DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

A big development in this past week was the government through the Department of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Economic Affairs signing a 15-year lease with the State Mining Corporation Limited (SMCL) for the Chunaikhola Dolomite Mine and the Khothakpa Gypsum Mine. During the lease period, the SMCL shall pay License …

During the lockdown and before the implementation of COVID-19 relaxation Phase II, the vehicle movement around the country was not as heavy and as busy as it is now. Now, with the implementation of Phase II, especially with the lifting of quarantine facility system for the domestic travelers, the vehicle …

Omicron expected to peak by end of April 2022 In the past one week, Thimphu has detected nearly around a thousand new cases daily. Thimphu has been detecting the highest COVID-19 cases in the country. As of 18 April, Thimphu has 3,501 positive cases followed by 654 cases in Phuentsholing, …

Some also suffer from breathing issues As Omicron sweeps across offices, homes and other spaces there are some common experiences and symptoms to watch out for.  Infected people suffered from severe to milder symptoms, but they say it is completely different from the regular common flu. Beema Thapa in Gomtu …

As the Ministry of Health (MoH) has now changed the testing protocols and is conducting less number of tests in Phase II compared to Phase I, the true infections figures are not available.  More than 40 percent of the cases are reported to be asymptomatic, so people are not aware …

284 cases are active Although the majority of the population, in the five years and above category, is vaccinated in the country, however, there remain more than 60,000 children below five years, most at risk of getting the infection.  According to the Ministry of Health’s data sent to the paper …

As the schools nationwide reopen on Monday, 4 April 2022, many teachers are hopeful that they can continue with the contact teaching as planned, despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has directed all the schools in classes VII, VIII, IX, X and …

After the launch of the first Skills Development Plan (SDP) course, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) has trained 288 candidates in 17 different types of skilling area. Of the total trained candidates, 185 are male and 103 are female. The first SDP was launched on 4 October …

Given the lack of testing capacity in the country for certain tests, the Department of Livestock (DoL) sent the Karma Feeds sample for poultry feed to laboratories in India and Thailand. Poultry farmers in the country shared that the Department of Livestock is taking too much time in acquiring the …

Taba police, Thimphu received an alleged case of sexual harassment from the National COVID-19 hospital in Taba. The initial incident took place on the night of 21 March. The details are not being shared, as the police are waiting for both the parties to complete their isolation period and start …