KUENSEL T U E S D A Y, M A Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

THAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED

Druk Gyalpo’s
Canine
distemper
cases rising
1188
in Paro Briefly
... lockdown has Sangay
left the dzongkhag Moenlha
without vaccines prayer
His Holiness the Je
Khenpo is presiding
Phub Dem | Paro
over Sangay Moenlha
prayer at Tango Dorden
Months after Paro saw the
Tashithang Buddhist
first Canine Distemper case
University. It is a part
towards the end of 2019, the
of series of rituals and
dzongkhag’s veterinary hos-
prayers dedicated to
pitals today sees at least six
late Je Thrizur, Tenzin
cases every day. 
Doendup’s Parinirvana.
Since the outbreak, the
dzongkhag veterinary hospital
treated around 940 dogs suf-
fering from canine distemper. Pg 3 Inside
Canine distemper is a viral
disease that affects canids and
felids, including dogs, and
Bumthang

Additional penalties
the infection is not zoonotic
initiates
which means it does not
cordyceps
transmit to human. 
collection plan

for smugglers
Although the infection
Pg 5
was reported from all 10 ge-
wogs in Paro, the number of
cases was higher in Shaba,
Lungnyi and Wangchang ge-
wogs as of yesterday.
Senior veterinary officer,
Dr Sonam Peldon said that
crossing the border Weather

due to the lockdown in India, Sections for criminal nuisance and breach of public order imposed

22 9
the local pharmacy was not
Yangchen C Rinzin  Another 30-year-old charged for Criminal Nuisance,

L
able to supply the vaccine to
driver was also sentenced to Section 410 and 411 (b) of the
pet owners.  
ast Friday, the nine years on same accounts Penal Code of Bhutan. The OAG MAX MIN
“Dogs have to get the vac-
Phuentsholing after he was arrested near also charged them for Breach
cine every year to prevent the
drungkhag court Rinchending in Phuentshol- of Public Order and Tranquil-
infection.” 
sentenced a ing in possession of 1,492 SP+ lity (Section 448 and 449) of the
The vaccine prevents the
28-year-old man capsules.  Penal Code of Bhutan. 
disease for a year. Stray dogs
to nine years for illicit traffick- The crime according to According to Section 410
often don’t get vaccination

