No.348/2021-2022
Aizawl; the 11th October,2021: A statewide campaign to re-sensitize citizens on the importance of wearing masks to combat COVID-19 'All Mask Campaign' was inaugurated at the ZMC Central Library by the Health Minister of Mizoram Dr. R. Lalthangliana today. The campaign is slated to run for 10 days (11^th – 20^th October), and will be implemented across all Districts by Deputy Commissioners & CMOs.

The Health Minister, in his inaugural address stated that the campaign has been launched on the advice of the State-level Expert Team on COVID-19 Management which was formed on September 23^rd amid rise in number of cases and Covid19 related deaths in the State. The team, led by convener Dr. F. Lallianhlira, had recently submitted a 16-point recommendation to the State Government, among which an aggressive educational awareness campaign on masks was one of the key recommendations. 

The Health Minister also stated that while the Government is working in earnest to augment critical care facility in the State, with 20 additional ICU beds added in October alone, the State’s health infrastructure is currently stretched beyond its limits,         and thus citizens need to keep this in mind, and strictly follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour  (CAB) for their own safety. “Prevention and CAB needs to start from every home, and that is why we request all citizens to wear masks even at home, so as to minimize the risk of infection and further spread of the virus,” he stated. 

At 13,408 active cases (11/10/2021 - 5pm), Mizoram’s current tally is higher than all the other Northeast states combined. A four-member central team, led by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) consultant-epidemiologist Dr Vinita Gupta, had arrived in Aizawl on the 5^th October to assess the Covid-19 situation, amid the rise in infections in Mizoram. 

The key points to be followed by citizens during the ‘All Mask Campaign’ are:

1. All citizens are requested to wear mask indoors at all times except while eating meals.
2. Citizens are requested not to dine together on a table, and have buffet meals instead.
3. All citizens are requested to wear masks at all time in their respective offices/working areas.
4. All citizens are requested to follow other CAB.
5. All citizens are requested and advised to be more mindful in hand washing and use of sanitizers. 

Some of the slogans for this campaign are:

1. Wear a Face Mask so that you do not have to wear an Oxygen Mask.
2. Face Mask protects you more than you realize.
3. Wear Mask. Save Lives.