Bengaluru airport introduces 'contactless journey' to contain Covid-19

According to the BIAL, the features include pre-entry process, where the passengers have to wear masks and carry e-boarding or printed passes

The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday.

In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding.

"Contactless would be the buzzword at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru when operations resume from May 25," the BIAL said in a statement on Sunday.

With a greater emphasis on minimum touch and minimum exposure between passengers and airport personnel, BIAL aims to minimise all physical contact at the airport.

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The technology will continue to enable a seamless airport journey, with greater emphasis on health and safety, the statement said.

"We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the airport," Hari Marar, managing director and chief executive officer of BIAL, said. "These enhancements demonstrate our continued commitment to keep our passengers safe in this environment."

I am doing fine after taking a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine: Trump

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration's top medical professionals.

President Donald Trump says he's doing fine after taking a two-week course of an unproven malaria drug for Covid-19.

Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement.

He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration's top medical professionals.

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Speaking in an interview aired on the Sunday news program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, Trump said that "I just finished the course of drug treatments and to the best of my knowledge, here I am. If it's something that helps, that's all I want."

Can states dilute Lockdown 4.0 guidelines? No, says Home Ministry

Inside the red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be identified by the district administration and local urban bodies.

The Home Ministry said on Monday that state or Union Territory can not dilute the guidelines issued for the fourth phase of nationwide lockdown that will continue till May 31.

In a communication to the chief secretaries of the states and Union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown were issued after taking the views of the states, following a video-conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers on May 11.

"As emphasised in my earlier letters, I would like to reiterate again that States and Union Territories cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by MHA. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary."

"I would urge you to ensure compliance of the new guidelines and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation," Bhalla said in his letter to the chief secretaries on Sunday night," the letter read.

Bhalla said under the new guidelines effective from Monday, the states and Union territories will categorise "red", "orange" and "green" zones taking into consideration the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.

Inside the red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be identified by the district administration and local urban bodies with technical inputs at the local level and by taking into consideration the health ministry guidelines.

Airbus exploring restructuring plans, job cuts due to Covid-19: Report

For now, Airbus is relying on government-backed furlough schemes in France, Germany and Britain to reduce staff costs after earlier asking employees to take 10 days' leave.

Airbus is exploring restructuring plans involving the possibility of "deep" job cuts as it braces for a prolonged coronavirus crisis after furloughing thousands of workers, industry sources said, though no decision is imminent.

Europe's largest aerospace group has not ruled out layoffs while signalling that no decisions will be made before the summer. But a global airline crisis has gathered speed in recent weeks, with carriers and suppliers pleading for help.

Chief Executive Guillaume Faury is expected to update managers on Thursday after warning staff last month that the firm's survival was at stake due to a slump in demand.

Under French law, Toulouse-based Airbus cannot disclose restructuring plans internally before consulting trade unions through a formal exercise not expected before the end of May. But people close to the company said senior staff would be attempting to read between the lines of Faury's weekly internal briefing to gauge his job plans.

"Over the last few weeks, Airbus has implemented a number of financial, operational and social measures in order to adapt to the severe health and economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis," an Airbus spokesman said.

"The company will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the future of Airbus in cooperation with its social partners."

A meeting with unions is scheduled for Thursday to discuss progress on furlough schemes, French union sources said. More temporary furloughs could be announced in the coming week.

One insider said any restructuring plan would involve forced redundancies and cutbacks were expected to be deep, though others cautioned it was too early to talk of specific numbers.

Air passenger traffic to stay below 25% in September: Boeing CEO

Asked whether there might be a major US carrier that has to go out of business, Calhoun said: "Yes, most likely. You know, something will happen when September comes around".

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun does not expect passenger traffic to reach even a quarter of its levels in September, creating the need for airlines to make "adjustments" as they weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview with NBC to be aired on Tuesday, Calhoun said: "Traffic levels will not be back to 100%. They won't even be back to 25%. Maybe by the end of the year, we approach 50%. So there will definitely be adjustments that have to be made on the part of the airlines."

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Asked whether there might be a major US carrier that has to go out of business, Calhoun said: "Yes, most likely. You know, something will happen when September comes around."

In response to Calhoun's comment, Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: "He was speaking to the general uncertainty in the sector, not about anyone particular airline."

WHO denies report claiming China pressurised it to withhold Covid-19 info

German weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic.

The World Health Organisation has dismissed a media report saying that it withheld information about Covid-19 following pressure from China, and termed it as 'false allegation'.

The UN agency said in a statement late Saturday that a German magazine's report about a telephone conversation between WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 21 was unfounded and untrue.

Weekly Der Spiegel reported that Xi asked Tedros during the call to hold back information about human-to-human transmission of the virus and delay declaring a pandemic. The magazine quoted Germany's foreign intelligence agency, BND, which declined to comment on Sunday.

