Stay at home, keep social distance: CM to public

Imphal, Apr 2 (DIPR)
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has once again urged all the people to stay at home and maintain social distancing as it is the key to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
Addressing the people of the State, the Chief Minister stated that lockdown is essential to save lives and appealed to the people to support and co-operate with the Nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all must comply with the guidelines and preventive measures laid down by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  and medical experts to fight the deadly disease”, Biren said.
Mentioning that the Government has taken all necessary measures so as to provide essential commodities and grocery items to the public, the Chief Minister said that there is no shortage of essential items like groceries, fuel and medicines in the State.
He informed that out of the 10 persons from the State who had participated in the Tablighi Jammat congregation at Delhi in the second week of March, one person has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the State, he added.
As a precautionary measure, the State Government has started tracking the movements and contacts of the infected patient. All the family members of the infected person have been sent to the quarantine centre at RIMS, Biren added.
He further appealed to the people to be transparent about their travel history outside the State as the disease is highly contagious.
N Biren said that around 20 crore women who are Jan Dhan account holders will get Rs 500 per month for the next three months. Around 13.62 crore families under MNREGA will get increased daily wage of Rs 202 instead of Rs 182. An ex-gratia of Rs 1000 will be provided to around three crore senior citizens, widows and disabled persons.
Under the Prime Minister Kisan Yojana scheme, the Government will provide front-load of Rs 2000 to 8.7 crore farmers in the first week of April, 2020.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness over production of hand sanitizers, masks etc by students of Manipur University, Dhanamanjuri University and local entrepreneurs.