Living in the New Normal: Post COVID-19

Special TV Report

Living in the Pandemic: Bhutan

It is no surprise at all to know that the world had undergone a massive shift in all areas when the coronavirus outbreak took place. Many nations and societies were taken by surprise by the virus and suffered many horrible losses. Bhutan, a kingdom in the Himalayas was no exception from this virus; for a small nation as theirs, the risk of a community spread meant the very destruction of the country. The population comprising of only 700,000 had now come face to face with the danger of losing their country and tradition to this virus; therefore under the leadership of the 5th King, the country leaped faith when they shut down the whole economy and society for a long duration of months before it was opened again in June.

Bhutan's Flag
The esteemed Buddha statue in Bhutan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many citizens of Bhutan were taken by surprise when the government announced this decision because the only positive case at the time was an American tourist, the very first positive case from the country. In this short span of duration, the people were in dire shock and disbelief, they were in haste for the rations and any important resources they deemed necessary for the lockdown.

 

In such a situation one young female by the name Pema Yangchen who had recently moved into the new province of Thimphu and was adjusting to her life in the new neighborhood had a little more tough time than the rest of the people. Her husband was still working in the old province since his transfer had not been confirmed and due to a ban in traveling; the first rule initiated by the government, he couldn't be there for her. Now with her husband not in the household, she was the head of the family bearing the responsibility for her 4-year-old son and her mother and her sister who would later join her when she arrived back from abroad.

Pema Yangchen

It was a tough time for her, she was new to the place and didn't even know her neighbor, the places were also new to her so she did not know where the places were best to get ration from and which market would have the most stocks of food. She could not waste her time too as the government gave the people only a week to gather all these resources before they went into lockdown.  She says, "It was a tough time for me, people were rushing to get rations in haste while I was still alien to the place", she would eventually get the rations by following the news on which places still had a stack of stocks left. For her though, the biggest issue with it all was her savings. Since she was new to the place and it had not even been a month since she started working, she could not ask for an advance payment like the rest of her staff. Most of the money was also spent while moving to the new house and for traveling, so she had to make sure that every penny was utilized and spent wisely. But when she was asked not to return to work was when she was worried the most, "I did not even know, if I would still have my job". With few savings, her husband out of the picture and alien to the place; this was the toughest challenge of her life.

Eventually, the lockdown that began in March was lifted in June. The government-sponsored the hotels as a quarantine site, a COVID-19 center was established and the necessary quarantine duration was raised to 21 days sponsored by the government and an additional 1-week self-quarantine at home.; work from home was also initiated by the government. Pema had made it through these months but there was still yet another challenge that she had to face with the arrival of her sister. The decision by the government and with the events that were transpiring across the world, it had made the society wary of the virus, some returned to their village vowing not to come back in the urban areas while some moved to more rural areas. The people were now filled with insecurities and fear by the virus, often abusing those who sneezed in public or keeping a distance from people who were suffering from fever. During such a time, Pema's sister arrived home from her stay in Canada. The neighbors were quick to catch on this and did not take it too kindly at her arrival.

Pema's Sister, Phub Wangmo

 

The neighbors avoided her home and avoided Pema's entire family. Some of the few neighbors who were willing to help her in the begging were now nowhere to be seen. The landlord was also showing concern over her sister's arrival and asking her to be more attentive to her sister's health. Pema's sister felt unwelcomed by the neighbors, one neighbor went as far as to drag their kids back inside the home when they saw her outside. Her sister says even her friends were avoiding her and being wary of her. With no one to complain about this behavior, both sisters had come to terms with this reaction by calling it a "natural reaction". For them, this was to be expected after what the entire country had to go through.

 

 

Pema's neighbor

One neighbor who now feels safer with them shared his thoughts and action calling it a natural action that anyone would do. He explains why he in the beginning was wary of Pema's sister, he says he was afraid that she was a potential threat of transmitting the virus and he couldn't risk getting his family infected. Being the eldest of the sibling he would make sure that his younger one avoided her and her house. He would also often tell his parents to not get too involved with Pema's family. Eventually, though, he says after watching her sister and slowly being involved with her eased that tension inside him. He ultimately felt that she was safe and that the notion that anyone coming from abroad was a possible positive for the virus was absurd. He says now he can understand that he was being stupid because there were already facts showing that she was safe; the 21 days quarantine and an additional 1-week self-quarantine.

 

Pema is doing better now than in the initial phase, her job has resumed, her husband comes home from time to time and the neighbors are slowly opening up though some are still being fearful of her. She believes that she did the best of what she can and is willing to do more if the need for it ever arises. Like a ferocious mother and a loyal sister, she is not ready to lose to this virus or against society.

Pema's family portraits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College Student

WEB CLIPS- The Bhutan Government has decided to open up schools again and the public are divided into two opinions about it.

A college student majoring in business administration (BBA) and Human resource management (HRM) shares his thoughts regarding it.

What are your thoughts regarding school being reopen?

Do you think it will be safe to reopen schools?

Which course of action do you think the government should take?

Do you think the students will be able to follow the new rule and restrictions implemented by the government?

What do you think will the government's decision result in for the students?

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*