24 11
ing of 78 capsules of Spasmo the  Narcotic Drugs, Psycho- and 411(b), a defendant is guilty
since it costs 600 a dose. 
Proxyvon Plus (SP+).  tropic Substances and Sub- of the offence of criminal nui-
The dzongkhag’s meas-
The convict was arrested stance Abuse (Amendment) sance, if the defendant know-
ures to fight the outbreak in- MAX MIN
on April 5 near Chinese Line, Act of Bhutan 2018 would be ingly or recklessly creates or
clude isolation of sick dogs,
which shares an open and po- third degree felony, but with maintains a condition including
giving antibiotic, and proper
rous border with Jaigaon. Po- borders sealed and the country spreading of a dangerous dis-
burial of dead ones.  
lice arrested the man around fighting to prevent the spread ease that injures or endangers
In the wake of Covid-19,
1pm when his companion, of coronavirus, the Office of the safety or health of the public.
local residents suspicious that
a non-Bhutanese threw the the Attorney General (OAG) is The offence is graded as fourth
the dogs may have contracted
drugs concealed inside a applying other relevant laws. degree, which is between three
the novel coronavirus.  Pg 2 www.kuenselonline.com
cricket ball over the fence.  The convicts were also and five years.  Pg 2
HOME
PAGE 2 Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL
Farmers now focus on
growing watermelons
Ugyen Dorji
A group of farmers from
Dechheling Gewog, pema-
gatshel, have started grow-
ing watermelon for the first
time on a commercial scale.
The group consist of five
people are growing water-
melon on about 1-acre land
at Telung. The promise is
showing already.
One of the members of
the group, Thinley Tempa,
said watermelon cultivation
started in March. He said
that when the project was
first tried, production was
amazing.
The group planted 600
saplings. Farmer said that
they were expecting produce
harvest worth about three
Bolero truck.
Kencho Zangmo, a mem-
ber of the group, said that
the group was worried about
the market. The plan is to in-
Additional penalties for
smugglers crossing the border
From Pg 1
Section 448 and 449 states
that if the defendant pur-
posely fails to abide by the
orders of the government is-
sued in the interest of public
safety, public order and tran-
quillity, it will be graded as
a petty misdemeanour liable
for imprisonment of less than
one year and more than three
months.  said. “This is to ensure that
An attorney from the OAG
said that in the wake of the
Covid-19 pandemic where
borders are sealed, there is
an increasing number of peo-
ple trespassing or sneaking in
and out from illegal routes.  Gelephu on same accounts.
“Many of the people who
trespassed had the intention
to bring in tobacco products
especially in the southern
borders,” he said. “The bor-
ders were sealed on March
23. After that, we started
charging additional charges
of criminal nuisance and
breach of public order and
tranquillity.”
The attorney said that
given the risk of Covid-19
virus there is every chance of
I am happy
looking at the
yield”
crease the production if the
sell increases.
“I am happy looking at
the yield,” Kencho Zangmo
said.
Farmers said that ADRC
provided technical and
other supports. The group
is exploring the market in
Pemagatsel, Mongar, and
Nganglam.
Dechheling Gewog’s ag-
riculture extension officer,
Tempa Chorten, said that
he had the job to monitor
regularly.
Pemagatshel dzongkhag
agriculture officer, Tashi
Phuntsho said that water-
melon plantation is one of
these people going to border
town and bring in the virus
risking the entire population
and the country.  would be charged for crimi-
“Even if someone is
caught attempting to cross
the border without the in-
tention to bring in tobacco
products, the person would
still be charged for Section
411(b) and 448,” the attorney
the person receives harsher
punishment for not abiding
by the government’s order in
the current situation.”
The OAG also charged
another six in Sarpang and
Some of the  cases are yet to
be charged to the court. Most
of these suspects were caught
by patrolling team consist-
ing of police personnel and
DeSuups.
One of the cases concerns
a driver who trafficked Nu
4,000 worth of tobacco prod-
ucts - 500 sticks of cigarettes
and 4,140gms of chewing
tobacco. Another case is of a
driver who went to Falakatta,
India, to get vegetables but
Farmers are expecting to sell their harvest towards the end of this month
the collaboration activities
of Agriculture Research
and Development Centre
(ADRC), Wengkhar and
Pemagatshel.
The activities are being
taken up in Dungmaed, Yu-
rung, and Chimong gewogs.
lied about his travel history.
However, since he had trav-
elled before March 23, he
nal nuisance. He was quar-
antined for 21 days. 
One of the suspects
would be charged on the
same ground for crossing the
border to meet his non-Bhu-
tanese friends and keeping
three Indian workers without
a work permit. He will also
be charged against Section
128(c) of Immigration Act
2007, which is a petty misde-
meanour.  Paro was witnessing many
Another suspect had
trafficked Nu 10,000 worth
of tobacco products while
one of the suspects went to
a friend in a border town to
have alcohol and returned
home. “Although he had just
met his friend and returned
and didn’t bring in tobacco,
he disobeyed the government
order.”
Meanwhile, to encourage
physical distancing, most of
the hearings are done online
at the OAG and to avoid trav-
elling during the pandemic.     create awareness on the out-
Canine distemper
cases rising in Paro
Dead canine distemper stray dog
From Pg 1
Dr Sonam Peldon said that
the canine distemper shows
similar symptoms because
both the diseases are viral in-
fections. However, she said, ca-
nine distemper does not spread
to human.  infectious to human and other
cases of canine distemper due
to clustered landscape, she
said. “There are cases of ca-
nine distemper in Thimphu,
Dagana and Haa but not as
high as Paro.”
Around 250 pet owners
have vaccinated their dogs
against the infection so far this
year.
Deputy chief dzongkhag
livestock officer Loden Jimba
said that the dzongkhag ad-
ministration had notified the
local government officials to
break and asked the people not
to panic.
He said that the virus had
a similar symptom like rabies
such as fever, muscle twist,
limpness, among others. 
Although the virus was not
domestic animals, he said that
the concern was spreading the
virus to endangered species
such as snow leopard, tiger
and fox. 
“We informed people to
dump the carcasses properly.”
The dzongkhag adminis-
tration has also reported the
situation to the ministry. 
The infections were report-
ed mainly from non-vaccinat-
ed, stray dogs during winter.
Officials said that vaccinating
all pets and stray dogs would
reduce the outbreak in the
dzongkhag. 
 HOME
Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 3

