What should the government do to address deepening inequality?

 A recent survey claimed that the annual income of the poorest 20% of Indian households dropped by 53% in 2020-21 from their levels in 2015-16. This report tries to delve into the reasons behind it

As the Budget session is drawing closer, calls to address the growing inequality is also becoming louder. For long, critics have been citing inequality numbers to bring home the point. However, this year, something has changed. For one, the numbers are staggering. They reflect how the Covid-19 pandemic has upended years of progress India had made in addressing this systemic problem.

In the latest round of the ICE 360 Survey 2022, conducted by the People Research on India’s Consumer Economy, it was found that the annual income of the poorest 20% of Indian households — which was constantly rising since 1995– plunged 53% in the pandemic year 2020-21 from their levels in 2015-16. In the same five-year period, the richest 20% saw their annual household income grow 39%. India’s K-shaped economic recovery is deepening societal fault lines along the lines of income and expenditure. Automakers are beefing up their SUV portfolio but sales of two-wheelers are at their lowest in nine years.

Hong Kong begins mass-testing for virus amid public doubts

The virus-testing program has become a flash point of political debate in Hong Kong, with many distrustful over resources and staff being provided by the China

Hong Kong began a voluntary mass-testing programme for coronavirus on Tuesday as part of a strategy to break the chain of transmission in the city’s third outbreak of the disease. The virus-testing programme has become a flash point of political debate in Hong Kong, with many distrustful over resources and staff being provided by the China’s central government and fears that the residents’ DNA could be collected during the exercise.

The Hong Kong government has dismissed such concerns, saying that no personal data will be attached to the specimen bottles and that samples will be destroyed in Hong Kong after the exercise. The testing programme began at 8 am with residents heading to more than 100 testing centres staffed by over 5,000 volunteers.

More than 500,000 people in the city of 7.5 million signed up in advance for the programme, which will last at least a week. It is aimed at identifying silent carriers of the virus those without symptoms who could be spreading the disease. The government expects 5 million people will take part in the programme, which could be extended to two weeks depending on demand. Hong Kong’s worst outbreak in early July was blamed in part on an exemption from quarantine requirements for airline staff, truck drivers from mainland China and sailors on cargo ships.

Covid-19 crisis: China using potential vaccine since July, says official

No vaccine has yet passed final, large-scale trials to prove it is safe and effective enough to protect people from contracting the virus that has led to almost 800,000 deaths worldwide

China has been giving experimental coronavirus vaccines to groups facing high infection risks since July, a health official told state media. No vaccine has yet passed final, large-scale trials to prove it is safe and effective enough to protect people from contracting the virus that has led to almost 800,000 deaths worldwide.

The aim is to boost the immunity of specific groups of people, including medical workers and those who work at food markets and in the transportation and service sectors, Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official, told state TV in an interview aired late on Saturday.

The guidelines for emergency use of potential coronavirus vaccines, approved on June 24 according to Zheng, have not been made public. State media Global Times reported in June that China had been offering candidate coronavirus vaccines to employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas.

Delhi to Mumbai, police scramble to save man's 'suicide on Facebook'

The man had been posting videos on Facebook that apparently showed him preparing to end his life and this raised a red flag

A timely alert by an Ireland-based Facebook staffer to Delhi police saved the life of a 27-year-old man, who was under financial stress because of the coronavirus lockdown and showing “suicidal activity” on the social media platform, officials said Sunday. The man had been posting videos on Facebook that apparently showed him preparing to end his life and this raised a red flag on the social media giant’s network. Facebook feared that any direct contact with the man could drive him to expedite his suicide plans, officials said.

So a company official contacted Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Anyesh Roy as the phone number used for the Facebook account was registered in the national capital. The Facebook staffer shared the details of the “suicidal activity” with Roy on his email just before 8 pm Saturday, and what began then was a race against time to save the man.

The phone number was traced to a woman in east Delhi, the DCP said. Roy reached out to Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Jasmeet Singh and they immediately sent a police team to the address but found the woman completely fine. The case then took a wild turn when the woman told the officials the Facebook account was used by her husband who had left for Mumbai two weeks ago after a fight with her.

Maggi noodles to chyawanprash: What India has been spending on in pandemic

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity. In India, that often means ayurveda, the country’s ancient system of medicine. Companies such as Dabur India Ltd. and The Himalaya Drug Co. are witnessing high demand for traditional products like chyawanprash (a cooked mixture containing honey, sugar, ghee, herbs and spices) and proprietary supplements like Septilin, which combines ayurvedic ingredients including licorice and guduchi.

