covid-19 pandemic in bhutan covid-19 pandemic in bhutan the covid-19 pandemic in bhutan was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2). covid-19 pandemic in bhutandiseasecovid-19virus strainsars-cov-2locationbhutanfirst outbreakwuhan, hubei, chinaindex caseparoarrival date6 march 2020(3 years, 2 months and 1 week)confirmed cases62,668deaths21vaccinations699,116 (total vaccinated)677,669 (fully vaccinated)2,011,426 (doses administered)government websitehttps://www.gov.bt/covid19/ the virus was confirmed to have reached bhutan on 6 march 2020, when a 76-year-old american tourist who had travelled from india tested positive for covid-19. the king of bhutan addressed the nation on 22 march 2020, telling citizens "as a small country with a small population, we can overcome any challenge we are faced with, if the people and the government work together." the country subsequently implemented strict containment measures, and was able to largely stamp out the outbreak. bhutan currently has the lowest case fatality rate for covid-19 at 0.05%, which is significantly lower than the who's global case fatality rate of 4.34%, and lower than sars of 2003. however, the transmission has been significantly greater. background on 12 january 2020, the world health organization (who) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in wuhan city, hubei province, china, which was reported to the who on 31 december 2019. timeline covid-19 cases in bhutan () deaths recoveries active cases2020202020212021marmarapraprmaymayjunjunjuljulaugaugsepsepoctoctnovnovdecdecjanjanfebfebmarmarapraprmaymayjunjunjuljulaugaugsepsepoctoctnovnovlast 15 dayslast 15 days date# of cases# of deaths 2020-03-061(n.a.) ⋮1(=) 2020-03-202(+100%) ⋮2(=) 2020-03-253(+50%) ⋮3(=) 2020-03-294(+33%) ⋮4(=) 2020-04-015(+25%) 2020-04-025(=) ⋮5(=) 2020-04-205(=) 2020-04-216(+20%) 2020-04-227(+17%) 2020-04-237(=) ⋮7(=) 2020-04-277(=) ⋮7(=) 2020-05-097(=) 2020-05-109(+29%) 2020-05-1111(+22%) 2020-05-1211(=) 2020-05-1315(+36%) 2020-05-1420(+33%) 2020-05-1521(+5%) ⋮21(=) 2020-05-2021(=) ⋮21(=) 2020-05-2324(+14%) ⋮24(=) 2020-05-2728(+17%) 2020-05-2831(+11%) 2020-05-2933(+6.5%) 2020-05-3037(+12%) 2020-05-3137(=) 2020-06-0147(+27%) ⋮47(=) 2020-06-0448(+2.1%) ⋮48(=) 2020-06-0759(+23%) 2020-06-0859(=) 2020-06-0959(=) 2020-06-1059(=) 2020-06-1162(+5.1%) 2020-06-1262(=) 2020-06-1362(=) 2020-06-1466(+6.5%) 2020-06-1567(+1.5%) 2020-06-16 2020-06-1767(n.a.) 2020-06-18 2020-06-1968(n.a.) 2020-06-20 2020-06-2168(n.a.) 2020-06-2269(+1.5%) 2020-06-2370(+1.4%) 2020-06-2470(=) 2020-06-2570(=) 2020-06-2670(=) 2020-06-2776(+8.6%) 2020-06-2876(=) 2020-06-2977(+1.3%) 2020-06-3077(=) 2020-07-0177(=) 2020-07-0277(=) 2020-07-0378(+1.3%) 2020-07-0478(=) 2020-07-0580(+2.6%) 2020-07-0680(=) 2020-07-0780(=) ⋮80(=) 2020-07-1082(+2.5%) 2020-07-1182(=) 2020-07-1284(+2.4%) 2020-07-1384(=) ⋮84(=) 2020-07-1686(+2.4%) 2020-07-1787(+1.2%) 2020-07-1887(=) 2020-07-1989(+2.3%) 2020-07-2090(+1.1%) 2020-07-2192(+2.2%) 2020-07-2292(=) 2020-07-2392(=) 2020-07-2492(=) 2020-07-2593(+1.1%) 2020-07-2695(+2.2%) 2020-07-2799(+4.2%) 2020-07-2899(=) 2020-07-29101(+2%) 2020-07-30101(=) 2020-07-31101(=) 2020-08-01102(+0.99%) 2020-08-02103(+0.98%) 2020-08-03103(=) 2020-08-04105(+1.9%) 2020-08-05105(=) 2020-08-06108(+2.9%) ⋮108(=) 2020-08-09110(+1.9%) 2020-08-10113(+2.7%) 2020-08-11116(+2.7%) 2020-08-12128(+10%) 2020-08-13131(+2.3%) 2020-08-14133(+1.5%) 2020-08-15138(+3.8%) 2020-08-16141(+2.2%) 2020-08-17146(+3.5%) 2020-08-18147(+0.68%) 2020-08-19150(+2%) 2020-08-20153(+2%) 2020-08-21154(+0.65%) 2020-08-22155(+0.65%) 2020-08-23155(=) 