Nim Dorji | Trongsa

Trongsa health officials will begin mass testing in Kela village today. The village is the only place in the dzongkhag where positive Covid-19 cases were detected and remains a yellow zone.

The dzongkhag Covid-19 taskforce following the instructions from the national taskforce will begin easing lockdown in the other areas in the dzongkhags today.

A woman in Kela, who had come to perform the annual lochoe, tested positive.

Incident commander of dzongkhag Covid-19 task force, Karma Dhendup said that the village will undergo mass testing before the relaxation of the lockdown.

“The villagers of Kela are restricted to go out of their village,” he said.

Random testing will also begin in the four villages of Taktse, Bubja, Tashidingkha and Eusa today.

These villages were declared under strict surveillance after a Covid-19 positive man had visited the village.

Meanwhile, residents in other parts of Trongsa can move around without movement cards following Covid-19 health safety protocols.

The task force decided that the villagers in other places can perform annual lochoe after informing respective gewogs. The monk or gomchens performing the ritual have to be registered. However, visitors or guests are restricted.

Cremation services will be allowed with not more than 20 people including the monks.

All the regional offices will remain closed and officials have to continue working from home except gewog offices and financial institutions. The banks will function as per the roster developed by the task force.

The construction works can resume within confined mode excluding Kela, Taktse, Tashidingkha, Eusa and Bubja which are under strict surveillance.

Contractors should submit a list of workers and seek approval from the task force office.

All shops will open at 8am and close at 5pm. The shops should have handwashing facilities. No sports will be allowed. Karaoke, Bars, snooker and drayangs will remain closed.

The gewog and project authorities should monitor roadside eateries. The health services will be delivered as per the existing plan.

All residents are urged to follow Covid-19 safety protocol and health protocols. People breaching the protocol will be dealt as per the Penal Code of Bhutan.

Meanwhile, in Bumthang, Domkhar, Chamkhar throm and Chamkhar lap are identified as yellow zones. The movement in other places will be allowed.

The offices will remain closed and the residents are asked to follow Covid-19 health safety protocols.