Der Spiegel also claimed that the BND concluded up to six weeks of time to fight the outbreak had been lost due to China's information policy.

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WHO said Tedros and Xi have never spoken by phone and added that such inaccurate reports distract and detract from efforts to end the Covid-19 pandemic. It added that China confirmed human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus on January 20.

WHO officials issued a statement two days later saying there was evidence of human-to-human transmission in Wuhan, but more investigation was necessary.

36% Indian firms considering salary freeze over Covid-19 lockdown: Report

The report said that 23 per cent organisations have suspended the promotion increases and 18 per cent organizations deferring or delaying salary increases.

With businesses and economic activity almost halted for over a month now amid the coronavirus crisis and the nationwide lockdown, around 36 per cent companies in India are considering a freeze in salary hikes to manage their costs, according to a report by Korn Ferry.

In India, the most commonly implemented measures for rewards and benefits are promotion and salary hike.

The report said that 23 per cent of organisations have suspended promotion increases and 18 per cent have deferred or delayed salary increases.

The Korn Ferry report said: "36 per cent of organisations have implemented or are considering implementing a salary freeze to manage costs."

The report by the global organisational consulting firm noted that given the government's extensive requests on avoiding laying-off employees, majority of the companies, around 84 per cent have not implemented or are not currently considering permanent staff layoff or redundancies.

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Commenting on the survey, Roopank Chaudhary, Client Partner, Korn Ferry India said: "Given the current circumstances and uncertainties on the recovery for market conditions, business leaders are trying everything to survive this storm and manage their costs."

"Among the dozens of ways organisations are taking are layoffs, hiring freezes, reduced hours, less reliance on contractors, reducing overtime, delaying bonuses or merit increases, suspending certain benefits like retirement savings/capital accumulation programs, and many others", he said.

Gilead disputes report of anti-viral drug remdesivir failing Covid-19 trial

It comes days after another report of rapid recovery in fever and respiratory symptoms in some patients with Covid-19 who were treated with remdesivir at the University of Chicago Medicine hospital.

A closely-watched Gilead Sciences Inc experimental antiviral drug failed to help patients with severe Covid-19 in a clinical trial conducted in China, but the drugmaker said the findings were inconclusive because the study was terminated early.

Gilead shares closed down 4.3% after the data was inadvertently released and first reported by the Financial Times. It comes days after another report detailed rapid recovery in fever and respiratory symptoms in some patients with Covid-19 - the sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus - who were treated with remdesivir at the University of Chicago Medicine hospital.

Interest in Gilead's remdesivir has been high as there are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for Covid-19, and doctors are desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease that attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in extremely severe cases.

In the Chinese trial remdesivir, given by intravenous infusion, failed to improve patients' condition or reduce the pathogen's presence in the bloodstream, according to draft documents published accidentally by the World Health Organization (WHO).

But details were thin and suggested limitations in interpreting the data that has not yet been fully reviewed.

A screenshot of the WHO posting, captured by the medical news website STAT before it was taken down, said the trial enrolled 237 patients with 158 receiving remdesivir compared with 79 who got a placebo.

The rate of death was similar at 13.9% for remdesivir versus 12.8% in the control group.

Coronavirus: All you need to know about new relaxation rules in your state

Coronavirus updates: The death toll due to Covid-19 infection has jumped to 556 so far.

India has over 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with Maharashtra alone recording nearly 4000 cases followed by Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The death toll due to Covid-19 infection has jumped to 556 so far.

The government had earlier announced a partial relaxation of lockdown from April 20 onwards. Let's take a look at states' position on lockdown relaxation rules.

Delhi

Delhi lockdown: The total number of Covid-19 cases crossed the 2,000-mark in the national capital on Sunday. CM Arvind Kejriwal said the government will not relax the Delhi lockdown for at least a week as the coronavirus spread appears to have gained pace. It accounts or 2 per cent of India's population but 12 per cent of the Covid-19 cases in the country.

According to a bulletin issued by the Delhi health department, 110 fresh cases were reported on Sunday, taking the tally in the national capital to 2,003. With two deaths, the fatalities jumped to 45. The AAP government in the city has started rapid testing in 78 Covid-19 containment zones and acquired 42,000 rapid-test kits.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases jump to 17,615; global cases at 2,407,255

Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said the administration will review the situation on April 27. "In view of the present scenario, it appears to be necessary to maintain status quo in larger public interest," he said.

"We want to relax it, but if we give relaxations and there is a shortage of ICUs, ventilators, oxygen in hospitals and people lose their lives, we will not be able to forgive ourselves," Kejriwal said. "Had there been no lockdown, the situation here would have been similar to Italy and Spain," he warned.

Shanghai tops world's IPO league table despite coronavirus outbreak

Eight companies raised $2 billion that month and a further 5 deals in March were worth $615.5 million.

