IMPHAL: Manipur shut its border with our neighbouring country Myanmar over the coronavirus, government officials said on Tuesday.
On Monday, Mizoram closed its boders to Myanmar and Bangladesh. The state also halted the entry of foreigners over fears of a spread of the coronavirus.
“In view of possible threat of transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19, Government of Manipur hereby prohibits movement of people across the international border and accordingly orders closure of Gate No 1, No 2, Moreh and other crossing points along Manipur sector of Indo-Myanmar border until further orders,” read an official order issued by Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash.
The state government directed the district magistrates, police and other officials to immediately take necessary action, including keeping the gates concerned closed.
The move comes days after Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh announced similar curbs on the visit of foreigners. Bhutan has also shut its borders to foreign visitors for two weeks in an effort to limit the impact of the disease.
The virus, which first emerged in China’s Hubei province last December, has spread to more than 100 countries, with over 4,000 deaths worldwide.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of positive cases in the country stood at 44.
However, the Indian Council of Medical Research has also counted three persons from Karnataka and two from Pune as positive. Six more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.