Bhutan bans tourist entry for two weeks after first coronavirus case
Travel Biz News —-
Bhutan government has imposed two weeks restriction on all incoming tourists with immediate effect after it confirmed first case of the coronavirus in a tourist.
“This is to enable rigorous monitoring, source assessment of infection and mitigate the situation,” according to a release issued by Prime Minister’s office in Thimphu. The government will assess the situation after two weeks and accordingly decide on the restrictions.
All international conferences and seminars to be held in Bhutan in the two weeks are also postponed.
Earlier, one positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed on March 5. The patient is a 76-year-old from the United States of America, who had entered the country from Paro International Airport via Guwahati, India on March 2. The eight Indian passengers have also been quarantined.
Similarly, the government announced closure of schools and institutes in Thimphu, Paro and Punakha for two weeks with effect from March 6.
“The duration is specified in keeping with the health advisory, which states that people who would have contracted infection from the primary source would develop full-blown infection by then.”
People are advised to maintain good personal hygiene, avoid gatherings, comply with quarantine and other control measures.
Photo : Taktshang Goemba or Tiger’s Nest Monastery is regarded as one of Bhutan’s most sacred religious sites. Taktshang Goemba is perched on the side of a cliff 800m (2,600 ft) above Paro valley. – tigernestbhutan
March 6 , 2020
