The Mizoram PCC on Sunday asked the state government to seal the Mizoram-Myanmar border to prevent the spread of coronavirus that killed over 3,500 people and infected over 1 lakh across the globe.

Mizoram shares 510km unfenced international border with Myanmar.

A statement, issued by the Congress’s media cell secretary C. Lalhriatpuia, said the border with Myanmar in Champhai district should be immediately sealed to prevent the virus’s spread.

The statement alleged that many commuters and traders from China and other Southeast Asian countries entered Mizoram through Myanmar without undergoing screening, causing a threat for the state.

While lauding the state for sealing the border in south Mizoram’s Siaha district, the Congress said the main border in Champhai and other districts should also be sealed immediately.

It also expressed concern over the absence of laboratory and coronavirus-detecting machine in the state.

“We ask the state government to immediately install machine and a laboratory for sample testing,” the statement added.

The party said it is ready to extend help to the state.

State health department officials said the government is making massive efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

Till date, no suspected case of coronavirus has been detected in Mizoram, an official said.

The government has set up more than seven screening counters along the national and international borders, including Lengpui airport.

So far, over 14,600 people have been screened and at least 41 put under home isolation, the official added.

The government has also set up a 32-bed isolation ward at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) and a five-bed ward in each district hospital to treat suspected patients.

Besides, the government has also set up laboratory sample-collection centres at Aizawl civil hospital, ZMC and Lengpui community health centre.

A meeting of the health and other departments concerned last week had decided to expedite surveillance along the Mizoram-Myanmar border and set up a three-bed isolation ward each in all primary health centre, a five-bed ward each in all community health centres and sub-divisional hospitals to treat suspected patients.

The meeting had also agreed to upgrade the Ayush building at Lengpui to treat passengers suspected to have contracted the virus.