Newmai News Network
Aizawl | March 19
Invoking 'The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897', the Mizoram government has rolled out regulations according to which the government can use force to quarantine and isolate certain people to prevent the spread of coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.
The 10-point regulation is named as “The Mizoram Epidemic (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020” and is extended to the whole of the state, the official further said. The regulation said that any person, who returns from coronavirus affected states and countries in the past 28 days, must report to screening points and will have to put under home quarantine or isolated at designated isolation facilities failing which he will be forced to be either quarantined at home or isolated at designated isolation centres.
During the isolation period, the person must strictly follow the government regulations and call state helpline numbers in case he has health complaints. Any information related to the virus should not be taken authentic unless otherwise given by state Health principal director and nodal officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the regulation also said.
The regulation also said that no private laboratories are authorized to take or test samples for coronavirus. The government will set up sample collection centres as circumstance demands. Any passenger coming from outside the state must report to government designated screening points for screening.
Any person, who has complaint of coronavirus like symptoms must call state helpline number-102 (toll free), 0389-2318336/ 0389-2323336. Any violation or failure to compliance the regulations will invite legal punishment under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
