Mizoram Orders Partial Lockdown till March 29 amid Corona Crisis

Aizawl, March 22, 2020:

Amid the ongoing panic over the coronavirus (or COVID-19) that has gripped the entire world (13,068 have died so far), the Government of Mizoram on Saturday ordered a "partial lockdown" across all districts of the state till March 29 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

A state-level task force on mitigation of coronavirus and subsequent approval by the cabinet late in the evening, officials said.

ALSO READ: Assam registers first Corona positive case in Jorhat; authorities initiate reverification

The notification that has been issued by the General Administration Department, restrictions will be in place in all districts of Mizoram from March 22 till March 29.

All stores, barring pharmacies and those selling essential commodities, will remain shut during the period, the notification Mizoram Government's said.

All commercial and private vehicles, including two-wheeler taxis, will not be allowed to ply during the period in Mizoram, the notification said.

Ambulances, fire and emergency services, vehicles used for law and order duties and those of accredited journalists will be allowed, it said, adding that those on medical duty to contain coronavirus and transporting essential commodities will be exempted. The notification further instructed people to stay indoors, except those on medical duty and dealing with essential commodities and services.

This development has taken place amid the ongoing panic in Assam over the "detection" of the first corona positive case in the State.

Yesterday, a 4.5-year-old child from Pulibor, Jorhat, Assam who came from Bihar was reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 in the JMCH lab. The girl, her sister and her mother came to Jorhat on March 19. Authorities have started tracing other people who might have come in contact with the child. The sample has been sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for rechecking, as stated by Jorhat Deputy commissioner, and has now been tested "negative".

However, panic continues to prevail in the State, that has gone into lockdown mode amid the Indian Government called janata curfew.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to clarify the case. “The 4 year old child who was suspected of #covid19 and tested in Jorhat Medical College and RMRC, Dibrugarh has been found NEGATIVE. There is no Covid19 positive case in Assam so far.”

At the same time, janata curfew is being imposed across the country. On March 22, India will go on a temporary lockdown of 14 hours, starting from 7 AM to 9 PM in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Following the declaration on March 19, the Home Secretary has issued a statement directing all the administrators of the States to ensure minimum movement of the public on the streets.

He also stressed on the important roles played by medical staff, police, government servants, airline staff, media persons and others who have risked their lives to bring the situation in India under control. “To pay gratitude to their selfless service to the nation during such trying times, Prime Minister has desired that on March 22 at 5 PM, all citizens should acknowledge and salute their efforts by standing in the balconies or at the doors of their houses and clap or ring bells for five minutes as a show of appreciation,” said the Chief Secretary.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.