SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT PRESS RELEASES OF THE GOVERNMENT ON COVID-19

 Aizawl,   The Department of Information & Public Relations in public interest will be issuing a summary of important Press Releases of the Government on the status of COVID-19 and the evolving scenario starting from today in English.  This summary will be uploaded on the Department's website by 7:00 PM everyday

GOVERNMENT ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL LEVEL TASK FORCES

The Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department yesterday evening issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the guidance of Local Level Task Forces on COVID-19 at the village and locality (within the jurisdiction of Aizawl Municipal Corporation) levels so as to ensure uniformity in their mode of operations and to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. Village/Local Level Task Forces had been formed on 18 March in all the villages of Mizoram and localities of Aizawl City and they are at the forefront working in close collaboration with the district authorities, law enforcing agencies and food and civil supplies officials. 

WORKERS WELFARE BOARD ANNOUNCES RELIEF

An emergency meeting of the Mizoram Building & Other Construction Worker Welfare Board(MBOCWWB) yesterday announced some relief measures for workers. All workers registered under the Board would be given a month's supply of rice through the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department as per their norms of BPL and AAY. Workers who are BPL and AAY beneficiaries but not registered with the Board will also get this free supply of rice. All workers who registered prior to December 2019 will be given a cash assistance of Rs. 3000(one time) through direct benefit transfer. The Board appealed to business owners to support workers by continuing to pay their salaries on humanitarian grounds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PPEs AND OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS REACHES LENGPUI AIRPORT FROM DELHI BY A SPECIAL FLIGHT

Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga's and Health Minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana 's tireless efforts in procuring personal protective equipment and other necessary medical items for protection against COVID-19 bore fruit this afternoon.  A consignment of 138 boxes consisting 10900 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sets, 10000 N95 masks, 200 infrared sensors and 900 shoe covers reached Lengpui Airport by a chartered Air India flight from Delhi this afternoon. More PPEs and other necessary items are also expected to reach Aizawl very soon. These items are enroute from Guwahati. 

Both the leaders were constant touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare officials so that Mizoram could get these items airlifted at the earliest.

UNION HOME MINISTER DISCUSSED COVID-19 SITUATION IN MIZORAM WITH MIZORAM CHIEF MINISTER

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah discussed the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in Mizoram with Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga via a telephonic conversation. Union Home Minister assured Pu Zoramthanga that the Central Government is committed to mitigation of the health crisis the country is facing and is ready to help the state government in this regard. 

Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga apprised the Union Home Minister of the various steps that have been put in place and measures being taken by the state government to handle the situation. He also apprised him of the whole hearted support and cooperation of the Church, NGOs and civil society in fighting the pandemic. He informed the Union Minister that Mizoram announced a lockdown prior to the shutdown of the country and the closing of Lengpui Aiport before the banning on all domestic flights by the central government. Both leaders hoped that the country will tide over these difficult times. 

SUPPLY MINISTER VISITS FCI GODOWN AND SUPPLY DEPOTS

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Pu K. Lalrinliana today visited FCI Godown at Tanhril and the Department's supply depot at Zuangtui to take stock of the supply chain in the transport of PDS rice across the state. He enlisted the support of the truck owners' and driver association in this matter and thanked them for their cooperation in ensuring the availability of essential commodities. 

GOVERNMENT DESIGNATES SRH – ZMC AS COVID-19 ISOLATION AND TREATMENT CENTRE

As decided by the Government of Mizoram, State Referral Hospital – Zoram Medical College, Falkawn, Mizoram is has now been officially  designated as COVID- 19 Isolation and Treatment Center with immediate effect and until further orders.

MINISTERS AND LEGISLATORS HAND OVER ASSITANCE TO TASK FORCES

A number of Ministers and Legislators including the Speaker of the Assembly Pu Lalrinliana Sailo and Deputy Chief Minister Pu Tawnluia handed over cash assistance to various Village Level Task Forces within their constituencies to help the most vulnerable sections of society and the destitute. 

LATEST STATUS OF SURVEILLANCE OF COVID-19

The following is the latest status of state surveillance of COVID-19 as received from the Health & Family Welfare Department till 12 noon today.

Status of State Surveillance of COVID-19(Time: 26.3.2020 12Noon – 27.3.2020 12:00 Noon)