THIMPHU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The government of Bhutan has imposed a nation wide lockdown starting Wednesday, amid rising cases of community transmission of COVID-19.
Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering announced the decision through a televised speech to the public on Tuesday night. The lockdown will last for seven days to begin with, said the prime minister.
The lockdown came three days after a lockdown was imposed in Thimphu city following a local transmission detected in a 25-year-old woman.
Within three days, more than 5,441 contacts have been tested, of which 12 tested positive on Tuesday, and 21 positive cases were detected on Monday.
The nationwide lockdown will enable the government to control the spread of the virus and also discern the extent of transmission in the communities, said the prime minister.
Meanwhile, relevant agencies will ensure that there are no disruptions in supply of goods, vegetables and other essential items, including animal feed within the country. The government will also facilitate and ensure minimum disruption in import and export of all goods, he said.
"While we have decided on the seven-day lockdown to begin with, the pattern of disease transmission will determine the way forward," he said, urging people to take maximum precaution.
This is the second nationwide lockdown imposed in Bhutan, following the initial 21-day lockdown imposed in August this year. Enditem
