Unlock 4 guidelines: Schools, colleges in UP to remain closed till Sep 30

All schools, colleges and educational institutes in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed till September 30, the state government said on Sunday

All schools, colleges and educational institutes in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed till September 30, the state government said on Sunday, a day after the Union home ministry issued the Unlock 4 guidelines. Chief Secretary RK Tiwari said online and distant learning will be encouraged. Metro trains will be allowed to resume from September 7 in a phased manner, an official order said. For this, the standard operating procedure will be issued separately. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatre, auditorium and similar places will remain closed. However, open-air theatres will be allowed to open from September 21.

The coronavirus induced country-wide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 25 and it was extended in phases till May 31. The Unlock process of the country had begun on June 1 with the graded reopening of commercial, social, religious and other activities. Unlock 4 will come into effect from September 1 and will continue till September 30.

The lockdown in containment zones in the state will remain in place till September 30, the order said, adding that the district magistrate cannot impose lockdown at the local level. There will be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement, it said. From September 21 onwards, 50 per cent of the teaching and non-teaching staff can be called for online education work. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will issue the standard operating procedure for this…

PM Modi launches job scheme for migrant workers in UP

PM Modi will launch ‘Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rozgar Abhiyan’. RBI to hold virtual board meeting. Stay tuned with Business Standard for the latest news of today

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will today hold its first virtual board meeting since the outbreak of Covid-19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the ‘Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rozgar Abhiyan’, which seeks to promote local entrepreneurship and create partnership with industrial associations to provide employment opportunities.

According to an official statement, the Uttar Pradesh government envisaged the Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan (self-reliant UP employment campaign) to dovetail central and state government’s programmes, while also creating partnerships with industry and other organisations.Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

PM Gareeb Kalyan Rozgar Scheme in Uttar Pradesh would take in its ambit three types of beneficiaries, says PM Modi

The scheme would take in its ambit three types of beneficiaries, including those employed through ‘atmanirbhar abhiyan’ (self-reliant scheme), labourers engaged in industrial houses in the micro, small, medium enterprise (MSME) sector and those provided loans through banks and financial institutions for self-employment. 

PM Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath are virtually reaching out to the local and migrant population in six of 31 target districts — Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bahraich, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Jalaun

I am Indira Gandhi’s granddaughter, not an undeclared BJP spokesperson: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi

“I am Indira Gandhi’s granddaughter, not an undeclared BJP spokesperson like some of the opposition leaders,” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, as she alleges that UP govt is threatening her through various departments for speaking truth..Read More

WHO reports biggest single-day jump in Covid cases; over 100,000 infected

 The global tally of cases is nearing five million, with more than 324,000 deaths, according to figures collected by Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Centre

Coronavirus has infected 106,000 people in the last 24 hours, the largest number of cases since its outbreak, the WHO said on Wednesday. Revealing the alarming numbers at his daily briefing, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that two-thirds of those cases came from just four countries, the BBC reported. The global tally of cases is nearing five million, with more than 324,000 deaths, according to figures collected by Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Centre. The US currently has the most cases, with 1.5 million, followed by Russia, Brazil and the UK.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: More than 2 million have recovered from virus globally

Meanwhile, a senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against using hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, the drugs for malaria and other diseases, in the treatment of Covid-19, saying these drugs should be reserved for use “within clinical trials”.

“Warnings have been issued by many authorities regarding the potential side effects of the drug and many countries have limited its use to that of clinical trials or during clinical trials or under the supervision of clinicians in a hospital setting that’s specifically for Covid-19, because of a number of potential side effects that have occurred and could occur,” Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said.