Gas leakage shatters

an apartment
Chhimi Dema had no ventilation. “They had
sealed even the exhaust holes
Residents of Changjalu in on the walls with ply boards,”
Thimphu woke up to the Major Ugyen Wangdi said. 
sound of a massive explosion He said that the phenom-
at around 5:22am yesterday.  enon is called a vapour cloud
The explosion blew the explosion. 
windows and doors of an apart- “The gas being denser than
ment at the ground floor of a air hung low in the room and
two-storey house.    the leak continued to build
There was no casualty.  the pressure with exit points. It
Thimphu Police rushed reached to the adjacent room
to the scene with the bomb and came into contact with
squad along with sniffing dogs the butter lamp which ignited
to investigate what caused the the gas at once and caused the
explosion. explosion,” he said. 
Senior Superintendent of “The resultant pressure
Thimphu division, Colonel from the ignition asserted
Dorji Khando said that there equally in all directions and
was no trace of an explosive. the weak parts of the structure,
“There were no splinters or mainly the windows and doors
a crater, a hole in the ground gave way.”
left when an explosive goes off, “That is the only probable
anywhere in that apartment,” cause of the explosion.”
he said.  Neighbours said there was
They combed every part of a loud noise like a clap of thun-
the building but found nothing der and the floor shook. 
relating to explosives. Experts “I thought it was an earth-
from various agencies exam- quake, and when I looked
ined the site and ruled out any outside the ground floor was
foul play.  completely wrecked. There
On closer examination, was no fire or smoke from the
police found that the liquefied house.” 
petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder The house was fully dam-
in the kitchen had leaked.  aged, with the single-partition
Major Ugyen Wangdi said inside the two-bedroom house
the cylinder was intact but and window panels wholly
empty.  blown out. Witness saw shards
The tenant was away at her and bricks lying all over the
relative’s place that night. She floor and outside. 
told police that she last used The building suffered hair-
the stove at around 5pm on line cracks and window panes
the previous day and turned of the nearby buildings shat-
it off. The cylinder was refilled tered. 
recently.  RBP officials said that the
The officer, who was an ex- public should turn-off regu-
pert with the fire department, lators of LPG cylinders when
said that the gas stove pipe had not in use and to buy proper
worn out which could have gas stove pipe to avoid such
been the point of the leak. accidents.   
Police officials said that The police said the case is
the apartment was small and The explosion blew off the windows and doors of the apartment still under investigation. 

Nganglam-Gyalpoizhing highway closed for 14 days

Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar
The Gyalpoizhing- Nganglam
highway will be closed for
around two weeks the entire
base of the road was washed
away at Kerongtshong in
Pemagatshel.
The rockslide on April 26
had washed away about 20
metres of the formation of the
road. Kerongchong is about
38km from Nganglam towards
Gyapoizhing.
Regional Department of
Road’s (DoR) chief engineer,
Jigme Choidup, said that the
rockslide had taken away
about 20 metres of the road
last month. DOR had deployed
excavators and rock-drill ma-
chines, among others at the
site immediately.
He said the highway is closed
for traffic because they are carry-
ing out the clearing works at the
site. They would have to cut out
of the road formation.
The chief engineer sus-
pects the failure of the forma-
tion could be the cause of the
slide. “We cannot say how long
will it take to clear the block as
it is at the cliff and rocky areas.”
“Landslide frequently oc-
curs at the site, and we have
not seen any possibilities to
carry out the hillside cutting
on the rocky cliff.” He said that
falling boulders also threaten
the lives of the workers at the
site which is also hampering
their efforts in clearing the site.
Jigme Choidup said that
they are planning to lower the
road level and construct a wall.
“It would take about two weeks
to clear a block if the weather
favours but we cannot say as
the weather is unpredictable.”
PERSPECTIVES
PAGE 4 Tuesday, May 05, 2020 | KUENSEL

The Jomotsangkha lesson MY COUNTRY, MY TOWN

J
omotsangkha is under strict restrictions. The
lockdown in India has already affected the
drungkhag. There is an informal gag on the
media issued by local authorities and there
is fear in the town that borders Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh.
Since the news of the shopkeeper suspected of testing
positive for coronavirus went viral, the remote town has
become more secluded. Even a telephone call to local
leaders is rejected with suspicions. Within the town, it
is learnt that the family of the suspected case is being
stigmatised.
The shopkeeper, who was tested and retested nega-
tive on the more reliable PCR, runs a shop that was popu-
lar in the town before the incident. Family members are
feeling stigmatised and the shop has lost its customers.
The social media community is reported to be trolling
the family and relatives.
Media breaking the news about the shopkeeper testing
positive on the Rapid Test Kit disturbed the community
and many more beyond Jomotsangkha. The updates on
the retest done on the PCR unfortunately didn't calm those
who got worked up.
There is a growing concern, some even blaming
A bed of bikes: A space set aside for ornamental plants and the like has been usurped for
media that the news was fake and that media should
not have created the panic. For the record, long before a while by motorcycles Photo: Lhaki Wangchuk, Kuensel
the mainstream media got a whiff of it, it was already on
social media. The information shared was going viral Send in your pictures to: editorkuensel@gmail.com
on Wechat and Facebook. It was not verified and had no
source. The newspapers and the national TV shared the
news after verifying with the health ministry, some from MY SAY
the health minister.
It must have created some panic, especially when not
read in full, but the news was important not for media,
but for the country amid our fight against the coronavirus. The backbone of economy
With the imported cases well under control through
Agriculture is the backbone Thanks to Covid-19 It seems the agriculture
the mandatory quarantine system, the concern today
of Bhutan’s economy. agriculture Lyonpo Yeshey minister is passionate about
from His Majesty The King, the government and the It contributes about 33 Penjor is touring the country developing agriculture.
health ministry is preventing an infection in the com- percent of Gross Domestic to assess the agriculture Some of our politicians
munity. We all know the risk of a community infection Product (GDP). Bhutan’s development prospects in are getting their hands
without travel history. agriculture sector employs the country. dirty. But the question
Jomotsangkha borders Assam where as of yesterday about 60 percent of the The agriculture is about how long the
43 positive cases were confirmed. Bongaigaon, close to country’s workforce. minister recently took spirit be sustained. This
Gelephu town is in a red zone and in the west, Alipurduar, Agriculture development a tractor ride to an is not the first time we are
not far away from Lhamoizingkha detected four positive is one of the priorities of agriculture demonstration talking about agriculture
cases in a single day recently. the government. To achieve farm developed by Farm development.
Everybody needs to be concerned. If the result on food security, funding Machinery Corporation Bhutan is an agrarian
needs to be channelled Limited in Trongsa society. But why do we
the Rapid Test Kit was a false alarm, it came as a good
into agricultural research, dzongkhag. import most of what we
warning. Restrictions on movement of people, gather- extension services, and The Covid-19 consume?
ing, closing of business and even a lockdown is the irrigation to improve crop pandemic has forced an  
immediate action should there be a single case of com- diversification and crop unprecedented amount of Tshering,
munity infection. yields. our attention to agriculture. Thimphu
We can surmise that Jomotsangkha is now more pre-
pared after the scare. Given the porous border it shares
with Assam, we cannot take any chance. The recent
incident could pass as a good drill for the community Make your opinions known. Send your letters to
and the local leaders.
What we don't need is branding people as virus car- editorkuensel@gmail.com
rier just because they were tested for Covid-19. A lot
Letters are edited for space and clarity
of these must be from ignorance. That's why we need
education and communication. Not talking to media or
discouraging people from doing so will not help anyone.
We have people sharing their stories from isolation FOR FEEDBACK
wards, from quarantine facilities and those who recov- Call 324684 or email
ered. Our tolerance level is high when we understand that
Covid-19 is not associated with race, religion or nationality. editorkuensel@gmail.com
It is a disease that is curable when detected at the earliest.
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Bumthang initiates
cordyceps collection plan
Nim Dorji | Trongsa
Bumthang is among the few
dzongkhags where cordyceps
collection takes place. How-
ever, waste is fast becoming
a major problem in the col-
lection sites.
The dzongkhag admin-
istration so has introduced
a waste management strat-
egy. Starting this season,
cordyceps collectors will
have to pay Nu 1,000 security
deposit each. They must also
bring back from collection
sites at least five kilogrammes
of waste.
Collectors will have to
forfeit security deposit if they
fail to bring back the required
amount of waste and will be
denied collection permit for
the coming year.
Bumthang Dzongdag
Passang Dorji said that se-
curity deposit would be
refunded on fulfilling the
condition such as attending
health screening at the exit
point, declaring five kgs of
waste, and producing the
health screening certificate
issued by the health official
at the exit points.
The Zhung dratshang’s Dorji Lopon conferred Tashi Lekdhar to the newly appointed
Drel-chung and Lampon of the central monastic body at the Punakha dzong yesterday.
48-year-old Tshechu from Punakha is appointed as the Drel-chung of Zhung dratshang.
He served as the Lampon of Zhung Dratshang prior to his current appointment. 47-year-
old Gyembo from Wangdue is the new Lampon of the Zhung dratshang. He served as
the mig-nyipa prior to his current appointment.
A checkpost in upper Bumthang
As part of Covid-19
preventive measures, all
collectors will be required
to attend mandatory flu
screening when they go to
and return from the collec-
tion sites.
DZONGKHAG
Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL
The collectors from other
dzongkhags travelling to the
respective cordyceps collec-
tion site through Bumthang
to drop rations or for the
collection should produce a
consent letter from the re-
Three people sentenced
for cigarette smuggling
Nim Dorji
The Bumthang court on May
1 sentenced two shopkeep-
ers and a corporate employ-
ee in prison for illegal import
of cigarettes last December.
The case surfaced after an
informer alerted Bumthang
police of a suspected to-
bacco smuggling. While
checking passenger buses
travelling between Thimphu
and Bumthang police came
across a parcel containing
4,790 sticks of cigarettes in
the name of the women run-
ning a Pan shop in Bumthang
on December 9.
The 43-year-old woman
from Dagana who runs a
shop at Bajo town in Wang-
due Phodrang was charged
for illegally importing 4,790
sticks of cigarettes from
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PAGE 5
spective gewogs or dzong-
khag administration office.
Two checkpoints at
Zangtherpo and Thowadrak
bridge in Tang have been in-
stalled to control illegal col-
lectors. Each year, hundreds
of collectors illegally enter
Bumthang’s cordyceps col-
lection sites.
 “Those who fail to abide
by the collection guideline
shall be dealt as per the rel-
evant law of the Kingdom,”
dzongdag said.
The Cordyceps collec-
tion permits for Bumthang
will be issued on May 18.
“In the past, we used to
create awareness related to
cordyceps harvesting in the
chiwogs, but this year, due
to the Covid-19 situation, we
will go to villages,” said Pema
Doengyel, Chhoekhor Gup.
Jaigaon in India. She was
sentenced to four years and
two months in prison.
The 29-year-old man
from Pemagatshel, a corpo-
rate employee in Wangdue
Phodrang, was sentenced to
three years and 2 months for
solicitation and aiding and
abetting the crime.
The Pan shop owner,
33, at Chamkhar town was
sentenced to two years and 2
months in prison. She is also
fined Nu 380,100, six times
the actual amount paid for
the cigarettes. The license
has been confiscated and
cancelled as per regulations.
It was learnt that both
shopkeepers are repeat of-
fender. They were convicted
for tobacco possession by
both Bumthang and Wangle
district courts in the past.
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PAGE 6 Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL
Keep Thimphu Clean & Green