2020-08-24156(+0.65%) 2020-08-25173(+11%) 2020-08-26183(+5.8%) 2020-08-27184(+0.55%) 2020-08-28195(+6%) 2020-08-29 2020-08-30224(n.a.) 2020-08-31225(+0.45%) 2020-09-01227(+0.89%) 2020-09-02227(=) 2020-09-03227(=) 2020-09-04228(+0.44%) 2020-09-05 2020-09-06230(n.a.) 2020-09-07233(+1.3%) 2020-09-08234(+0.43%) 2020-09-09235(+0.43%) 2020-09-10238(+1.3%) 2020-09-11241(+1.3%) 2020-09-12244(+1.2%) 2020-09-13245(+0.41%) 2020-09-14246(+0.41%) 2020-09-15246(=) 2020-09-16246(=) 2020-09-17252(+2.4%) 2020-09-18258(+2.4%) 2020-09-19258(=) 2020-09-20259(+0.39%) 2020-09-21261(+0.77%) 2020-09-22261(=) 2020-09-23261(=) 2020-09-24263(+0.77%) 2020-09-25263(=) 2020-09-26271(+3%) 2020-09-27273(+0.74%) 2020-09-28273(=) 2020-09-29280(+2.6%) 2020-09-30282(+0.71%) 2020-10-01282(=) 2020-10-02283(+0.35%) 2020-10-03283(=) 2020-10-04298(+5.3%) 2020-10-05299(+0.34%) 2020-10-06300(+0.33%) 2020-10-07304(+1.3%) 2020-10-08304(=) 2020-10-09304(=) 2020-10-10306(+0.66%) 2020-10-11309(+0.98%) 2020-10-12309(=) 2020-10-13313(+1.3%) 2020-10-14316(+0.96%) 2020-10-15316(=) ⋮ 2020-10-18325(n.a.) 2020-10-19330(+1.5%) 2020-10-20331(+0.3%) 2020-10-21332(+0.3%) 2020-10-22332(=) 2020-10-23336(+1.2%) 2020-10-24340(+1.2%) 2020-10-25342(+0.59%) 2020-10-26342(=) 2020-10-27345(+0.88%) 2020-10-28346(+0.29%) 2020-10-29346(=) 2020-10-30348(+0.58%) 2020-10-31348(=) 2020-11-01354(+1.7%) 2020-11-02354(=) 2020-11-03358(+1.1%) 2020-11-04358(=) 2020-11-05358(=) 2020-11-06358(=) 2020-11-07359(+0.28%) 2020-11-08359(=) 2020-11-09364(+1.4%) 2020-11-10364(=) 2020-11-11364(=) 2020-11-12364(=) 2020-11-13369(+1.4%) 2020-11-14375(+1.6%) 2020-11-15375(=) 2020-11-16377(+0.53%) 2020-11-17378(+0.27%) 2020-11-18378(=) 2020-11-19378(=) 2020-11-20378(=) 2020-11-21380(+0.53%) 2020-11-22382(+0.53%) 2020-11-23386(+1%) 2020-11-24386(=) 2020-11-25386(=) 2020-11-26386(=) 2020-11-27395(+2.3%) 2020-11-28396(+0.25%) 2020-11-29396(=) 2020-11-30410(+3.5%) 2020-12-01414(+0.98%) 2020-12-02415(+0.24%) 2020-12-03418(+0.72%) 2020-12-04418(=) 2020-12-05426(+1.9%) 2020-12-06426(=) 2020-12-07432(+1.4%) 2020-12-08433(+0.23%) 2020-12-09433(=) 2020-12-10434(+0.23%) 2020-12-11436(+0.46%) 2020-12-12437(+0.23%) 2020-12-13438(+0.23%) 2020-12-14438(=) 2020-12-15439(+0.23%) 2020-12-16440(+0.23%) 2020-12-17442(+0.45%) 2020-12-18443(+0.23%) 2020-12-19446(+0.68%) 2020-12-20467(+4.7%) 2020-12-21479(+2.6%) 2020-12-22482(+0.63%) 2020-12-23519(+7.7%) 2020-12-24541(+4.2%) 2020-12-25576(+6.5%) 2020-12-26597(+3.6%) 2020-12-27623(+4.4%) 2020-12-28623(=) 2020-12-29636(+2.1%) 2020-12-30655(+3%) 2020-12-31670(+2.3%) 2021-01-01689(+2.8%) 2021-01-02710(+3%) 2021-01-03716(+0.85%) 2021-01-04734(+2.5%) 2021-01-05734(=) 2021-01-06755(+2.9%) 2021-01-07767(+1.6%)1(n.a.) 2021-01-08771(+0.52%)1(=) 2021-01-09810(+5.1%)1(=) 2021-01-10810(=)1(=) 2021-01-11825(+1.9%)1(=) 2021-01-12831(+0.73%)1(=) 2021-01-13833(+0.24%)1(=) 2021-01-14834(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-15837(+0.36%)1(=) 2021-01-16842(+0.6%)1(=) 2021-01-17842(=)1(=) 2021-01-18843(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-19848(+0.59%)1(=) 2021-01-20850(+0.24%)1(=) 2021-01-21851(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-22851(=)1(=) 2021-01-23854(+0.35%)1(=) 2021-01-24855(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-25856(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-26856(=)1(=) 2021-01-27856(=)1(=) 2021-01-28857(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-29858(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-01-30858(=)1(=) 2021-01-31859(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-02-01859(=)1(=) 