Shanghai has topped global initial public offering (IPO) league table for the first time in nearly three years, even as the coronavirus epidemic which originated in China rocked markets around the world.

A total of 33 companies raised $7.31 billion floating on the Shanghai main board and the city's start up-focused STAR market, according to Refinitiv data for the first quarter, easily outstripping New York's Nasdaq where 17 companies raised $5.13 billion via IPOs.

But even as Shanghai basks in success, for cash-seeking companies and their bankers the question is whether China can maintain this momentum as the coronavirus continues to cause massive disruption in global financial markets.

While Shanghai hosted the $4.4 billion IPO of Beijing-Shanghai Speed Railway early in January, accounting for most the funds on the main board, STAR market issuance held up even as the country went into virtual lockdown in February.

Eight companies raised $2 billion that month and a further 5 deals in March were worth $615.5 million.

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China's markets have fared better than many Western benchmarks, with the blue-chip CSI 300 down 9.4% for the year as of Friday March 27, compared with tumbles of 21% fall for the S&P 500 in New York and 25% for the pan-European STOXX 600 index.

EY Greater China IPO practice leader Terence Ho said the fiscal response from China's government - which accelerated a massive programme of economic stimulus measures - could help boost the prospects of companies looking to list on the mainland markets.

New York state's coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,000 in 16 days

The virus and the disease it causes, coronavirus, has torn through New York with frightening speed.

New York state's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed Sunday above 1,000, less than a month after the first known infection in the state.

Most of those deaths have come in just the past few days.

New York City reported in the evening that its toll had risen to 776. The total number of statewide deaths isn't expected to be released until Monday, but with at least 250 additional deaths recorded outside the city as of Sunday morning, the state's total fatalities was at least 1,026.

The virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has torn through New York with frightening speed.

The first known infection in the state was discovered March 1 in a health care worker who recently returned from Iran. Two days later, the state got its second case, a lawyer from the suburb of New Rochelle.

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By March 10, Gov. Andrew Cuomo had declared a containment area in New Rochelle that shuttered area schools and houses of worship. That same day, the metropolitan area saw its first fatality: a man who worked at a harness track in Yonkers and lived in New Jersey.

By March 12, the state had banned all gatherings of more than 500 people, darkening Broadway theaters and sports arenas. A day later, the first New York resident died, an 82-year-old woman with emphysema.

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio closed New York City's schools March 15.

Coronavirus: Japan minister hints that Tokyo Olympics 2020 may be postponed

While answering a question in the Japanese parliament, the minister said the contract with IOC called for games to be held within 2020.

Japan’s Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto on Tuesday hinted that the Tokyo summer games could be postponed due to coronavirus outbreak. While answering a question in Japanese parliament, Hashimoto said Tokyo's contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) "calls for the Games to be held within 2020".

"Looking at the contract once again, it says in Article 66 that the IOC holds the right to cancel the Games by deactivating the contract if... the Games are not held in 2020," Hashimoto said.

"At this moment, the Tokyo 2020 committee, the IOC and Tokyo (city government) are doing their best to make sure the Games will be held from July 24," she added. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9.

Hashimoto added that May looked like an "important benchmark" for deciding whether the Games go ahead as scheduled.

"An IOC member has said the end of May is the final deadline for making the decision," she said, referring to remarks by senior IOC member Dick Pound. "So I think the end of May is an important benchmark," Hashimoto added.

ALSO READ: Don't write off Tokyo Olympics yet, still 3 months to decide: IOC member

"We're making utmost efforts so that the IOC can be convinced that the Tokyo Games can be held safely."

The Japanese govt Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stepped up national measures to contain the virus, urging schools nationwide to close for several weeks and calling on organisers of large events to consider cancelling or delaying them.

Concern over coronavirus spread as cases jump in South Korea, Italy, Iran

In Italy, the number of cases jumped to above 130 from just three before Friday.

International concern about the spread of coronavirus outside China grew on Sunday with sharp rises in infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

The government in Seoul put the country on high alert after the number of infections surged over 600 with six deaths. A focal point was a church in the southeastern city of Daegu, where a 61-year-old member of the congregation with no recent record of overseas travel tested positive for the virus.

In Italy, the number of cases jumped to above 130 from just three before Friday. Authorities sealed off the worst affected towns and banned public gatherings in much of the north, including halting the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, to try to contain the biggest outbreak in Europe.

Italian health authorities were struggling to find out how the virus started. “If we cannot find ‘patient zero’ then it means the virus is even more ubiquitous than we thought,” said Luca Zaia, the regional governor of the wealthy Veneto region.

Iran, which announced its first two cases on Wednesday, said it had confirmed 43 cases and eight deaths, with most of the infections in the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Qom.

China, which has seen the vast majority of cases, reported 648 new infections. But only 18 were outside of Hubei province, the lowest number outside the epicentre since authorities began publishing data a month ago and locked down large parts of the country.