All travellers, including Bhutanese, coming to Bhutan will be quarantined in a designated quarantine facility for two weeks with effect from yesterday. However, minors below 18 years would be sent for home quarantine.

Health minister Dechen Wangmo, announced this during the press briefing on COVID-19 yesterday.

Clarifying the confusion about quarantining people, she said quarantine was made mandatory, since most of those placed under home quarantine did not adhere to the requirements.

Quarantine means keeping a person under observation if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms.

“There were cases where those asked to stay at home were found roaming outside during the quarantine period and it was difficult to monitor,” Lyonpo said. “So, it was made compulsory and it’ll be monitored strictly by health ministry everyday.”

Minors would be put in home quarantine after an undertaking from parents or a legit guardian.

Lyonpo said that this was why it was very important that any Bhutanese travelling should declare their travel history at the points of entry. She also said they should request only one member of the family to come and pick them up.

“We’ve had incidences where people reported on their neighbours travel history, but was not quarantined,” Lyonpo said. “We had to go around searching for people and request them to stay in.”   

However, Lyonpo said that hereafter the health ministry would ensure that all people entering Bhutan are quarantined.

“There were incidences at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border gate where people travelling from Nepal or Bodhgaya and other countries sent their luggage in the car,” Lyonpo said. “They walked till the gate and lied saying they had gone to buy vegetables.”

Lyonpo said that irrespective of symptoms, all travellers at the airport would be screened and health officials will take them directly to the quarantine facility designated in various places.

Lyonpo explained that during the screening, if a person is found to have any symptoms or fever, they would be considered as a suspected case and health official will conduct test for COVID-19.

If there is a positive case, the person would be directly put in isolation at the national referral hospital. Isolation means treating a person who has tested positive in an isolated place.

If there are no symptoms, they will be directly placed for quarantine.

“During the 14 days, we will keep checking people everyday where the report would be submitted to the surveillance team at the healthy ministry,” Lyonpo said. “During the quarantine they will not be allowed to meet any family members or friends.”

Where to be quarantined

Travellers coming in from the Paro airport will be quarantined at the Paro College of Education hostel or Olathang hotel or at any other centres identified.

The quarantine centres are well equipped with two health workers and a ward boy, according to the health minister.  A police personnel will be placed for security reasons.

Lyonpo said that there are enough designated quarantine centres with free internet facility, food prepared by chefs and free basic amenities.