No.476/2020-2021

Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana today chaired a meeting at SAD Conference Hall MINECO which reviewed the pandemic situation in the state. The meeting was also attended by Home Minister Pu Lalchamliana; School Education Minister Pu Lalchhandama Ralte; I&PR Minister Pu Lalruatkima; MOT Chairman Dr. ZR Thiamsanga, MLA; the Chief Secretary; senior officials of concerned Departments in the fight against the pandemic; representatives of the church body – MKHC and representatives of Joint NGO Coordination Committee and IMA (Mizoram Chapter).

The meeting reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the state and decided that from February onwards, churches and religious places will be opened for service on Sundays/Sabbath with half occupancy of the total seating capacity or upto 200 persons, whichever is less. The meeting also agreed to the re-opening of Classes X and XII only from January 22, 2021. Students facing Board Exams will be allowed to board in hostels subject to their RAgT test results. Detailed SOPs on these subjects will be issued by the State Executive Committee.

The meeting also reviewed the current testing and quarantine protocols; SOPs for these will be issued by the Health & Family Welfare Department. The meeting decided to further increase the number of persons allowed to attend funerals and weddings and also agreed to further relaxation in the timing of night curfew. SOPs for traffic management, shops and business establishments, hotels, gyms and sporting facilities will also be further relaxed. New SOPs will be formally issued by the SEC.

During the last one month (15.12.2020 – 14.01.2021), Mizoram registered 267 COVID-19 positive cases; 137 cases (51.31 %) were arrivals from outside the state. Of these cases, 25 were permanent residents of the state while the rest are non-residents which include 45 paramilitary forces. Night curfew has been enforced continuously in the state since March 2020 when the countrywide lockdown was announced.