Covid-19 Factoid: India is taking just 3 days to add 10,000 new cases

Among 10 most affected Indian states, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have been doubling their count of cases at the fastest face; the UK has taken 26 more days than the US to reach 200,000 cases

The global tally of coronavirus infections currently stands at 3.8 million, and 265,660 people have succumbed to the infection so far. A little over 1.3 million of all reported cases have now recovered. Daily new additions seem to have peaked but there still have not been definitive signs of a decline. The number of daily new deaths has seen a marginal decline when compared with mid-April. In India, now there are 53,045 confirmed cases of infection, and 1,787 fatalities. Roughly a quarter of all reported cases have now recovered. Rising cases in Maharashtra and Gujarat continue to be a cause for concern in the country.

Here are some data points on the current extent of the pandemic:

1. India took just three days to add 10,000 cases to its tally

In a worrying trend, India is now taking just three days to add 10,000 new cases to its tally. In contrast, the first 10,000 cases had come in 75 days. After the first 10,000, every block of 10,000 cases has come in under 10 days, despite two very stringent lockdowns being in force...

2. Punjab and Tamil Nadu quickest to double their total case count

Among India’s 10 most affected states, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are doubling their number of confirmed cases at the quickest pace at present – in just seven days. By comparison, Maharashtra, the state with most number of cases, is doubling its count in 11 days. The national average for doubling stands at 12 days…

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India between Stage 2 and 3 of coronavirus pandemic: Health Ministry

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, who is also a member of a Task Force on COVID-19, on Monday reportedly said that “localised community transmission” has been seen in some pockets

India is between Stage 2 and 3 of coronavirus pandemic with large number of cases being found in particular areas, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday concurring with the AIIMS Director’s remarks that localised community transmission is being observed in some pockets of the country.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, who is also a member of a Task Force on COVID-19, on Monday reportedly said that “localised community transmission” has been seen in some pockets and that India is between Stage 2 (local transmission) and Stage 3. He had clarified that the most of India is currently at Stage 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asked about Guleria’s remarks, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal said, “What the AIIMS Director has said is not in variance with what we have been explaining to you.”

Explaining further, Agarwal said that they go for a cluster containment strategy when limited cases are reported from a particular area while the government’s action and intervention gets intensified when larger number of cases are reported. “We tell you every time that if there will be a community transmission we will be the first one to tell you so that everyone gets alert. If we go by the wordings (of AIIMS Director), he said localised community transmission, which implies larger number of cases are being found in a particular area,” the official said.

“We are in between Stage 2 and 3 and that implies that our efforts and actions should be focused on ensuring we do not shift to stage 3,” the joint secretary said, adding there are clear defined strategies for containment in areas reporting larger number of cases and the government was working according to that. In Stage 2, disease transmission is limited to those with travel history to affected countries or those in contact with the infected persons…

Indian IT firms unlikely to lay off employees amid coronavirus lockdown

With high employee utilisation level and low bench strength, Indian IT companies are in a better position to absorb the adverse impact on cost for now

Despite the grim business outlook owing to the global spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Indian information technology (IT) services firms are unlikely to resort to any major staff retrenchment, given the sensitivity of the issue.

Though this approach is in line with big US firms such as Salesforce and Morgan Stanley, whose chief executive officers have taken the public stand of not laying off employees, Indian IT firms, however, are not expected to take such a pledge publicly. This is primarily because unlike many US firms, Indian IT firms never had any layoff policy owing to its political sensitivities though employee retrenchment due to “under performance” is common. Globally, the chief executive officers of prominent companies such as Salesforce, Visa, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Bank of America, and FedEx have taken the pledge not to pursue any significant layoffs in 2020.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India toll 27, cases 1024; global deaths top 33,000

Even Cognizant, which has Indian roots with 65 per cent of its employees in India, has announced paying an additional 25 per cent of the basic pay to most of its staffers in India. “Indian IT services firms are not likely to take any public stand on layoffs like many US firms. But firing staffers owing to business disruption and consequent demand slowdown is not likely to happen in big way,” said a source familiar with the thought process. “Increments, bonuses, and variable payouts are going to be on hold for the middle and senior managements.”

