All political parties, NGOs and various groups in Mizoram on Thursday proposed for the extension of the ongoing lockdown to prevent further spread of novel coronavirus in the state, an official said.
Mizoram as of now is free of Covid-19 since May 9 when its lone patient tested negative and discharged from Zoram Medical College (ZMC), the state’s lone medical college and dedicated Covid-19 hospital located about 16 km from Aizawl.
The meeting of various political parties, NGOs, doctors, the church body, village councils, local councils and senior scribes held under the leadership of Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday unanimously agreed that lockdown period is extended beyond the ongoing lockdown to contain the rapidly increasing novel coronavirus, the official in the CMO said.
However, the meeting referred the matter to the state-level task force on mitigation of Covid-19 for the final decision, she said.
The state-level task force has also been tasked to prepare new guidelines in consultation with other task groups if the lockdown period is extended.
The meeting was attended by political parties, Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), NGO Coordination Committee, Mizoram branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Mizoram Government Doctors’ Association (MGDA), Mizoram Local Councils Association, All Mizoram Village Councils Association and Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA).
Zoramthanga told the meeting the extension of lockdown was crucial to ensure public safety although Mizoram has been declared as “green zone.”
It was mentioned in the meeting that about 10,496 people from Mizoram, who are currently stranded in different parts of the country, have reported for return to the state till Thursday.
The government set up quarantine facilities in various parts of the state and the total capacity was 4,172.
Altogether, 1,518 people are currently being put under quarantine at various quarantine centres across the state.
About 547 outsiders are currently stranded in Mizoram, according to officials of the home department.
Officials also said that about 1,000 people returning from Tamil Nadu are likely to arrive in the state on Friday.
They said that the government is planning to take back the stranded state residents in a staggered manner.