2021-02-02859(=)1(=) 2021-02-03859(=)1(=) 2021-02-04859(=)1(=) 2021-02-05861(+0.23%)1(=) 2021-02-06861(=)1(=) 2021-02-07861(=)1(=) ⋮861(=)1(=) 2021-02-12863(+0.23%)1(=) 2021-02-13863(=)1(=) 2021-02-14864(+0.12%)1(=) 2021-02-15866(+0.23%)1(=) ⋮866(=)1(=) 2021-02-18866(=)1(=) ⋮866(=)1(=) 2021-02-22866(=)1(=) 2021-02-23867(+0.12%)1(=) ⋮867(=)1(=) 2021-02-28867(=)1(=) ⋮867(=)1(=) 2021-03-05867(=)1(=) 2021-03-06868(+0.12%)1(=) ⋮868(=)1(=) 2021-03-18868(=)1(=) 2021-03-19868(=)1(=) 2021-03-20869(+0.12%)1(=) ⋮869(=)1(=) 2021-03-24870(+0.12%)1(=) ⋮870(=)1(=) 2021-03-27871(+0.11%)1(=) 2021-03-28872(+0.11%)1(=) ⋮872(=)1(=) 2021-03-31873(+0.11%)1(=) 2021-04-01886(+1.5%)1(=) 2021-04-02889(+0.34%)1(=) 2021-04-03891(+0.22%)1(=) ⋮891(=)1(=) 2021-04-06896(+0.56%)1(=) 2021-04-07900(+0.45%)1(=) 2021-04-08900(=)1(=) 2021-04-09906(+0.67%)1(=) 2021-04-10910(+0.44%)1(=) 2021-04-11910(=)1(=) 2021-04-12921(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-04-13927(+0.65%)1(=) 2021-04-14929(+0.22%)1(=) 2021-04-15934(+0.54%)1(=) 2021-04-16941(+0.75%)1(=) 2021-04-17952(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-04-18957(+0.53%)1(=) 2021-04-19961(+0.42%)1(=) 2021-04-20966(+0.52%)1(=) 2021-04-21986(+2.1%)1(=) 2021-04-22986(=)1(=) 2021-04-231,008(+2.2%)1(=) 2021-04-241,018(+0.99%)1(=) 2021-04-251,022(+0.39%)1(=) 2021-04-261,026(+0.39%)1(=) 2021-04-271,053(+2.6%)1(=) 2021-04-281,059(+0.57%)1(=) 2021-04-291,066(+0.66%)1(=) 2021-04-301,074(+0.75%)1(=) 2021-05-011,106(+3%)1(=) 2021-05-021,111(+0.45%)1(=) 2021-05-031,119(+0.72%)1(=) 2021-05-041,119(=)1(=) 2021-05-051,135(+1.4%)1(=) 2021-05-061,161(+2.3%)1(=) 2021-05-071,190(+2.5%)1(=) 2021-05-081,202(+1%)1(=) 2021-05-091,221(+1.6%)1(=) 2021-05-101,241(+1.6%)1(=) 2021-05-111,247(+0.48%)1(=) 2021-05-121,257(+0.8%)1(=) 2021-05-131,257(=)1(=) 2021-05-141,276(+1.5%)1(=) 2021-05-151,279(+0.24%)1(=) 2021-05-161,286(+0.55%)1(=) 2021-05-171,286(=)1(=) 2021-05-181,309(+1.8%)1(=) ⋮ 2021-05-211,374(n.a.)1(n.a.) 2021-05-221,392(+1.3%)1(=) 2021-05-231,394(+0.14%)1(=) 2021-05-241,411(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-05-251,423(+0.85%)1(=) 2021-05-261,423(=)1(=) 2021-05-271,491(+4.8%)1(=) 2021-05-281,491(=)1(=) 2021-05-291,603(+7.5%)1(=) 2021-05-301,621(+1.1%)1(=) 2021-05-311,621(=)1(=) 2021-06-011,632(+0.68%)1(=) 2021-06-021,639(+0.43%)1(=) 2021-06-031,654(+0.92%)1(=) 2021-06-041,669(+0.91%)1(=) 2021-06-051,682(+0.78%)1(=) 2021-06-061,687(+0.3%)1(=) 2021-06-071,703(+0.95%)1(=) 2021-06-081,724(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-06-091,724(=)1(=) 2021-06-101,769(+2.6%)1(=) 2021-06-111,789(+1.1%)1(=) 2021-06-121,808(+1.1%)1(=) 2021-06-131,813(+0.28%)1(=) 2021-06-141,826(+0.72%)1(=) 2021-06-151,842(+0.88%)1(=) 2021-06-161,854(+0.65%)1(=) 2021-06-171,882(+1.5%)1(=) 2021-06-181,882(=)1(=) 2021-06-191,889(+0.37%)1(=) 2021-06-201,924(+1.9%)1(=) 2021-06-211,939(+0.78%)1(=) 2021-06-221,963(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-06-231,963(=)1(=) 2021-06-242,006(+2.2%)1(=) 2021-06-252,006(=)1(=) 2021-06-262,027(+1%)1(=) 2021-06-272,052(+1.2%)1(=) 2021-06-282,062(+0.49%)1(=) 2021-06-292,076(+0.68%)1(=) 2021-06-302,076(=)1(=) 2021-07-012,104(+1.3%)1(=) 2021-07-022,122(+0.86%)1(=) 2021-07-032,122(=)1(=) 2021-07-042,159(+1.7%)1(=) 2021-07-052,169(+0.46%)1(=) 2021-07-062,210(+1.9%)1(=) 2021-07-072,249(+1.8%)1(=) 2021-07-082,252(+0.13%)1(=) 2021-07-092,258(+0.27%)1(=) 2021-07-102,266(+0.35%)1(=) 2021-07-112,266(=)1(=) 2021-07-122,290(+1.1%)1(=) 2021-07-132,324(+1.5%)1(=) 2021-07-142,324(=)1(=) 2021-07-152,380(+2.4%)2(+100%) 2021-07-162,398(+0.76%)2(=) 2021-07-172,411(+0.54%)2(=) 