Coronavirus
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Mizoram has enough stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers, an official of state Health department said on Sunday.

State nodal officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and epidemiologist Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma said the State has enough stock of PPEs to meet urgent requirement as of now.

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He said additional procurement has been sought from the Centre and are likely to arrive soon.

He said PPEs were distributed to Zoram Medical College (ZMC), district hospitals and private hospitals across the State.

Pachuau said PEEs are also sewn by local manufacturers.

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Vakira, a fashion industry run by three sisters, students of Women Polytechnic, Aizawl and other groups have volunteered themselves to stitch PPEs for health workers, he said.

He said the PPEs are being sewn on the basis of guidance from medical experts and quality standard to be used.

Mizoram received about a consignment of 11,300 PPEs, 10,000 pieces of N-95 mask and other equipment from the Centre, which were ferried by a cargo flight and trucks on March 27.

Sources said Tata company is also planning to provide 10,000 PPEs to the State Government for frontline workers.

So far, Mizoram has reported only one positive case.

The patient is undergoing treatment at ZMC.

Pachuau said the patient is recovering fast since Friday and is stable.

Though he is being treated at intensive care unit (ICU) and remained on ventilator support, his dose of oxygen has been reduced since Friday, he said.

He said the lone patient has pneumonia but no fever on Sunday.

According to Pachuau, doctors and nurses, who treated the patient, are being quarantined at ZMC.

He said there is no suspected patient being hospitalized at the college right now.

The official added that a total of 87 samples have been collected and tested and 86 of them have tested negative for novel coronavirus.

Mizoram began testing of samples for novel coronavirus at ZMC since April 7 last.

Earlier, samples were sent to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam for test.