VaCanCy announCement
tHimPHu tHromde
Building No: 08, Gongdzin lam
Thimphu-11001: Bhutan
TT/HRS/03/2019-2020/1181

Thimphu Thromde is pleased to announce the vacancies for the following post on consolidated contract for a period of 2 years:

sl no Position title No. of post Salary Qualification Remarks

Nu. 19,970.00 Bachelors in Business
City Transport Preference shall be given to those with
1 2 & HRA of Nu. Administration/Bachelors in
Officer experience in management
3,995.00. Mechanical Engineering
Sweeper 4 for Changangkha-Motithang constituency
2 7 Nu. 215/day Not required
(Muster roll) and 3 for Bebena constituency
Interested Bhutanese citizens may apply with the following documents latest by 18/05/2020 to the HR Section, Thimphu Thromde.
1. RCSC Employment Application form 4/1 available at www.rcsc.gov.bt
2. Resume ( Not required for Sweepers)
3. Copy of academic transcripts :X, XII & Degree (Not required for Sweepers)
4. Copy of relevant training transcript, if any
5. Copy of Bhutanese citizenship identity card
6. Copy of Medical fitness certificate issued by competent RGoB medical doctor (Valid up to 6 months from the date of issue)
7. Security Clearance Certificate
8. No objection Certificate, if employed
Shortlisting of City Transport Officers will be done based on merit (Degree- 50%, Cl XII- 30%, Cl X- 20%) The shortlisted candidates will
be announced in Thimphu Thromde’s website www.thimphucity.gov.bt. Also refer the website for ToR of City Transport Officers.
For any queries, please contact the Human Resource Section at 02327513 during office hours.
Chief Administrative Officer
Keep Thimphu Clean & Green

VaCanCy announCement Corrigendum

gross nationaL HaPPiness Commission druk green Power CorPoration
GNHC/HR(12)/2019-20/1081 Limited
sl. no Position title Ministry Vacancy (a company)
DGPC/KHP/TSU/CMU-03/2020/599
1 Chief Planning Officer PPD, MoAF 1
2 Chief Planning Officer PPD, MoIC 1 In the SBD Section III: Bidding forms under Form
6, Bill of Quantity (BoQ) of tender no. DGPC/KHP/
Interested in- service civil servant who have the required eligibility criteria may TSU/CMU-03/2020/596 dated 24/04/2020 for the
apply to Director, GNHC, Thimphu with relevant documents on or before May 19, work “Construction of security room near office
2020 before the close of office hours. For further information, please visit GNHC complex, aluminium partition in office complex and
website www.gnhc.gov.bt. repair of class I & II quarters at KHP” is to read as
Director corrected BoQ. The bidders are required to submit
the corrected BoQ.
All other terms and conditions of the bid will
remain unaltered.
Head
Technical Support Unit

nu. Per units of foreign CurrenCy

CLassifieds as of yesterday
NOTES
Buy Sell
US $ 74.65 76.95
PoUnD 93.70 96.25
EURo 81.95 84.20
Vacancy: Required TTI YEn (100) 69.85 71.80
civil graduates. HK $ 9.60 9.90
Contact 17609330. AUS $ 48.10 49.40
Sing $ 52.75 54.20
Courtesy BnB
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Tuesday, May 05, 2020 | KUENSEL PAGE 7
 DIVERSION
PAGE 8 Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | KUENSEL

