OUR REPORTER AIZAWL, APRIL 30
Mizoram will go ahead with the existing lockdown-like restrictions with more strict guidelines in all district headquarters, including state capital Aizawl as the state continue to register a spike in Covid-19 cases in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic, an official said.
The high-level meeting involving some ministers, important officials, doctors, church and community leaders presided over by health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana on Friday decided to extend the existing restrictions with more stringent rules to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission, state medical operational team on Covid-19 chairman Dr. ZR Thiamsanga said. Though the meeting has proposed seven days, the duration of the proposed extension will be decided by the state executive committee on disaster management headed by chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, which will devise the new guidelines, he said.
The new guidelines is expected to be released by Sunday, he said.
Thiamsanga, who is the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator and also state health and family board vice chairman, said that the new guidelines will be strictly implemented and will be almost similar to lockdown. The meeting has expressed concern over community transmission after majority were found to have locally contracted the virus, he said.
According to the leader, a committee will be formed to deal with the setting up of Community Covid19 Care Centre (CCCC) where Covid19 infected patients will be treated in order to cope with facility and financial crunch.
The CCCC will be handled by communities on their own expenses and the government may provide medics if necessary to monitor the inmates (Covid-19 patients), he said.
Starting from April 20, the state government has imposed lockdown - like restrictions in the eleven district headquarters, including Aizawl, which is worse affected.
The existing system is scheduled to be lifted on May 3 at 4 am.
Meanwhile, the state government has decided to conduct random COVID-19 testing of persons with their consent.
The order issued on Friday said that there have been cases of COVID-19 with untraceable history, which is considered as an indication of widespread community transmission.
It is felt necessary to conduct a survey by means of random COVID-19 testing to ascertain the exact status of the community transmission so as to devise further containment measures, the order said.
(Source: The Mizoram Post Vol. 18 Issue 318 Aizawl Saturday 01 May 2021 http://www.themizorampost.net/page-view?date=01-05-2121&page_no=1)