began on March 9 ended yesterday.

The officials conducted the mass screening to ensure there is no residual virus and safety in the community by preventing the spread of the virus.

According to the health officials, they collected samples from more than 1,000 people in the town and were sent to the RT-PCR test at the Dewathang testing centre.




Of the four zones in the thromde, Tinkilo, Tendrelthang and Core zones are green zones with fewer red buildings, flats and clusters, while the Dzong-Workshop zone is a yellow zone with maximum red buildings, apartments and clusters.

The third phase unlocking of Samdrupjongkhar thromde would depend on the results of the four zones’ mass screening.

The officials said that the concerned authorities would implement the third phase relaxation measures in line with the press release from the prime minister’s office.

The Eastern Covid-19 Task Force (EC-19TF) in Dewathang imposed a lockdown in the thromde on January 20 after detecting the Covid-19 positive case from the community on January 19. The second phase of unlocking in the thromde began on February 6.




Meanwhile, Incident Commander (IC) and Pemagatshel dzongdag, Yeshey Rangrik Dorjee, said that the dzongkhag would manage the new Covid-19 positive cases either through home quarantine or isolation facilities and primary contacts kept at home quarantine. 

He said the particular unit or flat would be marked red and managed as per the protocol in place while the rest will function under new normal conditions, adding that all restrictions in the gewogs were lifted.