US tourist partner positive in Bhutan The woman, who tested positive in the 4th round of exams, is the second case to be reported in Bhutan
Vivek Chhetri, TT, 22.03.20, Darjeeling: The partner of an American tourist who tested positive for the coronavirus in Bhutan has also been found to be infected, hours before she was to leave the quarantine facility upon completion of the 14-day isolation period.
The woman, who tested positive in the fourth round of exams, is the second case to be reported in Bhutan.
Kuensel, a leading daily in Bhutan, tweeted: “The ‘extra’ precaution Bhutan has taken in handling the Covid-19 situation has proven to be practical in detecting the country’s second positive case yesterday.”
The newspaper said the partner of the 76-year-old who was air-evacuated to the US on March 13 tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the fourth test conducted on March 19.
The 59-year-old partner, along with the tour guide and the driver who were the primary contacts of the 76-year-old American patient, were scheduled to leave the quarantine facility on Friday after completing the 14-day quarantine period. The driver and guide tested negative for the virus.
It has been reported that the US citizen who flew back to his country on March 13 is recovering well.
(Source, Courtesy and Link: The Telegraph- https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/us-tourist-partner-positive-in-bhutan/cid/1756565?ref=west-bengal_home-template )
American tourist’s partner tests positive after fourth test
Government will maintain status quo on its preparedness plans and strategies
Younten Tshedup, Kuensel, March 21, 2020: The ‘extra’ precaution Bhutan has taken in handling the Covid-19 situation has proven to be practical in detecting the country’s second positive case yesterday.
The partner of the 76-year-old index case (patient zero) who was air evacuated to the USA on March 13, tested positive for the new coronavirus on the fourth test conducted on March 19.
The 59-year-old partner, along with the tour guide and the driver who were the primary contacts of the 76-year-old American patient were scheduled to leave the quarantine facility yesterday, after completing the 14 days quarantine period.
The driver and guide tested negative for the virus.
As per the World Health Organsiation’s (WHO) guidelines, a suspect is tested and retested only upon becoming symptomatic during the 14-day incubation period. However, irrespective of the symptoms, the health ministry conducted at least three tests so far on all the suspects under quarantine. A total of 400 tests have been conduced so far with 40 tests in the last 24 hours.
Given the international shortage of testing kits, Covid-19 testing elsewhere costs more than USD 3,000, whereas, in Bhutan it is provided for free.
Nothing changes for Bhutan
Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering during a press briefing yesterday said that the detection of second positive case in the country doesn’t bring in any changes to the government’s strategies and preparedness plan for now.
Following the detection of the first Covid-19 case in the country on March 5, all primary contacts of the patient zero, which is also the same for the 59-year-old partner, were traced within the first eight hours and put under quarantine.
Save for the partner, none of the others have tested positive to the virus so far.
No threat from second case
Lyonchhen said that the threat from the partner is negligible and there is no need for the public to panic. He said that the patient is asymptomatic for now and has been moved to the isolation.
“The biggest threat for now should be the deteriorating situation across the world and increasing number of positive cases being detecting in the nearby regions.”
India recorded at least 50 news cases as of 9 PM yesterday, the highest in a single day since the outbreak weeks ago.
While there are no separate plans designed to treat the patient, Lyonchhen said that medical staffs would be deployed as it was done for the first patient and as and when the partner shows any symptoms, she would be treated for it.
“Unless she recovers and tests negative to the virus, it is our responsibility to ensure her safety,” the Prime Minister added.
It was also decided that the guide and driver would have to continue to stay at the quarantine facility in Mothithang, Thimphu. “While they have tested negative and are doing well, their quarantine is being sustained, subsequent to the second positive case detected in the partner,” according to officials from the Prime Minister’s office.
The guide and driver had initially opted to leave the facility quarantine and practice self-quarantine at their respective homes following the completion of the 14-day incubation period yesterday.
Testing is highly sensitive
With people growing skeptic of the testing kit and procedures, Lyonchhen explained that the fact that the fourth test on the partner coming positive after three consecutive negative results, showed how sensitive the testing procedure was.
“No test is 100 percent specific but this test is highly sensitive. We test and retest samples when the results are negative but we do not do the same when we have a positive result. This is the nature of the test.”
Bhutan is using an internationally certified machine, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test sputum, blood and body fluids of suspected new coronavirus patients.
The PCR uses artificial intelligence to deliver results and human error is very minimal, according to Lyonchhen. The WHO supplies the reagents used in the testing.
(Source, Courtesy & link- Kuensel- https://kuenselonline.com/american-tourists-partner-tests-positive-after-fourth-test/)
Asia News Network: The partner of the first COVID-19 case in Bhutan has been tested positive this morning, the Prime Minister Lotay Tshering told a press conference.