Many large corporations, including Bajaj Auto, the Vedanta group, and the Essar group have stated not to reduce their headcount. As far as Indian IT services firms are concerned, 55-60 per cent of their operating expenses comprise wages. So, any decision not to reduce the staff base can adversely impact their cost structure.

Coronavirus lockdown: Rs 60k-crore income support plan for poor in works

The scheme could mean transferring Rs 5,000-6,000 into the bank accounts of 80-100 million poor families, Business Standard has learnt

The Narendra Modi government is said to be considering an income support scheme for those worst hit by the slump in economic activity owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant nationwide lockdown. The scheme could mean transferring Rs 5,000-6,000 into the bank accounts of 80-100 million poor families, Business Standard has learnt. A one-time transfer of Rs 6,000 each into 100 million accounts will cost the exchequer Rs 60,000 crore. However, given how dynamic the situation is, officials are not yet willing to give the monetary size of the package.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Over 3 bn in lockdown as global toll tops 20,000

There are also discussions on allowing a deferment of equated monthly instalments (EMIs) for targeted individuals, and loan repayments for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). But this will require providing some support to the banking system as well, sources said. These measures are likely to be part of a comprehensive economic package to fight the downturn in the country, which is currently locked down to contain the spread of coronavirus. The package can be announced any day now.

News agency Reuters reported that the size of the economic package could be anywhere between Rs 1.5 trillion and Rs 2.3 trillion. Any stimulus package will not only include the monetary component of an income support scheme, but also for MSMEs and others. As of Wednesday, COVID-19 had infected 440 ,321 people globally and over 606 in India.“Economic activity has come to a near halt. Work in factories, workshops, farms, the services sector, and other labour-intensive sectors has just stopped. The poorest families, especially those dependent on daily wages, will not be able to survive the lockdown,” said a person aware of the deliberations in the COVID-19 economic response task force.

Coronavirus lockdown: Police vacate Shaheen Bagh protesters after 3 months

The women agitators have been on a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh for over three months, protesting the newly amended Citizenship Act

Protestors against the citizenship law at Shaheen Bagh were vacated by the Delhi Police amid coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday morning, officials said. The women agitators have been on a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh for over three months, protesting the newly amended Citizenship Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said people at the protest venue in Shaheen Bagh were requested to vacate the site as lockdown has been imposed due to coronavirus outbreak.

A total of nine protesters including six women were detained and taken to a nearby police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R P Meena said. Meena speaking to PTI said that the action was taken as a result of the protesters flouting lockdown norms and assembling in large numbers. About 50 protesters including men were at the venue when it was vacated.

The move comes a day after an unidentified man allegedly hurled petrol bomb near the site. However, no one sustained any injuries. On Sunday, during the ‘Janta curfew’, only five women were at the site while others had left their slippers as a symbol of solidarity. The women were taking all precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak and sanitisers had been arranged at the venue to ensure utmost hygiene, the agency reported quoting anonymous sources.

Meanwhile, advocate Amit Sahni, who filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking clearance of the anti-CAA protest site in Shaheen Bagh welcomed the move and said that it has come as a great relief. “It is a great relief for lakhs of commuters from Noida, Faridabad and Delhi. The intervention by the authorities came quite late, and perhaps it was one of the reasons for Delhi riots,” said Sahni to PTI. He added, “Protesters were not moving from their place despite the directions of the authorities so as to prevent the spread of Covid-19. No one should be permitted to block public roads which cause inconvenience to the public.”.

