Aizawl/Shillong: Mizoram became the fifth COVID-19 free state among the eight northeastern states as three consecutive samples of its lone coronavirus patient tested negative, top officials said on Wednesday. There has been no coronavirus case in Sikkim and Nagaland. Three COVID-19 patients -- one in Arunachal Pradesh and two in Manipur -- recovered last month, making these two states coronavirus free. These states border BangladeshChina and Myanmar in various ways. 

After Tripura was declared coronavirus free on April 25, 40 COVID-19 cases -- all Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, wife of a soldier and their two children, and a mess worker -- have been reported in the state since Saturday. They are being treated in different hospitals.

Mizoram Health Services Director H. Lalchungnunga said the three successive tests of the state's lone patient came out negative. "The middle-aged man, undergoing treatment at the Zoram Medical College and Hospital, is expected to be discharged this weekend," Lalchungnunga told IANS over phone.

Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Lalthangliana said the state could be declared COVID-19 free.

Of the 12 coronavirus cases in Meghalaya, a veteran doctor died, ten recovered and one is undergoing treatment.

Assam, at present, has 11 active COVID-19 cases. While 32 patients recovered, one died in the state.