The Government of Mizoram in its swift action to prevent any incidence of COVID-19 cases has taken a number of measures in the interest of public health and safety.

The State Task Force on Mitigation of COVID-19 which met this afternoon under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pu Lalnunmawia Chuaungo discussed the prevailing situation and the necessity of having a lockdown of the state. Following this, the meeting took a unanimous decision to suggest the Council of Ministers to implement a Total Lockdown of the state for a week in the interest of public health and safety in view of the looming COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Task Force on Mitigation of COVID-19 is closely monitoring the situation on a daily basis with the Chief Minister and the Health Minister at the helm of affairs. Task Forces at the community level which includes Local Council (Panchayat) representatives and NGO representatives have been formed in all localities. These Task Forces are strictly monitoring all home quarantine cases of people, even who are otherwise healthy but have arrived from other countries and states in the last two weeks, for a period of 14 days. They are also monitoring availability of essential items and prices of goods. Announcements in this regard are being made by the Task Forces over public address systems in localities.

As a measure to prevent any outbreak of COVID-19, Aizawl DC today, in exercise of the powers under Clause 11 of The Mizoram Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulation – 2020 promulgated CrPC 144 within the entire District of Aizawl. The order prohibits any assembly or gathering of more than 5 persons at any one place at a time from 21^st March 2020 till 10^th April 2020. People/personnel engaged in any Government activities/initiatives to prevent COVID-19 outbreak will be exempt from this order. DC Kolasib, the border District with Assam; DC Champhai, the border District with Myanmar; DCs of Lunglei, Lawngtlai and Khawzawl also issued such similar orders today.

Task Force on Essential Commodities which met yesterday appealed to the public not to resort to panic buying of essential commodities or engage in hoarding of essential items. It also instructed all shop owners and businesses not to sell packaged items above the MRP. It advised all COVID-19 Local Task Forces set up in all the localities to strictly monitor the prices of goods and essential items. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department will strictly monitor movement of trucks carrying essential commodities and will initiate steps for seamless and speedy movement of essential items across the state.

The State Level Task Force on Mitigation of COVID-19 in a meeting this evening instructed all temporary ILP issuing authorities to stop issuance of temporary ILP for entry into Mizoram until further orders with immediate effect. The order, however exempts vehicles carrying essential commodities.