Dharamshala: This November marked a year since Covid-19 first emerged from Wuhan city in China and spread all across the world claiming the lives of over 1.6 million people. As of today, over 73 million people have been infected with the Wuhan-originated virus.
Since early March, the Central Tibetan Administration has proactively responded to prevent the catastrophic impacts of the disease particularly in Tibetan settlements and communities in India and across the world. The CTA COVID-19 Task Force was formed, presided by Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk, Department of Health and as Advisors Dr Tamdin and Dr Tsetan both personal physicians of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and members including Secretary and staff of Health department as well as host of medical professionals from Mentsee Khang and Delek hospital.
After a year-long fight to contain the pandemic with potential breakthroughs with a vaccination, the Task Force continues to take on the challenges presented by this pandemic, keeping up a steady progress in its fight against Covid.
Addressing the 37th COVID- briefing, Dr Tsamchoe updated the COVID status of the exile Tibetan community. 55 Tibetans tested positive this week and their distribution regionally are: 1 in Bir, 2 in Bylakuppe, 1 in Clement Town, 11 in Dekyiling, 5 in Delhi, 15 in Dharamshala, 15 in Ladakh, 1 in Mainpat, 2 in Rajpur, 1 in Kollegal,1 in Tsopema. Of this, 33 are male and 22 female, the oldest is aged 89 and the youngest at 4, 38 symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic, with 1 death from Tsopema of a male aged 56 with co-morbid disease, bringing the total count to 1376 cases, with 1197 recoveries, 35 deaths and 144 active cases.
Reviewing CTA’s COVID efforts, she updated the quarantine status of the exile Tibetan community at 666, and the progress of contact tracing, including the provisions of SORIG immune boosters to the contacts, and tele-counselling and guidance provided to the 34 confirmed positive this week, as well as the ongoing testing drive being carried out with the Health Department’s initiative, facilitated by the healthcare workers.
Dr Tsamchoe reasserted her appeal for individual responsibility since the nation-wide lockdown lift has allowed businesses and tourism to reopen, with the threat of community transmission at hand. She also stressed for the three main safety practices: wearing masks at all times in public spaces, social distancing, and washing hands along with strengthening immunity and mental wellbeing.
Despite the rejoicing news of the Pfizer vaccine that was recently approved for mass vaccination in the UK, the uncertainty of global distribution must be considered, she reminded, adding that people must continue to follow precautions as vaccines alone can not guarantee complete safety.
Dr Tsundue urged people to fully support the contact tracing efforts and participate in preventing community transmission which would require the people to observe strict lockdown.
He also directed McLeod residents to contact the medical help [Ph no: 8448415631] if symptoms of cold, coughing, extreme tiredness appear. He specifically urged people to message, instead of calling, their names, contact details and describe symptoms to help the registration efforts of the nurses.