Representative image.

As the global coronavirus pandemic grips the nation and Mizoram reports one positive case, the State Government on Wednesday issued an advisory asking people to wear face masks when stepping out of home.

An official statement state that any person, when leaving home, is advised to wear face mask in order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

A home-made mask will be also be allowed apart from ready made mask, the statement said.

The Centre for disease control in the US and a new study has claimed that wearing face mask is one of the best preventive measures to protect from being infected with novel coronavirus, it said.

The government advised people to have at least two face masks and wash hand carefully before wearing mask.

It also advised to use good quality of cloth before stitching face mask and every face mask should be washed by soaking in water with salt solution after every single use.

So far, at least five states and a union territory have made wearing face masks mandatory in public places.

Meanwhile, the Centre has made wearing face mask mandatory in work places which will come effective from April 20.

So far, Mizoram has reported only one COVID-19 case with a 50-year-old pastor, who tested positive on March 25 last.

The patient is undergoing treatment at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) near Aizawl.

State nodal officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and epidemiologist Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma said that a woman from Mizoram, who tested positive in Mumbai on Monday, was re-tested positive on Wednesday.

He said results of 22 people from Mizoram, whose samples were collected and tested in Mumbai on Tuesday, has not been declared till Wednesday evening.

The people were living in a dormitory in Mumbai Mizoram house with the infected woman, he said.