Community quarantine centres get Meghalaya CM's aid

SHILLONG: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday announced a one-time assistance of Rs 5,000 for all community quarantine centres housing citizens coming in from other states.
Replying to a Zero Hour notice moved by Congress legislator Mayralborn Syiem on the first day of the re-assembled budget session, Sangma said the amount would be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He added that as it is next to impossible to keep more than 8,000 returnees in institutional quarantine centres, the state government is endorsing home quarantine for those who do not show any Covid-19 symptoms.“So far, 7,050 stranded citizens have returned to Meghalaya. Those having any symptoms undergo two tests — rapid test and RT-PCR test,” Sangma informed the assembly.
Sangma said he has also written to the Union civil aviation minister seeking aircraft to bring back citizens who are eager to pay the fare.
Senior Congress legislator and former speaker Charles Pyngrope suggested a 50 per cent salary cut of all legislators to help the state sort out expenses. Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said it is a good gesture and he would examine the matter for which a meeting would be held to get the opinion of all legislators.
Meanwhile, the Garo Hills district recorded its first Covid-19 case on Tuesday evening after a woman, who had returned from Tamil Nadu, tested positive for the virus.