Kwik Xword Quick CLUES

yptic Clues Health 1
Puzzle 2005
2 3
© Gemini Crosswords 2012 All rights reserved
4 5 6 7 8
Across
Quick Clues

Capsule
Across
1 Professional killer (3,3) 4
me in the money (6) 1 Professional
Unbothered (4-4) killer (3,3)
orted or pushed out (6,2) 9 10 4 Unbothered
9 Temperament (6) (4-4)
n’t become heated (6) 9 Temperament
10 Mountain area of (6)
e man (8) 11 10 Mountain
southeast Europe (8) area of southeas
on next to nothing being humble (8) 12 13
12 Abroad
12 Abroad (8) (8)
or girl with unmarried sisters in her care (6) 13 To
13 To bully (6) bully (6)
k causing rapid loss of heart (4) 14 15 Dull15heavy
Dullsound
heavy(4)sound (4)
ver used in the race (5,5) 16 Complete stop (10) stop (10)
16 Complete
15 16 17 19 Profession, occupation
g money out for retirement (10) 19 Profession, occupation (4,
bill (4) (4,2,4)20 Originate (4)
18
as absolute control of the French vessel (6) 20 Originate (4)
23 Provide paid job for (6)
19 20 21 23 Provide paid job for (6) 25
step in the present era (5,3) 25 Angry discussion (8)
Angry discussion (8)
he happiest inscriptions - yet they could be (8) 22 27 Something doomed to failu
27 Something doomed to
more money for cook (6) failure28
(4,4)Repudiate (6)
name is different in Scandinavian (8) 23 24 25 29
28 Repudiate Permanent
(6) (8)
ch balls are hit in nets perhaps (6) 26
30 Harass
29 Permanent (8) a speaker (6)
30 Harass a speaker (6)
27 28
Down
m for a bullet perhaps (7) Down 1 Press release (7)
with a place for a catalogue of successes (9) 1 Press 2 Completely
release (7) (2,3,4)
appeared at the end of the Eighties (6) 2 Completely (2,3,4)
3 Apprehend (6)
29 30
oes down or rises in play (4) 3 Apprehend
5 In an (6) averted direction (4)
le takeover for the flower show (4,4) 5 In an averted
6 Reduction direction(8)(4)
possibly square (5) May 2 , answers 6 Reduction
7 A (8) useful quality (5)
7 A useful quality (5)
dy put-up job (7) Across: 1 Harvard, 5 Cover up, 9 Gristle, 10 Minimal, 11 At one, 12 To a degree, 13 8 A small falcon (7)
Solution toLook
last week’s puzzle 8 A small falcon (7)
ble to turn up a whole lot of dates (7) Disregard, 15 Cress, 16 Forum, 18 sharp, 21 Constable, 24 Arrow, 25 Sponger, 11 Terrestrial (7)
11 Terrestrial (7) 14
usand spaced out in deserts (7) 26 Violate, 27
C R A M P O N Amnesty, 28 Satisfy.
B A C K S U P H A R V A R D C O V E R U P 14 Unvarying (7)
Unvarying (7)
blement for the architect? (9) 17 On 17trial On trial (2,3,4)
R B A A I A H L A U T W O E E E
E P I G1 R A M (2,3,4)
mmend someone to take legal action (8) Down: Haggard, 2S Ruinous,
I B E R3 AtI A
the helm, 4GDwelt,
R I 5S Come
T L E M I6 Venue,
and go, N I M A L
18 It is not surprising (2,6)
A T A E H O I U G N H L E U O L 18 It is not surprising (2,6)
y of winged duck (7) 7 Remorse,
T O I C 8 Pellets,
S H O14RAt T liberty,
H E A 15
D Cast about,
A 16 Fuchsia,
N E 17 T Run-down,
O A D E G19R 19 Coax by flattery (7)
S T O E E 19 Coax by flattery (7)
onomise is of no avail (7) Arrears,
E F 20HPowdery,P22 Tagus,K23 Eaves.
I R U H N S T 21 Afternoon performance of
D E F A U L T E R I N S E T D I S R E G A R D C R E S S
21 Afternoon performance of
many in panic make themselves (6) T U I C L T G A 22 Lethargic (6)
play (7)
hball for a winter sportsman? (5) M O U S E R O C H E S T E R F O R U M L O O K S H A R P 24 Tartan
22 Lethargic (6) cloth (5)
O N N H E E U U I T R O
al in poor health (4) U N D E R H A N D O V A L S C O N S T A B L E A R R OW
24 Tartan
26 cloth
Look(5)over intently (4)
N E A B A C R T H D A E A B E D 26 Look over intently (4)
Know your health
Rebus
T O R O N T O T A K E O F F S P O N G E R V I O L A T E
U G G U E E S U I W U T E U R R Solution on Thursday
P R O T E S T D R Y C E L L A M N E S T Y S A T I S F Y
Stay informed and
follow advice given Cryptic Quick
Crampon, 5 Backs up, 9 Epigram, 10 Siberia, 11 Stoic, 12 Short head, 13 Defaulter, 15 Inset, Across: 1 Harvard, 5 Cover up, 9 Gristle, 10 Minimal, 11 At one, 1
by your healthcare
18 Rochester, 21 Underhand, 24 Ovals, 25 Toronto, 26 Take off, 27 Protest, 28 Dry cell. Sudo
Cress, 16 Forum, 18ku
Look sharp, 21 Constable, 24 Arrow, 25 Spon
provider Satisfy.
Creased, 2 A bit off,
Stay3 informed 4 Names,
on the
Parachute, 5 Bishopric, 6 Cabot, 7 Shrieks, 8 Plaudit, 14 Turn
latest developments
aboutup,
ce hockey, 16 Mount COVID-19. Follow19
17 Undergo, advice
Tea given
rose,by
20 Restful, 22 Range, 23 Dated. Down: 1 Haggard, 2 Ruinous, 3 At the helm, 4 Dwelt, 5 Come and
your healthcare provider, your national 14 At liberty, 15 Cast about, 16 Fuchsia, 17 Run-down, 19 Arrears,
and local public health authority or your one in a million
employer on how to protect yourself and
others from COVID-19.
Why? National and local authorities will
have the most up to date information on
whether COVID-19 is spreading in your
area. They are best placed to advise on
what people in your area should be doing
to protect themselves.
Info courtesy - who.int
out to lunch

