45 Tibetans test positive for COVID-19 in the past week, CTA calls for extreme caution

DHARAMSALA, 18 Dec: The Covid- 19 Task Force of the Central Tibetan Administration has reported 45 new Covid-19 positive cases among exiled Tibetans in India over the past week.

“A total of 45 Tibetans; 5 from Clementown, 11 from Dharamshala, 1 from Bylakuppe, 3 from Dekyiling, 2 from Ladakh, 18 from Miao, 1 from Shimla, and 4 from Tso Pema tested positive for the COVID-19 in the last week,” Dr Tsering Tsamchoe said during the committee’s weekly briefing.

Dr Tsamchoe further called for continued caution by following guidelines issued by the health authorities and Government of India and by wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and a robust immune system.

The CTA, under its settlement wise testing drive, has tested 698 people in India and 2 in Nepal in the last week.

Dr Tenzin Tsundue highlighted the rising cases of COVID-19 in Dharamsala and urged Tibetans to be responsible individuals.  Over the last two weeks, 26 Tibetans tested positive for the COVID-19 from Dharamsala area while the Union health ministry of India listed Himachal Pradesh along with Uttarakhand and Nagaland among the states which are still battling the rises in Covid-19 cases earlier on Tuesday.

Palden Dhondup, the Secretary of the CTA’s Health Department who addressed the briefing stated that taking the pandemic lightly has led to the rise in the cases and further advised the public against attending large social gatherings and unnecessary travel.

Dhondup further called on Tibetans for extreme caution and not to let their guards down and continue to exercise caution.

The tally of exiled Tibetans in India and Nepal now stands at 1421 cases positive cases till date, 110 active cases, 1276 recoveries and 35 deaths.