Mizoram will be celebrating Christmas and New Year in a low-key manner with the state government extending the ongoing lockdown under the “Covid-19 No Tolerance Drive” till January 10 next year to prevent further spread of Covid-19.
The government has also banned any social or public gathering other than government function during Christmas and New year.
Night curfew has been clamped in all district headquarters from 8 pm to 4:30 am.
The drive that began on October 16 after a spike in Covid-19 cases in the state, was scheduled to be lifted on November 30.
Also read: Mizoram: Schools to remain closed till January 15 to avert spread of COVID19
The government order on Friday said that the overall rates of detection of Covid-19 positive cases and local transmission have significantly declined due to the particular drive.
However, the Lengpui Airport along with the inter-state border will continue to open for vehicles carrying commodities and passengers.
All shops will also open normally from December 1.
Meanwhile, state education minister, Lalchandama Raltem said that all schools for kindergarten or standard I to standard XII will remain closed in December as Covid-19 is likely to aggravate during the winter.
Although schools are scheduled to open on January 15 next year, the final call will be taken only after taking into consideration the Covid-19 scenario in the state.
The government has also decided to cut down the syllabus for all classes by 30 per cent and instructed the Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) to prepare model sample questions for X and XII standard students, who will appear for board examinations next year.
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and MBSE have also been directed to prepare bridge courses for school students.
However, online classes will continue till December 18 for the current year and from January 5 to 14 next year.