Isolated Bhutan confirms first coronavirus case; imposes two-week restriction on all incoming tourists

A 76-year-old US citizen who was detected coronavirus-positive in Bhutan after spending 10 days in India on Friday put Indian health officials on overdrive as they scrambled to locate the individuals who came in contact with the US tourist in India.

The tourist who came from Washington entered Bhutan on March 2 in a Drukair flight from Guwahati. He and his 59-year-old partner were in India between February 21 and March 1.

When he landed at Paro international airport, the US citizen did not have any symptoms, which came up a few days later.

"On Thursday when he checked at a health facility in Thimpu, he was found to have a 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 the Royal Centre for Disease Control. Upon confirmation, he has been isolated in the Covid-19 hospital. Considering his age and underlying conditions, the patient is on oxygen support,” the Bhutan Prime Minister Office said in a statement.

The Bhutanese authorities have traced over 90 contacts so far and are in the process of carrying out primary disease management. The contact tracings were launched as per the patient’s itinerary. The Bhutan government shared the information with the Indian embassy.

Since the novel-coronavirus 2019 has a gestation period of up to 14 days, Indian health authorities are now in the process of locating the people the US man came in contact with. Officials admit that the number on the Indian side could run into hundreds.

India so far reported 31 confirmed cases of Covid-19 as the Health Ministry confirmed one additional positive case—a Delhi person who has a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia. The patient is stable and being monitored.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan chaired a review meeting with health ministers and chief secretaries of all states in which he underscored the importance of staying alert for signs and symptoms. A training workshop for state officials was also held.