Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration’s Task Force for the Wuhan origin, COVID-19 pandemic addressed the press on 30th April 2020 on the status of active cases worldwide and the different response measures initiated by the committee.
Members of the CTA Task Force, Dr. Tsering Tsamchoe, and Dr. Tenzin Tsundue led the press briefing.
Globally, the confirmed cases are at 3,240,705 with 227,847 deaths. The USA has the maximum number of positive cases at 1,040,488 with 60,999 deaths reported. China has 83,944 positive cases and 4,637 deaths. India has 33,062 positive cases and 1079 deaths. Nepal has 57 cases and 1 death. A slower doubling rate of the positive cases was noticed with an earlier rate of 4 days to the current 11 days.

As for the status update on COVID-19 situation in Tibetan community, there are 46 people currently under home quarantine. Active surveillance of door- to door thermal screening has been carried out to 28,787 people in Tibetan settlements in India and Nepal and 1216 people living in and around Gangchen Kyishong.

Immune booster prescribed by Tibetan Medicine and Astro-Science Institute (TMAI) has been given to 352 people who were and are under quarantine and also for those at a higher risk. The Department of Health (DoHe), CTA received demands of the immune booster from Tibetans outside India but due to the lockdown, the shipment of these immune booster remains a challenge.

DoHe has posted a notice for volunteers and 16 drivers and 53 nurses have volunteered for their service in 15 different settlements. On behalf of the Task-Force, Dr. Tsamchoe appreciated them and the other frontline responders who have been selflessly working in sanitizing the settlements and setting up of quarantine facilities with a strong sense of community. People were advised not to visit Dharamshala, the head-quarter of CTA unless it is an absolute emergency. As a single positive case can jeopardize the whole community.

Even though there are no positive cases in the Tibetan community in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the task-force emphasizes the utmost importance of following prevention measures such as maintaining social distance and abiding by the state and central governments’ laws and notices.

Watch here the full press conference.