Amid mounting scare due to coronavirus spread after two positive case – one in Mizoram and the other in neighbouring Manipur, a church body in Mizoram on Tuesday called for state-wide prayers on March 28.
The prayer is organized to contain the global outbreak of the deadly virus that has spread to more than 170 countries killing over 16,700 and infected more than 387,000 people globally.
Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of 15 major churches in the State, in its press release on Tuesday appealed to every household to hold prayers in their respective houses at 7 pm on March 28 next.
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This is the second time the committee had appealed to people to seek divine intervention to contain coronavirus pandemic.
On March 14 and 15, all churches across the State held mas prayer programmes in thier respective churches seeking God’s help to contain the deadly virus and save Mizoram from it.
Mizoram is currently in lockdown mode to contain the global outbreak and prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the State.
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The church leaders committee on Tuesday appealed to people to seek divine intervention to ensure that Mizoram is safe from the deadly virus and its global outbreak is quickly contained.
It asked all church members irrespective of denomination to pray for those dealing in essential services and families, which faces food shortage due to the lockdown.
The church body also suggested people to hold non-stop prayers in their respective homes till the virus is contained.
The State Government on Tuesday commenced to mass quarantine of incoming passengers at government designated quarantine facilities.
Officials of state Health department said at least 183 people, who returned from coronavirus affected states and countries, have been placed under home quarantine till Tuesday.
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Of these, eight have been discharged on completion of observation period, they said.
They said 16 samples have been sent for a test of which 10 have tested negative and results of six were awaited.
According to an official statement, more than 60,000 people have been screened for the virus and 2,298 people were advised for self quarantine at homes till Tuesday.
A 50-year-old man from Mizoram was tested positive of coronavirus on Wednesday morning.
After the first test done in Mizoram, a second sample was brought to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday.
The second sample also tested positive on Wednesday morning.
Earlier, Manipur recorded the first confirmed novel coronavirus case in the Northeast on Tuesday.
Also read: Coronavirus enters Northeast; Manipur records first case?
A 23-year-old from Imphal (west) has been identified as the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the State.
With a travel history to UK, the person is being treated at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal (JNIMS).