SHILLONG, May 12 - A COVID-19 patient of Meghalaya tested negative today. However, the samples of the patient will be retested after 24 hours for further confirmation.
�The 11th patient, who has been coming out positive in the last two tests conducted, was tested again and the result is negative. We will have to conduct another test after 24 hours for the final outcome,� Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tweeted.
There are two active COVID-19 cases at the moment, including the one who tested negative today.
Meanwhile, after a six-hour marathon video conference with the Prime Minister and other Chief Ministers on Monday evening, Sangma said that �a lot of freedom and flexibility� has been given to States to decide on the relaxation.
He said that States have to decide on restarting economic activities and also on the containment zones. Sangma added that general restrictions on the use of public transport like trains, buses and flights would remain throughout the country.
Sangma told the Prime Minister that economic planning and support to the States should be accorded priority by the Central Government.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister said that all States are facing financial issues and therefore, the Centre�s intervention is the need of the hour. He also mentioned the Economic Task Force that the State has formed to boost the State�s economy during the lockdown period.
Sangma further said that all States must be allowed to initiate their own plans. The Chief Minister was also of the view that inter-State movement should be minimized for the time being to stop the spread of the virus.
On the other hand, the State Government has launched an economic survey for businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. The objective of the survey is to generate data on the disruption caused to businesses due to the pandemic.
The State Government has asked businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals to register for the survey through the online portal, meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid.
