Amid fears over the coronavirus, Manipur and Mizoram governments have imposed ban on imports of foodstuffs and other items from China.
Officials in Imphal said that the Manipur health and family welfare department has issued notification restricting on production, distribution, sale of any packed food products, which are produced in China, Myanmar and other South-East Asian countries.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“The Chinese food and various other products including second-hand or used clothes are sold in the bordering markets of India-Myanmar along Manipur. People have been advised not to purchase or use these items,” the official said.
Following the outbreak of coronavirus, the district authorities have decided to close the international trade route through the two border villages under the border district of Ukhrul (in eastern Manipur) to Myanmar as a preventive measure from February 9.
“The villagers themselves also have decided to shut the Tusom-Somra road to prevent foreign traders from entering India as well as Indian traders to go to the border markets,” an official said.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
An official in Aizawl said that the authorities in Mizoram districts along the Myanmar border also asked the people not to use the Chinese products specially the food and clothings.
Officials in Aizawl also said five people, who had returned to the state from China early January, have been kept under house quarantine in view of the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in the neighbouring country.
An official of Mizoram health department said though all the five persons did not show any sign of being infected with the virus and both of them tested negative for the deadly virus, they were put under house quarantine as a precautionary measure.
To check the threat of 2019-nCoV, Indian authorities have set up screening and testing centres along the borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Screening and testing centers are now also operational in the checkposts along India-Bangladesh borders with Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram.