AIZAWL, May 4 - Not wearing mask while staying outdoors and spitting in public places in Mizoram have now become offences that invite penal action.
They have been declared as cognizable and compoundable offences as per the provisions of The Mizoram (Containment and Prevention of Covid-19) Ordinance, 2020.
The Ordinance, cleared by the State Council of Ministers on Saturday aims to contain and prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the State and also seeks stringent punishment for those violating lockdown.
While not wearing mask in public places invites a fine of Rs 100, spitting in public places will be slapped a fine of Rs 300.
Failing to maintain social distancing protocol in public places invites a fine of Rs 200, while organising any social or religious event and crossing borders by exiting and/or entering the State without permission from the competent authority both invite a fine of Rs 5,000.
As per the Ordinance, avoiding or attempting to evade and leaving or escaping from quarantine/isolation facilities before completion of the stipulated time will be slapped a fine of upto Rs 5,000.
It is also an offence to expose/display identity of Covid-19 positive patient and suspected persons by sharing their bio-data and/or photo in print, electronic and social media without prior permission from the competent authority. Breach of protocol will invite 3-month simple imprisonment or with fine which may extend upto Rs 5,000.
COVID-19 death: In the meantime, a 73-year-old man from Vairengte town in northern Mizoram died of COVID-19 in Kolkata on Sunday night, officials here said.
H Rohmingliana, who was undergoing cancer treatment at AMRI Hospital in West Bengal�s capital, along with another cancer patient from Mizoram, tested positive for the virus on May 1. They were immediately shifted to a designated hospital and put on ventilators. Rohmingliana succumbed to the disease at 7:30 pm on Sunday, the sources said.
As his body could not be brought home, it will be cremated at Kolkata as per the MHA guidelines. The deceased was scheduled to get third circle of chemotherapy at the AMRI Hospital.