2021-07-182,421(+0.41%)2(=) 2021-07-192,427(+0.25%)2(=) 2021-07-202,455(+1.2%)2(=) 2021-07-212,456(+0.04%)2(=) 2021-07-222,458(+0.08%)2(=) 2021-07-232,470(+0.49%)2(=) 2021-07-242,470(=)2(=) 2021-07-252,486(+0.65%)2(=) 2021-07-262,489(+0.12%)2(=) 2021-07-272,500(+0.44%)2(=) 2021-07-282,501(+0.04%)2(=) 2021-07-292,506(+0.2%)2(=) 2021-07-302,508(+0.08%)2(=) 2021-07-312,515(+0.28%)2(=) 2021-08-012,515(=)2(=) 2021-08-022,524(+0.36%)2(=) 2021-08-032,532(+0.32%)2(=) 2021-08-042,540(+0.32%)2(=) ⋮2,540(=)2(=) 2021-08-072,544(+0.16%)2(=) 2021-08-082,544(=)2(=) 2021-08-092,546(+0.08%)2(=) 2021-08-102,550(+0.16%)2(=) 2021-08-112,551(+0.04%)3(+50%) 2021-08-122,553(+0.08%)3(=) 2021-08-132,553(=)3(=) 2021-08-142,570(+0.67%)3(=) 2021-08-152,571(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-08-162,577(+0.23%)3(=) 2021-08-172,577(=)3(=) 2021-08-182,577(=)3(=) 2021-08-192,580(+0.12%)3(=) 2021-08-202,580(=)3(=) 2021-08-212,585(+0.19%)3(=) ⋮2,585(=)3(=) 2021-08-242,591(+0.23%)3(=) 2021-08-252,591(=)3(=) 2021-08-262,591(=)3(=) 2021-08-272,592(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-08-282,592(=)3(=) 2021-08-292,594(+0.08%)3(=) 2021-08-30 2021-08-312,596(n.a.)3(n.a.) 2021-09-012,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-022,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-032,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-042,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-052,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-062,596(=)3(=) ⋮2,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-132,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-142,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-152,596(=)3(=) ⋮2,596(=)3(=) 2021-09-182,597(+0.04%)3(=) ⋮2,597(=)3(=) 2021-09-222,599(+0.08%)3(=) ⋮2,599(=)3(=) 2021-09-282,600(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-09-292,601(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-09-302,601(=)3(=) ⋮2,601(=)3(=) 2021-10-032,608(+0.27%)3(=) 2021-10-042,608(=)3(=) 2021-10-052,613(+0.19%)3(=) 2021-10-062,613(=)3(=) 2021-10-072,613(=)3(=) ⋮2,613(=)3(=) 2021-10-112,613(=)3(=) 2021-10-122,613(=)3(=) 2021-10-132,615(+0.08%)3(=) 2021-10-142,616(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-10-152,617(+0.04%)3(=) ⋮2,617(=)3(=) 2021-10-252,617(=)3(=) 2021-10-262,617(=)3(=) 2021-10-272,620(+0.11%)3(=) ⋮2,621(=)3(=) 2021-11-022,621(=)3(=) 2021-11-032,622(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-11-042,622(=)3(=) 2021-11-052,623(+0.04%)3(=) ⋮2,623(=)3(=) 2021-11-132,625(+0.08%)3(=) ⋮2,625(=)3(=) 2021-11-172,629(+0.15%)3(=) 2021-11-182,629(=)3(=) 2021-11-192,632(+0.11%)3(=) ⋮2,632(=)3(=) 2021-11-232,633(+0.04%)3(=) ⋮2,633(=)3(=) 2021-11-262,634(+0.04%)3(=) 2021-11-272,636(+0.08%)3(=) 2021-11-282,640(+0.15%)3(=) 2021-11-29 2021-11-302,640(n.a.)3(n.a.) data sourced from moh.gov.bt (1, 2) casesdeaths march 2020 6 march: bhutan confirmed its first covid-19 case, a 76-year-old us male who travelled to the country via india. around 90 people who came directly in contact with him, along with his 59-year-old partner, driver, and guide were promptly traced and quarantined. bhutan immediately restricted entry of foreign tourists for two weeks. schools in three areas including capital thimphu were closed. the 76-year-old american male's case received personal attention from bhutan's king, and he was evacuated to the united states on 13 march. he was evacuated to baltimore, md and survived. his partner also survived. 