Breaking: 29 returnees test Covid-19 positive in Mizoram; total 71

Guwahati: Twenty-nine returnees, 16 male and 13 female, have tested positive for the coronavirus in Mizoram on Tuesday, sending the number of cases skyrocketing upwards to 71, Government officials said.

The positive status of these patients was confirmed at the Zoram Medical College (ZMC) laboratory this afternoon. According to the Government, 28 of the patients are from Lunglei District, while a single patient who tested positive hails from the Lawngtlai district.

While 2 of these patients had recently returned from West Bengal, 4 came from Goa, 18 from New Delhi, 2 from Haryana, 2 from Chattisgarh, and a single one from Maharashtra. Government sources said that all returnees are fairly young (aged between 18-28) who are in quarantine and not showing any symptoms.

With the detection of these cases, the number of active cases rose 70. 

Districtwise breakup of cases in Mizoram:

Aizawl: 10

Lunglei: 30

Siaha: 1

Champhai: 5

Kolasib: 11

Serchhip - Nil

Lawngtlai: 3

Mamit: 8

Khawzawl: 2

Hnahthial: Nil

Saitual: 1

With the return of around four lakh natives from the south and north India, coronavirus cases in eight north-eastern States have spiked upwards at a dramatic rate. Assam, with 2,835 cases and 4 deaths, accounts for a majority of the cases in the region. Apart from Assam, the virus has also claimed a victim in Meghalaya, as a veteran doctor passed away after contracting the illness.

Total Lockdown, Mizoram's 'best medicine' against Covid-19:

Even as the other states are lifting the curbs to resume activities in a graded manner, Mizoram has announced a 14-days total lockdown period to deal with the unprecedented spike in the number of cases.

"Consultative meeting chaired by CM decides to impose 2 weeks total lockdown of the state w.e.f 00:00 hours of 9th June 2020 in view of the prevailing situation. Lockdown Guidelines will be notified shortly," Mizoram's Directorate of Information and Public Relations tweeted. Subsequently, it was notified that the Mizoram Government has decided to extend the lockdown period from 14 to 21 days, just to stay on the safer side.

With coronavirus cases across the nation continuing to tick upwards in alarming fashion, the state of Mizoram has once again chosen the safety cushion of the lockdown to mitigate the spread of the deadly pathogen. In a notification dated Sunday, May 30, the Mizoram state Government issued orders to continue the lockdown, even as the Central Government has issued new guidelines to lift the restrictions in a graded manner in areas outside the containment zones.

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