Mizoram man tests COVID positive even after receiving vaccine; weeklong lockdown in state

AIZAWL: Even as the Centre has relaxed COVID vaccination age limit to 18 years and above, a 41-year-old man, who have been administered two doses of Covishield vaccine, has tested COVID-19 positive  among the 91 new patients detected in Mizoram over the past 24 hours.

The man, who has a travel history to Delhi, had received the first dose of vaccine on March 3 and second dose on April 4, official records said. Covishield is stated to be more effective than Covaxin among the two vaccines being used in India.

The identity of the patient has been witheld by the authorities.

The 91 new cases, detected from 2,038 samples tested yesterday, took the state's total to 4,995.

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Of the total, 76 cases were reported from Aizawl district, 10 from Lawngtlai, three from Serchhip and one case each from Kolasib and Lunglei districts.

Mizoram now has 437 active cases while 4,546 people have recovered.

Keeping in view the rapid increase in number of cases, the Mizoram government late last night announced a weeklong lockdown in all the district headquarters, including Aizawl, from 4 am today till 4 am on April 26.

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Although the order issued at midnight did not use the term 'lockdown', it prohibits people from venturing out of their homes during the period.

Shops selling essential commodities, eateries, vegetables, flowers, meat, construction materials and spare parts in the state capital and district headquarters have been allowed to open based on the arrangement made by local authorities, the order said.

Besides, fuel stations, motor workshops, cold storage and warehouses, data and call centres, carpentry workshop, steel fabrication workshop, bakery, tailoring shop, weaving shops and related shops are also allowed to operate with arrangement made by local authorities.

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The notification also allows inter-village or intra-state movement with permission from local authorities.

Places of worship, educational institutions, parks, picnic spots, theatres, gymnasiums, community halls, restaurants and shopping complexes shall remain closed throughout the state during the period.

While the government has allowed a maximum of 30 people for funerals and weddings, other public functions such as birthday parties, anniversary celebrations and sporting events have been banned across the state.

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Further, those arriving in the state will have to undergo seven-day mandatory home isolation. Passengers from abroad, however, will have to undergo institutional quarantine.