COVID-19 cases detected among Myanmar nationals taking shelter in Mizoram

Mizoram is witnessing COVID-19 cases among the 15,000 Myanmar nationals who took shelter in the state post February 1, when the military seized power in Myanmar.

A senior officer in the state who does not want to be named told ET, “Around 15000 people from Myanmar are staying in Mizoram. One such person had died in COVID Centre in Aizawl. Several people from among these are COVID positive.”

He added, “We are collecting data from different districts. Several people from Myanmar are staying in residence of locals in six districts which border Myanmar.”


Around 9,444 positive cases have been detected in Mizoram till Thursday evening, while the state's active caseload stood at 2,073 on Monday.

The military seized power on February 1, detaining the country's elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her government. Following which Myanmar is witnessing a series of protests forcing thousands of people to take refuge in Mizoram.

The border areas along the Mizoram are inhabited by Chin people who share ethnicity and ancestry with Mizos. Mizoram shares a 404 km long international border with Mizoram.

Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga had urged the Centre to provide asylum to refugees fleeing Myanmar. He had also opposed the Centre’s order to security forces to stopMyanmar citizens from entering the state and deport refugees.

The union home ministry in a communique to the chief secretaries of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, and the director general of Assam Rifles on March 10 stated that there was a probability of large-scale illegal influx into the Indian territory due to the current internal situation in Myanmar.

It had earlier issued an advisory to these states and the security forces to stay alert and take appropriate action to prevent a possible influx into Indian territory.

The union ministry had also said that state governments had no power to grant refugee status to any foreigners