No salary deduction for contractual staff during Covid-19 lockdown: Centre

All such workers will be deemed to be "on duty" during "such period of absence and necessary pay or wages would be paid," the order added

The Central government issued an order on Monday saying that the salaries of the contract workers associated with its offices will not be deducted if they were compelled to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic. As a measure of social distancing and to contain the spread of the virus, many state governments have announced a lockdown in India. In the government offices, only officials who are required for delivering ‘essential services’ are reporting to work, according to a recent directive by the central government. Hence, most of the contractual staff has been asked not to come to office for work.
“There is a likelihood of a number of contractual, casual and outsourced staff such as housekeeping staff etc being required to stay at home, which under normal circumstances would result in deduction in their pay or wages,” the finance ministry said in an order to all the central government ministries and departments on Monday. All such workers will be deemed to be “on duty” during “such period of absence and necessary pay or wages would be paid,” the order added. The order will remain in force till March 31, as most States have announced a lockdown till then, and will apply to all the subordinate and autonomous bodies under the central government

Earlier, the labour and employment ministry had issued an advisory to all private companies requesting them to follow a similar measure. That is, to treat their workers to be ‘on duty’ and not deduct their wages if they are compelled to sit at home due to the pandemic.

Covid-19: Govt tells companies to protect wages, not terminate workers

Companies may look to terminate the contract of workers ‘on the pretext’ of the Covid-19 or may force their employees to go on leave without pay

The Central government has asked all companies to ensure that workers, especially contract labour, who take leave as a precaution towards the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) should be treated to be ‘on duty’ and their salaries should not be deducted. “In the backdrop of such challenging situation, all the employers of public or private establishments are advised to extend their coordination by not terminating their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from job or reduced their wages, Union labour and employment ministry joint secretary Kalpana Rajsinghot said in a letter dated March 20 sent to employers’ associations, adding, “If any worker takes leave, he should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period.”

A labour ministry official explained that if workers are considered to be ‘on duty’, they will be entitled to wages and other benefits. The advisory further stated that “if the place of employment is to be made non-operational due to the Covid-19, the employees of such unit will be deemed to be on duty.” This means that if any establishment is closed due to a positive case of Covid-19 virus in the premises then the employees will be considered to be ‘on duty’ and not on leave.

The government’s advisory stated that the companies may look to terminate the contract of workers “on the pretext” of the COVID-19 coronavirus or may force their employees to go on leave without pay. “The termination of employees from the job or reduction in wages in this scenario would further deepen the crises and will not only weaken the financial condition of the employee but also hamper their morale to combat their fight with this epidemic,” the labour ministry’s letter stated.

Coronavirus: India in lockdown mode; no trains or metros to run till Mar 31

For the first time in its 167-year-old history, the Indian Railways cancelled all services of passenger trains, including suburban ones, till March 31

The voluntary janata curfew called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, in effect, extended by the Centre on Sunday. It announced a week-long lockdown in as many as 80 districts of the country that have reported confirmed cases of coronavirus. For the first time in its 167-year-old history, the Indian Railways cancelled all services of passenger trains, including suburban ones, till March 31. The nearest equivalent of this was the 54-day railway strike in 1974, when trains did not run in the country. The railways, however, said goods trains would run. Around 12,500 trains, including 9,000 passenger trains and 3,500 mail express trains, run daily.

Besides, the Central government asked states to suspend inter-state transport. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting of chief secretaries of all states with the Cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the PM, on Sunday. All metro rail services, too, would be suspended till March 31. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown — sealing its borders, shutting down markets and directing private firms to give compulsory paid leave to all employees, including contractual — until the end of March. Beyond the 80 districts, states, including Maharashtra, which is leading in the number of coronavirus cases, Rajasthan and Punjab are now under effective statewide lockdowns after they imposed Section 144 that bars gatherings of more than four people.

India reported three coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven, even as authorities took unprecedented steps to contain the spread of the virus. The number of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 396. Those affected by the railways order on Sunday include premium trains, mail/express, passenger trains, suburban train services, Kolkata Metro, and the Konkan Railway services. However, bare minimum services will be provided in suburban trains and Kolkata Metro, till late Sunday.