Here are a few of the products shoppers in the world’s biggest open consumer market have been stocking up on.

Consumers around the world are showing an increased interest in safeguarding their health and boosting their immunity. In India, that often means ayurveda, the country’s ancient system of medicine. Companies such as Dabur India Ltd. and The Himalaya Drug Co. are witnessing high demand for traditional products like chyawanprash (a cooked mixture containing honey, sugar, ghee, herbs and spices) and proprietary supplements like Septilin, which combines ayurvedic ingredients including licorice and guduchi.

Immunity Boosters

Chyawanprash sales across the industry grew 283% in June and branded honey rose 39%, according to Nielsen Holdings Plc. Dabur, one of India’s largest ayurvedic products suppliers, said its chyawanprash sales surged 700% from April to June. The surge in spending is likely to last well beyond the next few months, according to Sameer Shukla, west market leader at Nielsen South Asia. “We saw very clear trends in terms of consumer ask — people would like to spend more on immunity boosters, health hygiene and stuff like that,” Shukla said. “This kind of ask is not a short-term one.”

Kerala govt makes compulsory for public to follow Covid-19 norms till 2021

The norms have been issued under the 'Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020'

The Kerala government has made it mandatory for the public to adhere to Covid-19 safety guidelines such as wearing of masks for the next one year, as part of its measures to tackle the spread of the virus in the state.Through an amendment brought to the Epidemic Diseases Act, the state government said the regulations for the public will remain in effect till July 2021.

The norms have been issued under the 'Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020.'In the wake of an increase in Covid-19 cases in the state, the government has taken a decision to strengthen precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus, the government said in an explanatory note with the Gazette notification. According to the regulations, all persons shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or face cover in all public places, workplaces, any place where the public have access, all kinds of vehicles and during transport.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 697,836; scientists say corona is airborne

"All persons shall maintain a social distance of six feet between person to person in all public places and functions… In all wedding ceremonies and functions thereafter the maximum number of participants at a time shall not exceed50 people," it read. Not more than 20 people would be allowed at shops and funerals.

UK begins trial of latest virus vaccine this week with 300 candidates

The British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds

Scientists at Imperial College London will start immunising people in Britain this week with their experimental coronavirus shot, becoming the latest entry into the race to find an effective vaccine to stop the pandemic. In a statement on Monday, the British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds ($51 million) in government funding.

So far, the vaccine candidate developed by Imperial College London has only been tested in animals and in the laboratory, where it produced much higher levels of antibodies than would normally be seen in infected people. Many scientists have warned that the pandemic might only be stopped with an effective vaccine, which typically takes years to develop.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus vaccine update: US FDA ends emergency use of HCQ drug

In the long term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people get back to normal life, said Robin Shattock, who is leading the vaccine research. The vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into the muscle, the body’s own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That should in turn trigger an immune response so that the body can fight off any future Covid-19 infection…Read More

PM Modi to hold virtual meeting with CMs, discuss rising Covid-19 cases

These will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers on the coronavirus outbreak

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday meet chief ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country after a weeks-long lockdown to contain the disease was eased. Modi will hold a video conference with the leaders of 21 states and union territories at 3 pm Tuesday, including Punjab, Assam, Kerala and all northeastern states. On Wednesday, also at 3 pm, he will meet with the 15 worst-affected: including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Delhi.

These will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers on the coronavirus outbreak India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 impact: After 60% fall in April, exports shrink another 36% in May

The unlocking of the economy in June 2020 witnessed a rapid fall in the unemployment rate. After clocking 23.5 per cent in April and May, the unemployment rate first dropped to 17.5 per cent in the first week of June and then it took a steeper fall to 11.6 per cent in the second week. This fall is almost as dramatic as the rise in unemployment when the lockdown began..Read More

155 Indian companies create nearly 125,000 jobs in US: CII report

Texas, California, New Jersey, New York and Florida are home to the greatest number of workers in the US directly employed by the reporting Indian companies, the report said

As many as 155 Indian companies have invested $22 billion in the US, thus creating nearly 125,000 jobs in the country, according to a report issued by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Monday.

The report, Indian Roots, American Soil 2020, is a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 155 surveyed Indian companies doing business in all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Texas, California, New Jersey, New York and Florida are home to the greatest number of workers in the US directly employed by the reporting Indian companies, the report said.