The test was carried out as part of the quarantine process where everybody is checked to determine the status before being release.
The three primary contacts- the partner, guide and driver, finish their quarantine period today.
While tests on 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 were negative.
Meanwhile, the patient is asymptomatic and healthy. She will be monitored in isolation starting today.
The driver and the guide, who will be allowed to leave the quarantine facility, will have to be under home quarantine and report immediately should they notice any symptom or sign of it. "Should they wish to stay in the facility, we will be offering the option, said the premier.
This takes the number of Covid-19 cases in the country to two.
American tourist’s partner tests positive after fourth test
Government will maintain status quo on its preparedness plans and strategies Younten Tshedup, Kuensel, March 21, 2020: The ‘extra’ precaution Bhutan has taken in handling the Covid-19 situation has proven to be practical in detecting the country’s second positive case yesterday.
The partner of the 76-year-old index case (patient zero) who was air evacuated to the USA on March 13, tested positive for the new coronavirus on the fourth test conducted on March 19.
The 59-year-old partner, along with the tour guide and the driver who were the primary contacts of the 76-year-old American patient were scheduled to leave the quarantine facility yesterday, after completing the 14 days quarantine period.
The driver and guide tested negative for the virus.
As per the World Health Organsiation’s (WHO) guidelines, a suspect is tested and retested only upon becoming symptomatic during the 14-day incubation period. However, irrespective of the symptoms, the health ministry conducted at least three tests so far on all the suspects under quarantine. A total of 400 tests have been conduced so far with 40 tests in the last 24 hours.
Given the international shortage of testing kits, Covid-19 testing elsewhere costs more than USD 3,000, whereas, in Bhutan it is provided for free.
Nothing changes for Bhutan
Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering during a press briefing yesterday said that the detection of second positive case in the country doesn’t bring in any changes to the government’s strategies and preparedness plan for now.
Following the detection of the first Covid-19 case in the country on March 5, all primary contacts of the patient zero, which is also the same for the 59-year-old partner, were traced within the first eight hours and put under quarantine.
Save for the partner, none of the others have tested positive to the virus so far.
No threat from second case
Lyonchhen said that the threat from the partner is negligible and there is no need for the public to panic. He said that the patient is asymptomatic for now and has been moved to the isolation.
“The biggest threat for now should be the deteriorating situation across the world and increasing number of positive cases being detecting in the nearby regions.”
India recorded at least 50 news cases as of 9 PM yesterday, the highest in a single day since the outbreak weeks ago.
While there are no separate plans designed to treat the patient, Lyonchhen said that medical staffs would be deployed as it was done for the first patient and as and when the partner shows any symptoms, she would be treated for it.
“Unless she recovers and tests negative to the virus, it is our responsibility to ensure her safety,” the Prime Minister added.
It was also decided that the guide and driver would have to continue to stay at the quarantine facility in Mothithang, Thimphu. “While they have tested negative and are doing well, their quarantine is being sustained, subsequent to the second positive case detected in the partner,” according to officials from the Prime Minister’s office.
The guide and driver had initially opted to leave the facility quarantine and practice self-quarantine at their respective homes following the completion of the 14-day incubation period yesterday.
Testing is highly sensitive
With people growing skeptic of the testing kit and procedures, Lyonchhen explained that the fact that the fourth test on the partner coming positive after three consecutive negative results, showed how sensitive the testing procedure was.
“No test is 100 percent specific but this test is highly sensitive. We test and retest samples when the results are negative but we do not do the same when we have a positive result. This is the nature of the test.”
Bhutan is using an internationally certified machine, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test sputum, blood and body fluids of suspected new coronavirus patients.
The PCR uses artificial intelligence to deliver results and human error is very minimal, according to Lyonchhen. The WHO supplies the reagents used in the testing.
(Source, Courtesy & link- Kuensel- https://kuenselonline.com/american-tourists-partner-tests-positive-after-fourth-test/)
Asia News Network: The partner of the first COVID-19 case in Bhutan has been tested positive this morning, the Prime Minister Lotay Tshering told a press conference.
The test was carried out as part of the quarantine process where everybody is checked to determine the status before being release.
The three primary contacts- the partner, guide and driver, finish their quarantine period today.
While tests on 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 were negative.
Meanwhile, the patient is asymptomatic and healthy. She will be monitored in isolation starting today.
The driver and the guide, who will be allowed to leave the quarantine facility, will have to be under home quarantine and report immediately should they notice any symptom or sign of it. "Should they wish to stay in the facility, we will be offering the option, said the premier.
This takes the number of Covid-19 cases in the country to two.
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