The Nagaland government has asked the people to stay at home in an order issued on Sunday evening in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

In the order on Sunday, chief secretary Temjen Toy said except for pharmacies, petrol pumps, grocery shops selling food items and other essential commodities and media offices, all business houses in the state will remain closed until further orders.

The government has restricted movement of people, except those coming out of homes for procurement and distribution of essential commodities, availing of essential services, medical facilities and other basic needs.

It has also ordered closure of all shops and business establishments, except those dealing with services, with effect from Sunday midnight.

The order added that all government offices, except the district administration, security forces, fire and emergency services, medical, home department, postal services, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, National Informatics Centre, power, public health engineering, food and civil supplies, finance, treasury and accounts, banks/ATMs, All India Radio and Doordarshan, will remain closed until further order.

The government asked all administrative heads of departments and heads of offices to form a core group officers/staff to attend to urgent/essential services. It said all other government employees should be available on call.

All commercial passenger vehicles, both public and private, like buses, taxis, autorickshaws and two-wheeler taxis have been asked not to ply till further notice. Vehicles carrying inter-state transit passengers will be allowed till Monday midnight.

The order said all inter-state entry points will be sealed except for movement of essential commodities, security forces, medical equipments and supplies and goods vehicles transiting the state. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles transiting the state will be subject to screening as per laid down protocol, it added. Any person or group of persons violating the order will be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the IPC.

Mizoram response: Mizoram on Sunday strictly observed the 14-hour Janata Curfew with rest of the country to fight the coronavirus spread.

Aizawl district superintendent of police C. Lalruaia said the curfew received strong support as no civilians were spotted on the street since morning. Only a few policemen, officials and media persons were seen outside, he added. All streets in the cities and towns across wore a deserted look with vehicles staying off roads and churches suspending Sunday services. On Saturday evening, people were instructed by all local council and village authorities to strictly observe the curfew by staying indoors. All business shops remained closed from 7am.

In an office memorandum issued by Mizoram’s general administration department on Saturday night, people were told not to venture outside except those on medical duty and other essential services.

The memorandum said all business shops, shopping malls and markets barring pharmacies and those selling essential commodities will remain closed.

Additional reporting by Henry L. Khojol in Aizawl