20 march: the 59-year old partner of the american tourist tested positive for covid-19 14 days into quarantine, 19 days after entering bhutan and 28 days after her first contact with the index case. although their driver and guide tested negative, both were being held in extended quarantine even though their quarantine period had ended. 22 march: jigme khesar namgyel wangchuck, the king of bhutan, announced in a national address that the country's land borders would be sealed off. 23 march: all international borders were sealed. around 5,000 bhutanese living the indian town of jaigaon west bengal, bordering bhutan, were evacuated to neighbouring phuntsholing. 24 march: the government banned the import of doma (betel nut) and pani (betel leaf), as well as fruit, vegetables, and meat in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. it also closed all its borders with india. 25 march: a student in bhutan who had returned from the united kingdom was found to be positive for covid-19, the third case in the country. 29 march: according to the ministry of health, a returning student in the quarantine facility tested positive. the patient was moved to the isolation ward in thimphu. this is the 4th positive case in bhutan and the 2nd bhutanese to be infected by covid-19 in the country. a bhutanese national in new york was also confirmed positive. 31 march: the prime minister, dr. lotay tshering, announced that the quarantine period for covid-19 in bhutan will be extended from 14 to 21 days, even though the international (who) standard for quarantine is 14 days. he said: "there is the risk of testing positive even after quarantining for 14 days. that is why we have decided to extend the quarantine period." on this date bhutan had 3,059 people held in quarantine facilities and 339 people in home quarantine. april 2020 1 april: it was announced that a bhutanese student who had been studying in the us, and was under facility quarantine in thimphu, has tested positive for coronavirus. she has been moved to the isolation centre and is reported to be in a stable condition. this is the 5th case of covid-19 detected in the country. 2 april: it was announced that the first two covid-19 cases detected in bhutan (an american tourist and his travelling partner) have now recovered. 7 april: with the numbers of coronavirus infections in neighbouring india rising, increased security and prevention measures have been set up in the sarpang and samtse districts which border the indian states of assam and west bengal. these measures include round-the-clock surveillance of all formal and informal border crossing points, and door-to-door covid-19 awareness and prevention campaigns. regional referral hospital, mongar 8 april: a special isolation hospital equipped to treat any covid-19 patients in the eastern region has been set up in the royal guest house at mongar. it has 24 beds with a surge capacity for an additional 15 beds. a covid-19 testing lab was also set up at the mongar regional referral hospital and, until this date, seven suspected cases had been tested there. all these test results were negative. the mongar district administration has also identified 30 quarantine centres in the district. currently only one person in the district is in quarantine. 9 april: 309 bhutanese were evacuated from the maldives and new delhi in india and returned to bhutan by special drukair flights. on arrival they were all sent directly to the quarantine facility in thimphu. most of those returning from the maldives had been working in the tourism sector there; while the majority of those returning from new delhi were students. the government scheduled further flights within the following days to evacuate bhutanese residing in bangalore, amritsar and chandigarh in india, and those residing in sri lanka. 