Indian-Americans have made so many important cultural, economic and scientific contributions to our country and Texas values your hard work and innovation. So keep up the good work! said Senator John Cornyn, who is also co-chair of the Senate India Caucus. CII said that the surveyed companies disclosed the highest amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts…Read More

Chinese mainland reports 49 new Covid-19 cases, 39 domestically transmitted

Of the domestically transmitted cases, 36 were reported in Beijing and three in Hebei Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report

China’s health authority said on Monday that it received reports of 49 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Chinese mainland on Sunday, of which 39 were domestically transmitted and 10 were imported.Of the domestically transmitted cases, 36 were reported in Beijing and three in Hebei Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report, Xinhua reported.On Sunday, one person was discharged from hospital after recovery. No deaths related to the disease were reported, according to the commission. As of Sunday, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 83,181, including 177 patients who were still being treated, with two in severe condition.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India sees rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, tally at 333,008

Altogether 78,370 people had been discharged after recovery and 4,634 people had died of the disease, the commission said. By Sunday, the Chinese mainland had reported a total of 1,837 imported cases. Of the cases, 1,745 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 92 remained hospitalized. No deaths from the imported cases had been reported. The commission said one new suspected case was reported Sunday and there were currently three suspected cases.According to the commission, 3,852 close contacts were still under medical observation after 392 people were discharged from medical observation Sunday.

Japanese women bear brunt of recession as virus unravels Abe’s ‘Womenomics’

The number of such “non-regular” workers posted its biggest drop on record in April, declining by 970,000 to 2.02 million. Women accounted for 710,000 of the decline

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has long made creating jobs for women central to his economic policy, but now women are suffering a bigger share of the pain as the country heads for its worst economic slump since World War Two.

Helped by a worker shortage, female labour participation hit a decade-high of more than 70% under Abe’s campaign, often dubbed “Womenomics”. The catch: many women lack the job security of male workers, with more than half holding vulnerable part-time, contract or temporary jobs. The number of such “non-regular” workers posted its biggest drop on record in April, declining by 970,000 to 2.02 million. Women accounted for 710,000 of the decline.

That makes women workers “the shock absorber” of the world’s third-largest economy, said Mari Miura, a Sophia University political science professor. Only about one in five male workers hold non-regular jobs.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India now the 4th-most-affected nation; tally at 298,283

Temp worker Miyuki was told in April she would lose her job on a farm-equipment assembly line at the end of the next month, so she quit to take another offer. But that job disappeared too as the coronavirus outbreak ravaged the economy…Read More

Record single-day spike of 9,983 Covid-19 cases, death toll at 7,135

The number of active novel coronavirus cases stands at 1,25,381 while 1,24,094 people have recovered

Indian on Monday reported a spike of 9,983 coronavirus cases as the tally rose to 2,56,611 while the death toll jumped to 7,135, according to Health Ministry The number of active novel coronavirus cases stands at 1,25,381 while 1,24,094 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. “Thus, around 48.36 per cent patients have recovered so far,” a senior health ministry official said.

The total number of confirmed cases include foreigners.Of the 206 deaths reported since Sunday morning, 91 were in Maharashtra, 30 in Gujarat, 18 each in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, 13 each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, nine in Rajasthan, four in Haryana, two each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, and one each in Odisha and Punjab.

The total number of confirmed cases include foreigners. Of the 206 deaths reported since Sunday morning, 91 were in Maharashtra, 30 in Gujarat, 18 each in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, 13 each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, nine in Rajasthan, four in Haryana, two each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, and one each in Odisha and Punjab.

Out of the total 7,135 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,060 deaths followed by Gujarat with 1,249 deaths, Delhi with 761, Madhya Pradesh with 412, West Bengal with 396, Uttar Pradesh with 275, Tamil Nadu with 269, Rajasthan with 240 and Telangana with 123 deaths…Read More

Over 500 flights take off, but states create plane confusion at airports

Maharashtra clears air, says short-term visitors exempt from isolation

It was a day of delight and despair for passengers as domestic airlines resumed flights on Monday after two months of suspension. While more than 39,000 people flew on Day One, several hundred remained stranded due to last minute cancellations.

Even as airlines were supposed to operate 33 per cent of the approved summer schedule, they were forced to rework their itineraries late Sunday evening following many rounds of discussions between the Centre and states. The original schedule turned upside down as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, allowed operations with only limited number of flights…

ALSO READ: Day 1 of flights resumption: Airlines walk an extra mile to ensure safe ops

Industry sources estimated the average passenger load on Monday at around 55 per cent, with IndiGo operating half the total flights. For some flights, fewer than 10 passengers turned up. Alliance Air’s Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Dehradun flights flew with two and three passengers only, executives confirmed.

