Repatriation of Bhutanese During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Unspoken Economic Burden of COVID-19 on the Bhutanese Government

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2022 Jan;34(1):123-124. doi: 10.1177/10105395211053735. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Abstract

Protecting the citizens who are living abroad has been a challenge for many countries during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In Bhutan, since the start of the pandemic, it has repatriated its citizens living and working abroad and putting them into a 21-day state-sponsored quarantine. They were also tested for COVID-19 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that was funded by the government. While this measure is a blessing for its people, for the government it is a huge economic challenge.

Keywords: Bhutan; Bhutanese; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; repatriation.

MeSH terms

  • Bhutan / epidemiology
  • COVID-19*
  • Financial Stress
  • Government
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • SARS-CoV-2