Keep Reading Live blog on Coronavirus Outbreak

More African countries confirm first virus cases as Jack Ma pledges aid

Thirty African countries – more than half the continent – are now treating nearly 400 patients with coronavirus, after Tanzania, Liberia, Benin and Somalia said they registered their first cases

More African nations confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus and shut borders amid fears of the disease’s impact on fragile health systems, as Chinese billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma pledged to donate over 1 million testing kits to the continent. Thirty African countries – more than half the continent – are now treating nearly 400 patients with coronavirus, after Tanzania, Liberia, Benin and Somalia said they registered their first cases.

Africa had until recently been spared the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has infected at least 180,000 people worldwide and caused over 7,000 deaths. But health experts are concerned the continent’s often dilapidated health infrastructure will struggle to cope as cases mount. “We cannot ignore the potential risk to Africa and assume this continent of 1.3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis. The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COV-19 pandemic in Africa,” Ma’s foundation said in a statement.

The foundation will send 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million masks and 60,000 protective suits and face shields to Ethiopia for distribution to Africa’s 54 nations, it said. Earlier on Monday, the World Bank said it had committed $60 million to Kenya to help the East African nation battle the outbreak. Some countries on the continent, such as conflict-hit Somalia, depend on donors to support basic public health facilities. Somalian Health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur said the ministry had quarantined and tested four Somalis who came from China last week, and one had tested positive for the respiratory disease. International flights to Somalia were suspended for two weeks, the aviation minister said.

Closer to lockdown: Gatherings of over 50 banned in Delhi amid virus spread

The Uttar Pradesh government, too, shut down multiplexes, cinema halls, and clubs in 11 districts, including Lucknow and those along the Nepal border, till March 31

With coronavirus cases swelling in the country, a Group of Ministers (GoM) on Monday proposed various measures, including the closure of all educational institutions, gymnasiums, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools, and theatres across the country. The government also banned the entry of passengers from countries in the European Union, Turkey, and the UK from March 18 till March 31.

The latest steps in the fight cased the coronavirus pandemic came as the number of positive cases in India reached at least 114 (there were reports of several active cases at the time of going to press). Fresh cases were witnessed in Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Kerala, and Telangana. From Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, state governments moved another step towards imposing a lockdown.

In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said religious, social, cultural and political gatherings, as well as protests comprising more than 50 people, will not be allowed in the national capital until March 31. The city has been witnessing sit-in protests at Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia Islamia against the new citizenship law for over 90 days. He also announced the closure of gyms, nightclubs, and spas for this month.

The Uttar Pradesh government, too, shut down multiplexes, cinema halls, and clubs in 11 districts, including Lucknow and those along the Nepal border, till March 31. The state government had recently ordered the closure of schools and colleges until March 22. Tamil Nadu also joined scores of states in closing down educational institutions, public events, and large gatherings. Access to theatres, malls, amusement parks, swimming pools, gymnasiums, and zoos, too, have been barred…

Coronavirus outbreak: India bans air travel from UK, Europe till March 31

The order applies to both Indian and European airlines and also those from West Asia which carry traffic via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha

Coronavirus: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Monday ordered suspension of all passenger traffic from Europe from Wednesday till March 31 to stop the spread of COVID-19. “Travel from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey, and the United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from March 18. The airline shall enforce this at the point of initial departure. Both these instructions are temporary measures and shall be in force till March 31 and will be reviewed subsequently,” Deputy Director General Sunil Kumar said in a circular.

The order applies to both Indian and European airlines and also those from West Asia, which carry traffic via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha. The government’s latest directions comes as deaths spike in European countries — Italy said 349 were dead on Monday, a day after reporting 368 deaths. The US government, too, suspended all passenger movement to and from the European Union.

At present, Air India is the only Indian carrier operating to Europe while IndiGo flies to Turkey. Currently, Alitalia, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic are operating their flights to India, while Finnair and LOT Polish Airlines have suspended their schedules. Last week, India suspended most categories of existing visas and advised citizens against travelling abroad while various countries too have restricted travel and closed borders. The Mumbai police, too, has ordered tour operators from organising group tours.