While flights from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Northeast states saw 100-plus passengers each, Bengaluru and Mumbai-bound flights from the Capital had lower number of passengers. Short-duration visitors, including business travellers, will not be required to undergo isolation in Maharashtra, the state said in its standard operating procedures for domestic air travel on Monday…Read More

Only 6.39% Covid-19 cases needed hospital support; recovery rate now at 40%

Total count at 1,06,750, of which 61,149 are active. Some 6.9% of those under treatment are critical; death toll at 3,303

India saw a record jump of more than 5,600 Covid-19 cases in a single day, taking the total confirmed cases to 106,750, even as nearly 40 per cent of the total patients were reported as ‘cured’ by the health ministry on Wednesday. There are 61,149 active cases in India, of which 6.9 per cent require oxygen, ventilator support or intensive care unit treatment, while 42,297 have been cured. India had witnessed 3,303 Covid-19 deaths till Wednesday morning.

The Indian Council of Medical Research is also reviewing the use of antimalarial drug HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) as a prophylactic by health workers and those in close contact with affected cases.On whether the use of the drug would be dropped after concerns were raised around its effectiveness and safety, Raman R Gangakhedkar, head, epidemiology and communicable diseases division, ICMR, said, “We are gathering evidence, based on which a decision will be taken.”

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 2,000-plus cases for 4th straight day

The total number of tests conducted in the country has crossed 2.5 million, with more than 100,000 tests being conducted in the last two days, revealed ICMR data. Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry, said India has fared better, compared to the top 10 countries with maximum Covid-19 cases in terms of total incidence and fatalities…Read More

China uses Jackie Chan’s star power to woo Indians amid Covid-19 backlash

Chinese actor Jackie Chan has in a recent video sent his “love and wishes” to the people of India in their fight against the pandemic

With China facing an unprecedented global backlash as Covid-19 continues infecting millions across the world, the country is leaning on its cultural icons to whitewash its image. Chinese actor Jackie Chan has in a recent video sent his “love and wishes” to the people of India in their fight against the pandemic.

The video has been shared by the Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong on his Twitter account. Dressed in a blue jacket the bespectacled actor begins his message with a Namaste and a bow. “Namaste and Hello. I am Jackie Chan. I would like to send my love and wishes to everyone in India. I know we are all facing a very difficult time right now. We should stay positive and follow the advice of your country. Protecting yourself is protecting your family,” Chan says.

“Compassion and care are all about doing and not just about sugarcoating. Show the compassion in your actions,” said one of the users in response. Another user was more direct in its criticism,” It is the Chinese Propaganda on the play.” This attempt to appease the public mood by the Chinese government comes at a time when, Beijing is facing international criticism over its lack of transparency in handling COVID-19. The novel coronavirus was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

UP issues fresh guidelines for lockdown 4.0: All you need to know

All vegetable markets will be allowed to open from 4 am to 7 am only and retail vegetables could be sold between 6 am and 9 pm, the government said in fresh guidelines

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday allowed resumption of all industrial activities in non-containment zones in the state in the fourth phase of the coronavirus lockdown till May 31. All vegetable markets will be allowed to open from 4 am to 7 am only and retail vegetables could be sold between 6 am and 9 pm, the government said in fresh guidelines.

Shop owners and staff will have to wear masks and arrange sanitisers for customers, it said. Night prohibitory orders will be in place in the state and no movement of vehicles, except for essential activities, will be allowed between 7 pm and 7 am, the state government said.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases rise to 100,328; Global cases at 4,891,330

People aged above 65 years or those with comorbidities, pregnant women and children less than 10 years have been advised to stay home. According to the guideline, restaurants will be allowed to open only for home delivery but dining is not permitted. Banquet halls have been permitted to open but not more than 20 people can attend a wedding. Three people can travel in a car and only one person is allowed on two-wheelers. The state government has also decided to categorise “red”, “green” and “orange” zones and containment and buffer zones within red and orange zones as per the home ministry guidelines.