20 april: the second covid-19 case, the 59 year-old partner of the first patient, left the country on 20 april after making a full recovery. on this day, 1,400 people were in 75 facility quarantine centres and two in home quarantine. more than 3,500 had already been discharged after completing their quarantine period. 21 april: a person who returned to bhutan from the middle east, in quarantine since arrival, tested positive and become the sixth covid-19 case in the country and was moved to the hospital isolation facility. the other three covid-19 patients are in stable condition and are now in de-isolation. 22 april:a 24-year-old man who returned from the middle east tested positive taking the number of confirmed cases in the country to seven. the man was under quarantine at paro and on testing positive moved to the isolation ward in thimphu. 23 april the fourth covid-19 case in the country was pronounced recovered and sent home. the three remaining cases are all in de-isolation quarantine having already tested negative twice in 24 hours. 27 april: the first bhutanese (third case in the country) covid-19 case in the country has now recovered after completing the 2 weeks de-isolation period since first testing negative. the individual tested negative again after finishing the 2 week de-isolation period in quarantine. "the royal government of bhutan and the world bank today signed a fast-track $5 million covid-19 emergency response and health systems preparedness project to help bhutan prevent, detect, and respond to the covid-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. the agreement was signed by finance minister lyonpo namgay tshering and tenzin lhaden, acting country representative, on behalf of the world bank." may 2020 1 may: the foreign minister reported that a 36-year old bhutanese in abu dhabi tested positive yesterday. there are now 12 bhutanese citizen living abroad who are positive, five of whom have recovered. 2 may:suspected case. it was reported that a businessman in jomotsangkha in the samdrup jongkhar district of south eastern bhutan had tested positive on 1 may for covid-19 using a rapid test kit, when a team from the ministry of health was conducting random sampling tests there. a further sample was sent to a national testing centres unit at mongar to confirm the result. the person, who was asymptomatic and had no recent travel history, was placed in quarantine to be moved to an isolation ward in mongar or thimphu if the further test result proved positive. contract tracing of this suspected community transmission case was carried out, and about 1,000 people instructed to stay indoors pending the pcr test results of this case. about 60 other people in the same town were tested as part of high-risk community surveillance. jomotsangkha, which borders india, is considered a high-risk community as the town currently has no internal road connection with the rest of bhutan and people normally need to travel via assam to reach other places in bhutan. later in the day it was announced that the pcr test results of the suspected case in jomotsangkha were negative. the prime minister, dr. lotay tshering, said the previous rapid test was positive for igm, which means he could have an active viral infection, but wasn't shedding the virus at the time of the pcr test. the area continues to be kept under high surveillance, with the suspected case and his primary contacts put