Thimphu: The Bhutanese government has hired apartments in New York, the US city that has reported the maximum COVID-19 deaths and cases, as free accommodation for its citizens affected by the pandemic.

The facility is to be used as self-isolation by the Bhutanese who have tested positive, according to Bhutan News Network.

According to members associated with United Bhutanese Association of New York, a substantial number of Bhutanese in New York have expressed willingness to return to Bhutan if possible.

There are over 500 Bhutanese in New York. The city is the worst affected region in the US with over 5,489 deaths, and 138,863 positive cases.

Although, so far a few Bhutanese have been found to be infected with the virus in the US, there are no deaths as of April 6.

There’s no positive case reported in Chicago, Illinois. But eight positive cases have been reported in the Bhutanese community in Harrisburg PA, including a person undergoing treatment in hospital, according to Bhutan News Network.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering said his government is making arrangements to facilitate the travel of those Bhutanese who wanted to return back.

According to him, over 5,000 Bhutanese, mostly from the Middle East have expressed willingness to return to Bhutan. If all are allowed to return, it possesses a challenge for Bhutan in managing possible community transmission.