Bhutan: Officials gradually reducing COVID-19 curbs as of March 15 /update 43

Event

As of March 15, Bhutan officials are gradually relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in four stages through April 11. Through March 20, officials are relaxing several controls, including allowing movement within yellow zones without movement cards, relaxing commercial restrictions for more businesses, including allowing businesses to operate until 19:00, as well as allowing for construction work. From March 21-27, officials will ease movement restrictions in mega zones as well as begin to allow takeaways through 19:00. Officials will relax restrictions on taxi operations, allow government and private sector employees to go to their offices, and allow all commercial establishments, except entertainment venues, to reopen from March 28-April 3. Through April 4-10, officials will lift all remaining movement restrictions regarding mega zones and allow usage of private vehicles; authorities will allow all offices to operate from April 11. The measures do not apply to red zones and buildings, where officials are maintaining ongoing restrictions until further notice.

Domestic Measures
Nationwide measures continue. All gatherings except permitted events like funerals remain suspended. Entertainment venues are closed. Inter-district travel is limited to travelers with prior permission for essential or emergency trips. Local measures are based on a color-coded system; green, yellow, and red categories indicate no, possible, and confirmed local disease transmission, respectively. Specific curbs as of March 15 are as follows.

• Green: All businesses may open until 21:00. Pre-approved essential travel between green locations is allowed with negative results of a rapid antigen test.

• Yellow: Most businesses may function 09:00-19:00 daily.

• Red: A movement card is required to exit homes at designated time slots. Nonessential movement and activity, as well as entry and exit, are banned. Red areas include parts of Thimphu city and parts of Samdrup Jongkar Dzongkhag. Strictest curbs such as stay-home orders lasting at least 72 hours typically affect areas with new COVID-19 cases, followed by phased relaxations after mass testing concludes.

Facemasks are compulsory in public places. Residents must use the Druk Trace application for contact tracing when entering public places, business premises, and public and private hire transport vehicles. Officials may conduct random COVID-19 testing for travelers, students, teachers, transporters, and business personnel every two weeks. Inter-district travelers must register via the Check Post Management System. Authorities may require people who travel from high-risk to low-risk areas to quarantine for seven days. People may contact a national helpline at 1010 for assistance.

Officials may implement stricter localized measures such as travel bans and compulsory testing in areas considered as high-risk due to fresh COVID-19 cases; such protocols typically last 72 hours. Enhanced controls are also possible in locations along the border with India.

International Travel Restrictions
International flights to and from Bhutan remain severely limited due to travel restrictions on Bhutanese citizens and carriers, as well as border closures. Bhutanese air carriers, such as Druk Air (KB) and Bhutan Airlines (B3), are operating some flights mainly to repatriate Bhutanese citizens. Schedules for available flights are subject to change at short notice. Fully vaccinated international arrivals can quarantine at designated facilities for 14 days, while unvaccinated entrants are subject to a 21-day quarantine. Reports indicate that authorities allow foreign tourists to enter Bhutan, though these entrants are still subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

Authorities continue to advise citizens against nonessential travel; Bhutanese nationals who are traveling overseas must register with the Department of Immigration before the trips. Cargo transit is operational, though delays are possible due to screening and quarantine rules.

Advice

Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm business appointments, deliveries, work, and travel arrangements. Do not check out of accommodations without confirming onward travel. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Ensure access to essential items. Carry proper identification documents, heed all security advisories.

Resources

Ministry of Health
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Movement Pass Application
Zone Card Application