Mizoram home minister Lalchamliana on Monday cautioned the people against April Fool’s Day pranks.

In a recorded statement, Lalchamliana said people should refrain from pranks and avoid resorting to hoax or jokes on the day as it could create panic due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

“It my earnest request to the people to avoid jokes, hoax and harmless pranks on April Fool’s Day to avoid unnecessary panic,” he said.

On Sunday, the police said more than 18 people have been arrested so far for spreading fake news about coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Google has dropped the plan of playing an April Fool’s Day prank.

Lalchamliana lauded the people for maintaining strict social distancing norms during the lockdown. “Together if we obey the government guidelines and follow social distancing, we can fight this deadly virus,” he said.

The home minister also lauded health workers and paramedics, who are in the frontline to fight the virus.

He said the role played by health workers, officials, grade IV employees, policemen dealing in essential services and media persons, who feed authenticated news to the people, are noteworthy.

The state police forces and local volunteers working round-the-clock to maintain vigil during lockdown.

He said police personnel were on guard in at least 54 duty posts along the inter-state and international borders and 205 places across the state.

Mizoram reported the first case of coronavirus when a 50-year-old pastor tested positive on March 25.

He is undergoing treatment at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) near Aizawl and he is improving, according to health department officials.

His wife and two kids were discharged from the college after they tested negative on Saturday.

Officials of the health department said more than 61,300 people have been screened for novel coronavirus and at least 200 being put under home quarantine till Monday.

Eight people have been isolated at ZMC and 44 samples have been tested so far, of which 26 were tested negative and results of 17 samples were awaited.