Zhemgang Covid-19 task force quarantined three people travelling from Nganglam to Gelephu on June 12 after the dzongkhag’s global tracking unit found them breaching Covid-19 travel protocols.

The three people, two women and a man, were found interacting with the people of the low-risk area in Tingtibi, Zhemgang, after their car broke down.

People travelling from high-risk to high-risk areas via low-risk areas are not allowed to come out or come in contact with the people in the low-risk areas, according to the Covid-19 protocols.

Officials from the dzongkhag Covid-19 task force said the three people were in Tingtibi for an hour after the vehicle they were travelling in broke down. They have also visited a hotel.

Dzongkhag officials said while the movement between high risk to high-risk areas is facilitated, unnecessary travels are discouraged.

They also said the dzongkhag helped travellers facing problems along the way but the three people did not inform the task force about their problem.

The dzongkhag’s global tracking unit monitors the movement of travellers from high-risk to high-risk areas.

Nganglam till Rindeybi in Zhemgang falls under high-risk area and from Rindeybi till Tamala is a low-risk area before entering another high-risk dzongkhag, Sarpang.

Meanwhile, all three people tested negative on the antigen test and a confirmatory RT-PCR test would be done at the end of the quarantine period.

They will have to bear quarantine expenses and the case would be forwarded to the police for further investigation.

All vehicles travelling from high risk to high risk via low-risk areas should cross Tamala and Rindeybi checkpoints by 6pm as per the dzongkhag Covid-19 protocol.

However, emergency travellers are facilitated beyond the restricted timing.

By Nima | Gelephu

Edited by Tashi Dema

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