Health

Swiggy announces COVID-19 vaccine cover for over 2 lakh delivery partners

March 25, 2021, 3:01 PM

Gursshheen Gahllen | Bengaluru

Swiggy, the online food delivery platform on Wednesday announced that it will vaccinate over 2,00,000 delivery partners against COVID-19.

The decision of the on-demand delivery platform came in after the centre announced the next phase of inoculation drive commencing from April 1, 2021, for individuals aged 45 and above.

In the first tranche of the programme, 5,500 of Swiggy’s delivery partners, aged 45 and above will be eligible to opt-in for the vaccination. By the end of the program, Swiggy hopes to encourage 2,00,000 plus delivery partners with the choice to get vaccinated as they continue to provide an essential service. Swiggy is also requesting authorities for the prioritisation of delivery partners in the vaccine drive, the statement said.

From essentials to food, delivery partners have always been our lifelines.

We’re happy to announce that we’re supporting 100% of the vaccination cost for our entire delivery fleet, and that this entire drive will be facilitated by us to keep them and you safe. #DeliveringHope

? Swiggy (@swiggy_in) March 24, 2021

Announcing the vaccination programme, Vivek Sunder, COO, Swiggy, said, Over the past year, our delivery women and men have been a lifeline for the nation, delivering food and other essentials to millions of Indians during their time of need. As we continue to make all efforts to fight the pandemic, we are prioritising creating awareness across our fleet and extending our Covid cover to include access to vaccination for all delivery partners. We will also cover for the loss of pay when they take the time off to get vaccinated.

The Bengaluru-headquartered company added that it had been providing loss of pay cover for partners recovering from COVID-19 infections and had also given out Rs 18 crore in earnings guarantees to delivery agents who could not come into work during the lockdowns.

COVID-19

Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2023

Radhika Dhawad | Thane

Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”

He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.”

India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.

Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours

Politics

After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2023

Radhika Dhawad | Wayanad

Rahul Gandhi

An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.

However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.

Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.

Also read: ‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah

Nagpur News

Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2023

Radhika Dhawad | Nagpur

A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city, out of which 15 belonged to urban area while and 6 were from the rural areas, and one from outside Nagpur district.

At present, there are 72 active patients in the city. Three new cases of the new XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 were detected that took the total tally to five in the district.

India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.

Also read: CELESTIAL! Unique alignment of Moon and 5 planets