Mumbai: Bhutan on Friday confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country.
A patient is a 76-year-old man from the United States who has a travel history in India. He came to Bhutan from Guwahati on 2 March, the Prime Minister Lotte Teashering Office confirmed this in a statement.
The patient is isolated at the COVID-19 hospital. Given his age and underlying conditions, he is placed on oxygen aid.
The patient was travelling with his companion, carrying 59 passengers, including 10 passengers, eight of whom were Indian nationals. Close contacts were his companions, drivers and guides. While all three are asymptomatic for now, they are quarantined at the designated COVID-19 hospital.
Eight Indian passengers have also been released. The government is working closely with the Indian embassy.
More than 90 contacts have been detected so far. Health officials and other related agencies are in the process of performing primary disease management and contact tracing.
Contact tracing was initiated according to the patient’s visit. This included those who stopped at all points starting from Paro Airport to Thimphu to Punakha and back. This included a tea stop at Druk Wangyal Cafe, and lunch at Punakha High School Park.
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