Newmai News Network
Aizawl | March 9
The Mizoram government has decided to seal all international borders and ban foreigners in the wake of the coronavirus issue, an official said on Monday.
The decision came a day after the opposition Congress asked the state government to seal the Indo-Myanmar border in Champhai district.
Mizoram is sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh, with which it shares more than 820 km unfenced international border. The hilly northeastern state also shares inter-state boundaries with Assam, Manipur and Tripura.
The official said that Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday convened an emergency meeting with cabinet ministers, officials and security forces. The meeting decided to seal the Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Bangladesh borders and also enhance surveillance along the international borders and national borders, including Lengpui Airport, he said.
The official added that entry from Myanmar will be opened at Zokhawthar village on exceptional cases and medical teams will be deployed there for round the clock monitoring. The official also said that the meeting also decided to ban foreigners and close inter-state borders except in four entry points. Entry points with Assam will be opened at Bairabi and Vairengte. For Manipur, it will be opened at Khawkan and the entry point with Tripura will be opened only at Kanhmun, the official also said.
The meeting also decided to set up a quarantine camp at Lengpui Tourist Lodge for passengers. Apart from employed labourers, no ILP would be issued to new entrants, the meeting also said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that the state government is making massive efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state and urged the people not to panic.
The state government also prohibited hoarding of commodities and asked all traders not to hike prices which can cause inconvenience to customers.
The state government also instructed all commercial vehicles plying within and outside the state to maintain good records of their passengers.
Meanwhile, State Health department said that at least 67 people are under home isolation as precautionary measures although they did not show symptoms suggestive of coronavirus.
Till date no case of coronavirus has been detected in the state, an official said.
