Mizoram is yet to be declared a Covid-19 free state though its lone Covid-19 patient has tested negative for the virus, health minister Dr R. Lalthangliana said on Wednesday.

“We are not in a hurry to declare our state “Covid-19 free” because we are still vulnerable and can detect new cases anytime,” the minister told The Telegraph.

Though the lone patient, who is currently undergoing treatment at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) near Aizawl, has tested negative for the virus, he is yet to be declared recovered, he said.

On April 27, the patient had initially tested negative for the virus.

Four of his samples were collected and sent to Silchar on Friday, which came out negative again on Monday, according to the health minister.

The patient, aged about 50, who was pursuing higher studies in theology in Amsterdam, had returned to Mizoram on March 16 and tested positive for novel coronavirus on March 24.

In Mumbai, a Covid-19 patient in Mizoram House tested negative on Wednesday.

According to Lalthangliana, of the eight patients in Mumbai Mizoram house, six have tested negative so far.

He said one Mizo from Mizoram and a local employee of Mizoram house, who is a non-tribal, tested positive.

Lalthangliana said samples of seven persons, including three most suspected from Lawngtlai district, tested negative at ZMC on Wednesday.

He added that samples of 17 inmates of Mizoram House in Calcutta were collected on Wednesday for tests.