After Manipur woman, Mizoram man tests positive for coronavirus (Ld)

Agartala, March 25 (IANS) A 50-year-old man, a Christian pastor from Mizoram has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, making it the second case in the northeastern region of India, officials said on Wednesday.In the first case in the northeast region, a 23-year-old woman, who had returned from the UK tested positive and she is now undergoing treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. In the Mizoram capital Aizawl, National Health Mission (NHM) Director Eric Zomawia said that soon after receiving his test report of nCoV as positive late Tuesday night, the middle-aged man has immediately been taken to Zoram Medical College and Hospital in Aizawl and kept in isolation.”The patient’s condition is stable and there is no need to panic,” Zomawia told the media adding that the man has returned to Aizawl from Amsterdam, Netharland via Delhi and Guwahati on March 16.”He himself was in self quarantine at home as soon as he reached Aizawl and has been in contact with doctors over phone. His sample was taken on Sunday and sent to Assam’s Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The test report received late Tuesday night,” the NHM director said in presence of the state Health Minister R. Lalthangliana.The patient’s wife and two children are also kept in quarantine in the Zoram Medical College and Hospital under close watch. The man is a pastor pursuing study in Amsterdam. Mizoram Health Minister R. Lalthangliana said there is no need for panic, Zoram Medical College and Hospital is well equipped to look after patients.He appealed to people to stay at home and not venture out unless there is an emergency during the 21-day lockdown period.In Imphal, official of the COVID-19 state control center said that the condition of the UK returnee woman was stable. Her family members are also kept in quarantine.In Assam, an official said that a youth who recently returned from China was arrested in southern Assam’s Hailakandi district for having concealed his travel history. The youth has been quarantined and an FIR has been filed at the Sadar police station against the youth and his father, a government employee. Hailakandi District Magistrate Keerthi Jalli said that departmental action for immediate suspension is also being drawn against the father of the youth for concealing vital information of the travel history of his son. “After apprehending the youth, samples sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for testing,” the District Magistrate said. –IANSsc/in