Coronavirus: Another Tourist who Recently Visited Assam Tests Positive in Bhutan

Thimphu, March 20, 2020:

Adding to the anxiety that prevails over the oubreak of the novel coronavirus (or COVID-19), the Bhutanese Prime Minister has confirmed that a tourist from the United States, Sandra (59), has tested positive for the virus in India's neighboring country Bhutan. Sandra's partner, a 79-year-old called Hewitt who had boarded the flight from the Washington, had tested positive earlier, and has now been extradited to the US.

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This was confirmed earlier today by the Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. The partner of the first COVID-19 case in the country has been tested positive this morning, the Bhutanese PM said while addressing the press. Sandra was tested due to her close proximity to her partner, Hewitt.

"While the guide and the driver were confirmed negative, the partner, who is 59 years old, showed a positive result. This was the fourth test run on the primary contacts since the detection of first case on March 5. All earlier three tests resulted in a negative", the Bhutanese PM said.

He also informed that the patient is asymptomatic and healthy. "She will be monitored in an isolation starting today", he added.

The Bhutan PM also informed that the driver and the guide, will have to be under home quarantine and report immediately should they notice any signs and symptoms. Should they wish to stay in the facility, we will be offering the option, he said. "This takes the number of positive case of COVID-19 in Bhutan to two", the PM stated.

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Meanwhile, the administration of Bhutan has decided that after thorough review and consideration of international best practices, it has been decided that the guide and the driver, who were with the couple during their trips in the country, will continue to stay at the quarantine facility in Mothithang.

It is pertinent to mention here that the couple had passed through Assam during their travels of India, before heading off to neighboring Assam for a vacay.

Following the detection of the first case of the coronavirus, the Bhutan Government is taking extra precautions to ensure the outbreak of the deadly virus that has so far affected tens of thousands worldwide.

The patient was touring India from February 21 to March 1. He had started his travel from Washington DC on February 18 and was travelling with his partner, aged 59. There were 10 passengers on board, of which eight others were Indian nationals. At the Paro International Airport, the patient’s health declaration form was assessed. He had indicated “negative” against all conditions.

However, upon reaching Thimphu, around 3pm, he visited the medical OPD at JDWNRH, complaining of a bloated abdomen (dyspepsia symptoms) and nausea. The patient and his partner stayed at Le Meridien on the first night. The following day, he stayed indoors most of the time and went to the hospital again around 3.30 pm for stomach upset and diarrhea.

Upon returning to Thimphu, he visited JDWNRH again. He was found to have fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath. He was kept under observation at the flu clinic (designated COVID-19 hospital) and samples were collected and sent to Royal Centre for Disease Control (RCDC). Now, 14 days after the detection of the first patient, his partner too has tested positive for the coronavirus that has killed over 10,000 across the world.

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