Ever since people woke up to the news of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the country, a lot has happened. The news had profound effects: fake and real news circulated on media platforms, uninvited trepidation, pandemonium, worries, and discussions ensued. The first day was a tough fight. There was a lot of commotion on social media, with some condemning the government's inability to take precautionary steps and some calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister. It tested the mettle, emotions, and spirits of everyone living near and far from Thimphu.

Despite this, I would like to recount the events that were uniquely Bhutanese and heartwarming, events that could never have happened in other countries.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:

The decision of the government to impose a two-week ban on incoming tourists from March 6 in response to the first case of COVID-19 in the country was met with discontent on social media, particularly on Facebook. However, this ban was the fastest response compared to other countries and was a necessary measure for the rigorous monitoring of the infection and to mitigate the situation. It was a brave decision that required careful consideration, as it could have had significant repercussions for the economy and service industry. It was essential to act with prudence, as the country's economy could have been shut down if drastic measures were taken during the global outbreak.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠:

For our kings, the people always come first. Across lives and generations, the stories of how the people lived, struggled, and made their living have been of the utmost concern to our kings. The present king is a testament to this. The bond between the king and the people, spanning and connecting generations, is unprecedented and unique. There is no other king like this in the world. Even during this time of distress, we are motivated and find meaning in the work we do because we have our king at the forefront, taking an omnipotent and omniscient stance.

We cannot fully express our gratitude to His Majesty for his supervision at the control base throughout the night and his personal oversight of our efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. His Majesty has also been traveling to many dzongkhags to mitigate the pandemic and addressed the general public through BBS yesterday.

In His Majesty's address, he shared the following news: "I have some news for the people. There are many entry points into Bhutan along the border, but from tomorrow, they will be shut for a while. There is no desire to shut down the entry points, but the people know the threat from COVID-19, or the coronavirus. The government has sensitized the people well on this issue. Globally, the coronavirus has caused a lot of problems and the threat is coming closer to our borders every day. The most important thing for us is the health and safety of the people, which is why all the entry gates along the border have to be shut for a while.

"Bhutanese living abroad, whether for work, studies, or trade, may be worried. Don't be worried because the government is doing all it can, and when you come back into the country, it will be without any issues.

"The global economy is going to be negatively impacted by the coronavirus in a major way, and if it impacts Bhutan, it will impact all Bhutanese. Bhutan may be a small country with a small population, but we have the highest integrity, unity, and support for each other. So, if the coronavirus threat and its economic impact hit the people, the Royal Government will support the people.

"These days, all the schools are shut and many students are at home, but they should not waste their time. Parents should guide the students, and the students should take the opportunity to study and learn while they are still growing up. Their education is very important.

"Now, the schools are shut for a while and have to be kept shut, but while at home, one should take self-responsibility and make the best effort to study. The government is coming up with a variety of ways to educate children, through television, the internet, newspapers, and this work is ongoing.

"According to global experts on the coronavirus, our parents (older people) are more vulnerable to this virus. So, we should take good care of our aged population and everyone should keep clean.

"As I said earlier, whatever the threat today, and though we are only a small country, all of us, whether the people or the government, should take equal responsibility and work together in a united way, and in doing so, however big the problem, we can solve it together.

"The most important thing is that when the coronavirus is behind us, the future strategy or path for our country, whether in terms of economic activity or governance, should be brought back without any disruption as soon as possible. We cannot rest until the coronavirus threat is gone."

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗:

The Prime Minister did not sleep well, and the ministers gave their best efforts. Government officials worked tirelessly, and all the ministries, departments, and health sectors worked with prudence and in tandem to facilitate and oversee the emergency situation. Many coordination meetings were held, and quick decisions were made, which was highly commendable on the part of the government. The government isolated confirmed cases, quarantined suspects, and carried out the closure of schools, institutions, and public gatherings in Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha, and later across the country. The government also imposed a restriction on all incoming tourists with effect from March 6 until further notice and distributed free sanitizers to the people, which would not have happened in other countries.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡'𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗:

 It was a surprise for us to learn that the Parliamentarians unanimously decided to donate their one month's salary to the fight against COVID-19. It is heartwarming to know that the Parliamentarians have even committed to forgoing their salaries if the situation becomes dire.

People from all walks of life have come forward to help and offer their services in solidarity. It is heartwarming to see the teachers forming a union, ready to volunteer if the situation deteriorates. The Bhutan Raven Motorcycle Club donated Nu 1M to the government, WHO donated Nu 12.5 million, and the Asian Development Bank committed to support. Private individual Tshering Gyeltshen donated 15 water tanks to distribute hand sanitizers, the Army Welfare Project donated 10,600 liters of spirit, tanks painted with awareness messages by VAST Bhutan were distributed with the help of Desuung in Bolero by Brother's Optical Thimphu and DR Sound. Bangladesh donated over 1000 facemasks and other essential materials. Additionally, some hotels have agreed to provide free services.

We are truly blessed to have the support and help of everyone.

What happened to the 76-year-old US patient who was confirmed with COVID-19 and received treatment in Bhutan?

The official page of the PMO confirmed that the patient seemed to be recovering very well despite the lack of advanced medical facilities. Three doctors and 16 medical staff were assigned to care for him. These medical staff had to stay 28 days away from their families to care for the patient. His daughter in the US was regularly updated on his condition. Through these actions, Bhutan has shown that kindness transcends all boundaries and that this is an unconditional part of Bhutanese culture. Meanwhile, all 62 people who came into contact with the patient tested negative for COVID-19 and were quarantined in a luxury hotel at the expense of the government for 14 days. Additionally, everyone who has undergone a test has been found to be negative for the virus. We are blessed to have not been hit hard by this pandemic.

Final Say:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a battle that we have begun to fight. At this moment, we must continue to hope for the best despite the challenges we face. Until now, we have been able to handle everything well because each one of us has played an active role in mitigating the spread of the virus. However, there are two challenges that we must still face: fake news and COVID-19 itself. The spread of false information and conspiracy theories can pose a serious threat to the Bhutanese people. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences could lead to an unimaginable crisis. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to come up with a contingency plan to guide the nation through this uncertain future.

With the blessings of our protector deity, His Majesty the King, and the tireless efforts of those working towards our cause, I am confident that with determination, we can overcome any unforeseen situation, including the COVID-19 pandemic.