Bhutan Lifts 5-day Mandatory Quarantine on Monday

Thimphu, July 4

Bhutan will lift the 5-day mandatory quarantine requirement for all incoming travelers from July 4 this year. The Prime Minister's Office of the Royal Government announced this by issuing a press release on July 3. Officials in Thimpu acknowledged that the quarantine measure caused inconvenience to travelers.

"While we acknowledge the implications and inconveniences the arrangement has caused the travelers so far, it was intended to reinforce and protect our country and communities from COVID-19, which is still in the "pandemic" stage. Since the transition into Phase II, we have continuously seen a low positivity rate (1.46 percent) and promising trends of zero fatalities and hospitalizations to date," the press release stated.

"A new arrangement of "Test-and-Go" system (mandatory stay home/hotel quarantine for 24 hours or until negative RT-PCR result is declared) will be instituted effective from July 4, 2022 where they stay home/hotel duration will be strictly monitored," the official announcement declared.

 Upon arrival at the point of entry, while RT-PCR test samples will be collected, proof of vaccination certificate or evidence of COVID-19 infection in the six months prior to the visit will have to be produced. Anyone testing positive will be required to self-isolate for five days at home/hotel.

Besides Paro, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrupjongkar, the test results at other points of entry may take more than 24 hours due to the non-availability of the RT-PCR testing facility. Those already undergoing the five-day quarantine and who have tested negative will be allowed to end their quarantine as per the "Test-and-Go" protocol from July 4, 2022.

Vaccination and booster will be a critical tool in the country's collective effort to end the pandemic. This is a significant milestone in the country's fight against the pandemic. Bhutan had introduced a 21-day quarantine system that was gradually lowered to a 5-day quarantine, which now has been removed.