Meghalaya: 7 Relatives of 12th COVID Patient Test 'Negative' for Virus

Shillong, April 22, 2020:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that seven members of the family of the 12th positive case, who were tested through Rapid Test kit yesterday, were again tested today through the conventional Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. They have all tested 'negative'.

Sangma, during his daily briefing on the COVID-19, also said that 5,392 stranded students and migrants from the state have received financial assistance so far. 10,287 of the students are registered with the CM’s Special Grant for stranded people.

On concerns raised regarding rice distribution under PMGKY to non-NFSA, the

Chief Minister clarified that the scheme is specific and the guidelines has to be followed,

which has been set by the Government of India.

“Some people had requested and urged that if this could be distributed to other beneficiaries who are non-NFSA. I would like to clarify that since it's a scheme and guidelines have been given by government of India, it may not be possible for us to change those protocols”, the Chief Minister added.

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He informed that the requirement of rice for the people has been addressed through

different schemes and also through the MLA scheme. “If there is anybody left out, they will

also be covered under some schemes of the government.”

On reports of Meghalaya Covid-19 positive patients being kept together in same room of a particular institution, the Chief Minister said, “I would like to clarify that 2 patients are in one room and one is in a separate room. The protocols are very clear and in almost every other part of the country and in the world, the protocol allows two positive patients to be in the same room, but they only ask that the room should be quite big. So therefore that has been followed and therefore we are maintaining those protocols and we are going as per the protocols. The condition of all the three patients is stable”.

Meanwhile, Sangma said that 1,046 samples have been sent for testing; while 904 tests have yielded a 'negative' resulted. 12 samples have tested 'positive' and 130 samples are yet to be yield results, said the Meghalaya CM.

In today's briefing, Sangma also said that 10,287 persons have registered for CM’s special grant for stranded people. 2,32,572 people, meanwhile, have been provided with financial assistance through the CM’s fund.

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