Coronavirus : India records 100 deaths in a day, 66 from Tamil Nadu

India coronavirus LIVE updates: Maharashtra cases at 27,524, Tamil Nadu 9,674, Delhi 8,470. Stay tuned with Business Standard for Covid 19 LIVE updates on corona cases and death toll worldwide

Coronavirus India update: The total number of coronavirus cases in India has been rising constantly. The country now is just a whisker from overtaking China — from where the virus originated. India’s tally of cases now stands at 82,052 and 2,649 people have died of infections so far, according to Worldometer data. Maharashtra govt decides to extend lockdown in Mumbai MMR, PMC, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Solapur till May 31, according to media reports. Will Central extend the nationwide lockdown a third time beyond May 17? Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked chief ministers to submit their Lockdown 4.0 plan by today.

Finance Minister Sitharaman on Thursday unveiled her second tranche of stimulus worth Rs 3.16 trillion. The package includes free food grain for migrant workers, credit support to farmers and working capital loan for street vendors. coronavirus world update: Globally, 4,525,441 people have been infected by coronavirus so far, and the total number of deaths from the disease now stands at 303,372.

Coronavirus India update: Five states with most active cases

Maharashtra (20,446) Tamil Nadu (7,368) Delhi (5,310) Gujarat (5,252) Madhya Pradesh (2,018)

Coronavirus in US: Trump says he doesn’t want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties

US President Donald Trump signaled a further deterioration of his relationship with China over the novel coronavirus, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even cut ties with the world’s second largest economy. In an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Thursday, Trump said he was very disappointed with China’s failure to contain the disease and that the pandemic had cast a pall over his January trade deal with Beijing, which he has previously hailed as a major achievement…Read More

Surviving on biscuits and water, migrants walk back from Delhi to Jharkhand

The migrant labourers had started walking towards their homes in Godda district of Jharkhand ten days ago from Delhi

A group of migrant workers were seen walking in Patna, headed towards their homes in Jharkhand as the Covid-19 lockdown continues. The migrant labourers had started walking towards their homes in Godda district of Jharkhand ten days ago from Delhi. The workers said they were surviving on biscuits and water.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases rise to 78,055; global cases at 4,429,744

“We started walking from Delhi ten days ago, and have been surviving on biscuits and water,” said one of the migrant workers. This is in the backdrop of several states arranging trains for their people who are stuck in other states due to lockdown.

Vande Bharat Mission: Over 700 Indians return home; more flights on Day 7

Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express are operating a total of 64 flights to 12 countries to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase

Under the Vande Bharat Mission, Air India’s repatriation flight AI-1377, carrying 225 passengers from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport early on Wednesday. The evacuation operation is part of the country’s largest-ever initiative to bring back Indian nationals amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Similarly, an Air India repatriation flight carrying 169 medical students from Dhaka in Bangladesh reached Srinagar on Tuesday. “Indian Embassy in Bangladesh and Indian Govt helped us a lot. We are happy to be back. We are thankful to the Indian Government,” one of the medical students said.

Also Read:  Coronavirus update: Lockdown 4.0, Vande Bharat Mission and other stories

Ministry of Civil Aviation had said that a total of 6,037 Indians have been flown back to India in 31 inbound flights operated by Air India and Air India Express under Vande Bharat Mission in 5 days beginning from May 7. “Under this mission, Ministry of Civil Aviation is coordinating with Ministry of External Affairs and state Governments for bringing Indians back to their homeland,” the Ministry said.

Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express are operating a total of 64 flights (42 by Air India and 24 by AI Express) to 12 countries including USA, UK Bangladesh, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Philippines, UAE and Malaysia to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase. The second phase of Vande Bharat Mission will be launched from May 16-22 during which 149 flights, including feeder flights, will be operated to bring back Indians from 31 countries, sources said…Read More

Aarogya Setu must, cabin baggage barred: rules ready for resuming flights

The civil aviation ministry has come out with a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for restarting commercial air passenger services in the country

Filling up a detailed questionnaire related to coronavirus, no cabin baggage, using Aarogya Setu app, and reaching airport at least two hours before a flight departure might well be among some of the requirements for air passengers during the initial phase after resumption of commercial flights. The civil aviation ministry has come out with a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for restarting commercial air passenger services in the country, which remain suspended since March 25 in the wake of the lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Govt says India’s Covid-19 mortality rate lowest globally

Green status on Aarogya Setu app, web check-in, and temperature checks for all domestic departing and arriving passengers have also been proposed. The draft SOP, accessed by PTI, has also mooted rostering the same set of cabin and cockpit crew as long as possible in order to prevent possible cross-contamination. Not just for passengers, the draft SOP has suggested measures that could be followed by security agencies as well as airport operators, including doing away with identity card checks at airport entry gates and ensuring social distancing requirements.