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Mizoram samples test negative

By Correspondent

AIZAWL, April 7 - Officials are now optimistic that there has been no community transmission of COVID-19 in Mizoram. �This indicates that we are zeroing in on zero case,� they said.

Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma, State spokesperson for COVID-19, said that the last two samples sent to the Silchar Medical College, tested negative on Monday. As of now, there is no more sample to be tested, he said.

With this, Mizoram has sent 58 samples, of which only one tested positive. The condition of the lone COVID-19 patient being treated at the Zoram Medical College is stable.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 testing laboratory at the Zoram Medical College became fully functional from today. Any suspected case will now be tested in Mizoram, Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma said.

Those from Mizoram who travelled with the patient on the GoAir flight from Guwahati to Aizawl on March 16 have also completed the three-week quarantine and have been released. However, they have been advised to continue precautionary measures and regularly check if they develop any symptom.

Altogether, 63,523 travellers have been screened in Mizoram, including 86 foreign returnees. Most of those who were quarantined, have completed the quarantine period of 14 days.

The only concern now is if anyone from Mizoram had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi as the State has a sizeable number of Muslims and also borders the Muslim-dominated areas in Assam.

Mamon Majumdar, general secretary of the Aizawl Mosque Committee and the Mizoram Muslim Welfare Committee, has reassured that no one from Mizoram had attended the Nizamuddin congregation, and that no one who attended it has visited Mizoram.

Nevertheless, local people suspect that three persons � Nazim Uddin Laskar (52), Nisar Ali Majumdar (55) and Rofique Ahmed Laskar (30), who were engaged in farming at Bukvannei in Kolasib district bordering Assam � had attended the congregation.

When contacted by authorities, Nazim Uddin Laskar said that though they were on a pilgrimage to different mosques in Assam, they had not attended the Nizamuddin event. Checking his digital footprint, his statement is believed to be true.

However, as precautionary measures, the trio have been asked to stay where they are. Their families have also been thoroughly briefed.

The Mizoram Muslim Welfare Society has also urged its members who are outside Mizoram not to enter Mizoram till the end of the lockdown period.

Kolasib district SP Vanlalfaka said security has been tightened along the Mizoram-Assam border. Allaying apprehensions that people from the other side of the border would try to enter Mizoram, he said till now there was no such incident of infiltration.

Besides the existing check posts, a number of new posts have been opened, which are manned by police and local volunteers round the clock.

People on this side of the border are also cautious and do not want any visitors, he said.

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