BC

How to play
Fill in the grid so
that every row, every
column, and every 3
X 3 box contains the
numbers 1 through 9.
Answer
 ASIA
Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 9

HK experts say phased lifting

of social distancing feasible
Medical experts said the city
has met the conditions for re-
laxing some social distancing
rules as no new infections of
COVID-19 was reported in the
city on Sunday, which was also
the 14th straight day without
new cases of local transmis-
sion.  restaurants.
The city’s tally of infections
remains at 1,039, with the lat-
est confirmed cases reported
on Friday. The two patients
are returnees from Pakistan
who arrived in Hong Kong via
a government-chartered flight
Thursday evening.  return to their office on Mon-
During a television inter-
view on Sunday, leading mi-
crobiologist Yuen Kwok-yung
said partial relaxation of social
distancing restrictions seems
feasible under current circum-
stances.  The Center for Health
The government had ear-
lier announced the ban on the
gatherings of more than four
people and required some
entertainment venues includ-
ing mahjong parlors, bars and
karaoke lounges to shut doors
to control the spread of the
deadly disease.  measures and identify high-
Talking on the restrictions,
Yuen warned against relaxing
all of them at once. He sug-
gested that the government
review current anti-epidemic
risk venues and ways to reduce
transmission risks at those
places.   lifting of Hong Kong’s social
Keiji Fukuda, director at
the School of Public Health of
the University of Hong Kong,
said on Saturday that it is an
appropriate time for a phased
distancing restrictions.  China Daily
Given that spread of the
novel coronavirus in Hong
Kong has slowed down, Sec-
retary for Food and Health
Sophia Chan Siu-chee on
Saturday revealed the govern-
ment is mulling over relaxing
the ban on groups of more
than four people per table in
In a television interview,
Chan said the final decision
on the relaxation of social dis-
tancing rules will be made in
the next couple of days. 
Most of the city’s more
than 170,000 civil servants will
day and public services will
gradually resume to normal.
Some of outdoor facilities, in-
cluding tennis courts and jog-
ging tracks, will also reopen to
the public next week. 
Protection continued to call
on residents to maintain so-
cial distancing and avoid non-
essential travel as the outbreak
in some other countries and
regions remain severe. 
ANN

