Choki Wangmo | Tsirang

Without a travel history for the index case in Tsirang who tested positive for Covid-19 on January 26, the source of community transmission in Damphu town could not be determined as of yesterday.

The positive cases, however, are increasing.

Five people: a shopkeeper, two civil servants, and two children of the index case, tested positive yesterday. They have been home quarantined since January 26.

The dzongkhag currently has seven active cases.




As of January 27, 65 samples have been sent to Gelephu hospital for testing.

The incident commander, dzongdag Pema, said that contact tracing is ongoing in the dzongkhag. “The result will determine the lockdown status in the dzongkhag.”

The lockdown is expected to end today.

The dzongkhag taskforce imposed a 72-hour lockdown on January 26 in the dzongkhag after a driver and his daughter-in-law tested positive for Covid-19.




Without a travel history of the duo, officials said that it was too early to conclude the source of the transmission.

Meanwhile, the taskforce imposed a 72-hour complete lockdown in Rangthangling gewog beginning yesterday afternoon.

Rangthaling shares a boundary with Damphu.

According to a public notification the dzongkhag issued, most of the primary contacts were found in the gewog. “There will be no movement of people out of their houses, or interactions with neighbours.”

A source said that the index case, who is from the gewog, owns a shop in Damphu town and many people from the gewog had visited the shop.




The source also said that earlier this week, the index case visited his village and had a family gathering. “Coincidently, local government members’ dhar ceremony in the gewog also fell during the same time period, increasing the number of primary contacts.”

Most of the primary contacts are in home quarantine.