Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

Samdrupjongkhar recorded 215 Covid positive cases yesterday, its highest single-day record since January 1.

Of that, 24 were from the community in Samdrupjonkhar town and Gomdar gewog while 191 were contacts of previous positive cases from Dewathang, Samdrupjongkhar town, Jomotshangkha and Samdrupchoeling. The individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 were aged above two years.

Samdrupjongkhar has been under lockdown for more than a month now. The Eastern Covid-19 Task Force (EC-19TF) imposed lockdown on January 20 after detecting positive cases from the community.




Residents are worried about the increasing community cases besides the lockdown for more than a month. “There could be some lapses because there wouldn’t be the increasing community cases during the lockdown,” a resident, Tshewang, said.

A resident, Pema, said that he is worried about the house rent because he could not open his shop during the lockdown. “I didn’t pay rent for my apartment and shop for January, and this month is ending as well.”

“The concerned authorities should come with alternatives for the lockdown while the general public should also follow the lockdown and Covid-19 prevention protocols strictly,” he said.

Another resident, Phuntsho, said since there were no movements during the lockdown, what could be the reasons for the increasing community cases. “We are more worried because people in the containment areas were also testing positive.”




“It is also high time for the concerned authorities to think about how it would be effective when they plan to extend the lockdown because the current lockdown had not been that effective in preventing the spread of the virus in the community,” Phuntsho said.

Meanwhile, more than 1,300 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported in Samdrupjongkhar, of which about 291 were from the community since January 1.

Advertisement