Mizoram, Manipur seal border with neighbouring countries amid coronavirus scare

GUWAHATI: Mizoram and Manipur governments have decided to close borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh amid coronavirus coutbreak.

Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar and 318-km boundary with Bangladesh.

According to an official order, issued by special secretary (home) H. Gyan Prakash, “In view of possible threat of transmission of Coronavirus/Covid-19, Government of Manipur hereby prohibits movement of people across the international border,” said an order issued on Monday night by H Gyan Prakash, the state’s special secretary (home). Accordingly orders closure of Gate No.1, No.2, Moreh and other crossing points along Manipur section of the Indo-Myanmar border until further orders.”

Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh have announced ban on foreigners entering the country.

Health Minister Alo Libang on Monday convened an emergency meeting to review the preparedness and strategy adopted for cluster containment of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases if detected in the State.

State Surveillance Officer (SSO) of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) Dr. L Jampa made a presentation on the Covid-19 outbreak in the country and steps taken by the health department, an official communique informed.

The meeting decided to do screening for a group of students returning from Delhi on a special train on their arrival to the State capital.

It was also decided that laboratory testing for COVID-19 would be done for only those persons who have symptoms (cough, cold, running nose or difficulty in breathing) and having travel history to any of Coronavirus affected countries and areas with local transmission during last 14 days or those who have had contact with COVID-19 positive persons.

Collection of samples (throat swab) would be done at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) at Naharlagun, near here, and Baken Pertin General Hospital at Pasighat in East Siang district besides all-district and general hospitals in the State, the communique said.

Samples would be sent and tested at designated laboratories and for the state, the designated laboratories are ICMR Dibrugarh and Guwahati Medical College in Assam.

Novel coronavirus that originated from China’s Wuhan city has spread across the globe, causing widespread panic for the past few months.

As per media reports, the COVID-19 cases have now spread in more than 100 countries, including India.

More than 106,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus across the world and 3,600 have died from it, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.

Also Read: Arunachal government taking all measures for coronavirus: Alo Libang

Also Watch: Doul Govinda Temple agog as Holi begins