Tokyo coronavirus infections drop by 40%

The number of coronavirus
infections in Tokyo has de-
creased by about 40% from
its peak, according to data
provided by the metropolitan
government.
In the week from April 26
to May 2, 641 people in Tokyo
were infected with the virus,
down about 40% from the peak
of 1,074 in the week from April
12.
Calls urging people to
avoid going out have had some
effect, but there are also con-
cerns that people may start to
tire of the restrictions.
Although the Tokyo met-
ropolitan government believes
that the peak has been passed,
it has continued to call for
cooperation from residents,
warning that if lots of people
go out during the Golden Week
holiday period, “all of the ef-
forts made so far will end in
failure.”
According to data based on
the Tokyo metropolitan gov-
ernment’s announcements,
the number of people infected
with the new coronavirus in
the week from March 29 was
527, but the number nearly
doubled to 1,011 in the week
from April 5. The figure for the
week from April 12 was 1,074,
the highest number recorded
so far.
The central government
declared a state of emergency
on April 7. The number of in-
fections fell to 862 in the week
from April 19 as a result of the
metropolitan government’s
measures to combat the virus
in response to the declaration.
The proportion of patients
“The number of infections some of which had not been of discipline during the cherry
with unknown infection routes
has begun to decline signifi- accepting patients. blossom season in March may
also fell to about 40% from
cantly,” said Hiroshi Nishiura, “A critical situation has have contributed to the spread
more than 70% at the peak. Re-
professor at Hokkaido Uni- been overcome,” said Masa- of the disease.
cently, there have been many
versity and a member of the taka Inokuchi, vice president “There are still many [in-
cases of mass infections in
Health, Labor, and Welfare of the association on Thurs- fections],” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko
hospitals and suspected infec-
Ministry’s cluster task force. day. However, “There are no Koike said on Saturday.
tions among individuals in the
According to the Tokyo vaccines or drugs yet,” he said, The Japan News
same household. Meanwhile,
Medical Association, the situ- warning of a potential second ANN
testing has increased by more
ation has also improved at the peak of infections.
than 1,000 per week.
nation’s medical institutions, Some speculate that a lack
SPORTS
PAGE 10 Tuesday, May 05, 2020| KUENSEL

BFF incurs financial La Liga aiming for June restart as

clubs return to training this week
loss due to Covid-19
Thinley Namgay  the BFF in terms of sponsorship. 
In an earlier interview, BFF’s general
The Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) secretary, Ugyen Wangchhuk, said that
has incurred a loss of more than Nu the AFC had stopped some funds meant
500,000 so far due to the Covid-19 pan- to support the clubs.
demic. Dawa Dolma Tamang said the BFF
One of the sources of revenue for was unsure whether to use the funds
BFF is from hiring out the two foot- from the FIFA. “BFF hasn’t got clear in-
ball grounds at Changlimithang and structions from FIFA.” 
Changjiji. While coordinating football leagues
BFF’s finance official, Dawa Dolma and tournaments, BFF receives sponsor-
Tamang, said the implication was huge.    ships from within the country.
 For every match on either ground,  “Some of our sponsors have pulled
BFF charges a ground fee of Nu 3,000 out from sponsoring our tournaments
and Nu 1,000 for light during weekdays. and that has had a major implication on
On the weekends, Nu 4,000 is the ground our financial status,” said Dawa Dolma
fee and Nu 1,000 is for light.  Tamang.
“BFF earns Nu 25,000 to Nu 35,000 BFF is also one of the federations La Liga organisers are aiming for a June team training.
in a week from Changlimithang ground; that receive more budgets from the Bhu- restart to the season, which was halted “These measures cover a period
Nu 15,000 to Nu 25,000 is from Changjiji tan Olympic Committee (BOC). In the by the coronavirus crisis, as clubs re- of approximately four weeks with dif-
in a week. On an average, the estimated financial year, 2019-2020, BFF received turn to training this week. ferent phases that, in any case, will be
earning was around Nu 500,000 in a Nu 4,216,811 from BOC. The financial Players from the top two divisions subject to the de-escalation process
month from both the grounds,” said year ends in June.  will train individually after an agree- established by the government,” a La
Dawa Dolma Tamang.  With Covid-19 stopping all activities, ment with Spain’s sports and health Liga statement read.
BFF has also been generating in- national players and club players are authorities that guaranteed the safety “Together with the medical tests
come from the clubs that organise their doing self-training at the moment.   of both players and staff. carried out by clubs, a staggered return
tournaments by hiring BFF grounds. Since the Bhutan Super League final Players must undergo test before to training has been implemented that
For such tournaments, BFF charges Nu match between High Quality United they can return to training facilities. will start with players training alone
2,000 per match and Nu 1,000 for light. FC and Paro United FC on March 21 Football in Spain was suspended and with group activities prior to the
With the cancellation of all football at Changlimithang, the grounds have indefinitely in March. return to competition, scheduled for
leagues and tournaments, it has affected remained empty. The country’s top division has cre- June.”
ated detailed protocols for the return There are 11 rounds of matches
to training so proper health safeguards remaining, with Barcelona top of the
are observed. Part of this involves table, two points clear of rivals Real
training sessions progressing from Madrid.
individual to small groups and then BBC

TOMORROW

Good Day Bad Day

A good day for rituals (laza):

those born in the tiger and rabbit years.
Generally a good day (sogza):
those born in the monkey and rooster
years.
A bad day (shedza):
those born in the ox and dragon years.

Time of issue: 04:00 PM,

SUNRISE : 5:19 am |SUNSET : 6:37 pm 04 May 2020

Gasa Trongsa Bumthang Sarpang Phuentsholing

16 21 20 29 30
6 10 9 21 16

Source: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology.

For any weather information: Call hotline 335578

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