Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration’s Task Force for the Wuhan-originated, COVID-19 pandemic addressed the press on last week on the status of active cases worldwide and particularly in the Tibetan community and the response measures being taken. Dr Tsering Tsamchoe and Dr Tenzin Namdon briefed the press conference.
Dr Namdon briefed on the situation in numbers across the globe. So far 187 countries have positive cases. Globally 3753219 people have tested positive with 263843 deaths and 1245560 people have recovered. The five countries with the highest number of positive cases are US, Spain, Italy, UK, France. She read statistics some of the countries where diaspora Tibetans have settled in higher numbers. US has 1,228,603 positive cases and 73,431 deaths. The UK has 202,359 positive and 30,150 deaths. France has 174,224 positive cases and 25,812 deaths. Canada has 64694 positive cases and 4366 deaths.
Dr Namdon continued with statistics in India. With 53045 people have tested positive and 15,266 recovered, so far the number of deaths stands at 1787. The states with the highest number of positive cases are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. In Himachal Pradesh, 45 people tested positive with 38 recovered and 2 deaths. Karnataka has 693 positive cases with 354 recovered and 29 deaths.
As a precautionary measure to stay in quarantine for people who come from outside and also for those who are at higher risk has been carrying out. So with that Dr Tsamchoe said prior to 3 May, there were 27 people and now with the slight ease in the lockdown, the number has reached 147 across 13 settlements in India and 5 settlements in Nepal.
Dr Tsamchoe said “last week in Gangchen Kyishong area, for 90 people thermal screening has been carried out thus the total number of people who have been screened in last three weeks in Gankyi vicinity is 1,322. In India, across 31 settlements and in Nepal across 5 settlements the total number of people who were screened is 30117.”
She mentioned that quarantine facilities are available in 24 settlements and also in 11 scattered Tibetan communities. Also, 28 settlement officers have physically met the respective local nodal officer of COVID-19 appointed by the Indian government and the rest of settlement officers have also made the contact through telephonic conversation.
61 nurses and 16 drivers came forward to volunteer which is proving very helpful and later in case of emergency this could be very critical said Dr Tsamchoe.
She further added notices were issued to all Tibetan settlements regarding the complete sanitisation, and the timings will be accordingly notified by the DoHe.
After 3 May, the government of India categorized all the regions into three zones with Red, Orange and Green. Dr Namdon said, “since the inter-state permits have been allowed under certain conditions with e-permit, the infection risk will get higher so each person should be responsible to take all the precautionary measures”.
She advised people with diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions, and kidney or lung diseases to take extra precaution as they are at higher risk of contraction.
Dr Tsamchoe urged those coming to Dharamshala from outside to inform the concerned staff of CTA or Dharamshala welfare officer as it poses a huge risk to the entire CTA.
-Filed by Department of Health