Articles by Savita V Jayaram

Bats or Pangolins? Exploring coronavirus-human trajectory

While bats were thought to be the original source of the novel coronavirus, now it's the Pangolins, used both as traditional medicine and food delicacy in China suspected to be the deadly virus carriers.

4 hours ago

India Inc. set to increase its CSR spends to combat Covid-19

With the Ministry of Corporate Affairs approving funds spent by organisations on preventative care, medicines, medical equipment, disaster management and provision of infrastructure as an eligible CSR activity, India Inc. seems to have pulled out all stops to reach out to the needy and those at the frontline by increasing their CSR spends in fight against Covid-19.

19 hours ago

Your eyes might tell if you have Coronavirus: Two new indicators seen in Covid-19 patients

Medical practitioners do rely on the change in colour of a patient's eyes as indicators to identify a major health issue. While WHO (World Health Organisation) has not mentioned in its symptomatic guidelines that red eyes could be a warning sign of Covid-19 positive case, researches and noted observations by medical staffers on coronavirus patients indicate otherwise.

22 hours ago

Will RBI's massive repo rate cut and Rs 3.74 lakh cr liquidity push help economic revival?

Amidst the coronavirus scare and economic slump witnessed in the recent days, an announcement by RBI governor Shaktikanta Das brings little relief and hope in times of gloom.

1 day ago

Google Maps rolls out new 'temporarily closed' option for businesses impacted by coronavirus lockdown

To offer some relief to customers finding services in their area on Google Maps and update the working status of businesses during the coronavirus lockdown, the tech giant has rolled out a new "temporarily closed" feature to route customers better, locate businesses that are open during the coronavirus lockdown and assist them in their search.

1 day ago

Coronavirus impact: How did Modi govt arrive at 21-day lockdown period and not 14

There is scientific evidence and epidemiological significance to reason out why the Modi government imposed a national lockdown period of 21-days and not lesser than 21.

2 days ago

Citizens plea to govt for temporary break on EMI, loan repayments in its economic relief package

Indian citizens took to Twitter and social media yesterday in a plea to the government to impose a temporary pause on EMIs and loan repayment as a part of the economic relief package.

2 days ago

FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces tax relief: Will this help Indian economy tide over coronavirus impact?

Amidst the coronavirus outbreak that has caught the world by storm and pushed the global economy into a state of recession, Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman announced tax reliefs and extension on Income tax submission deadline from March 31 to June 30, 2020. Will this really help businesses tide over the Covid-19 impact? We find answers here.

2 days ago

Despite government approval, private hospitals await green nod from ICMR to treat coronavirus cases

As yet, private hospitals were allowed by the government to collect throat swab samples, conduct necessary lab tests on suspects and advise home quarantine for those awaiting results. However, private healthcare centres continue to wait for final ICMR approval to treat Covid-19 confirmed cases, which is set to begin on March 26.

2 days ago

Coronavirus affects 207,518 people worldwide: Findings reveal 8,248 deaths and 82,104 patients recovered

Despite strict controls exerted by countries across the globe on curbing travel plans and limiting people movement across borders, new findings released by Johns Hopkins University reveal a phenomenal increase in the number of coronavirus cases to reach 207,518 patients globally. The virus has killed 8,248 people, but 82,104 patients worldwide have recovered so far, across 157 countries.

9 days ago

Coronavirus impact: Rampant price gouging by third-party sellers on Amazon and Flipkart

To prevent price gouging amidst the coronavirus scare, Amazon has suspended 2,500 seller accounts and removed 530,000 "high-priced product offers" from its online marketplace, while Flipkart has issued advisory to its nationwide sales network stating - products to be priced right in the fight against Covid-19.

9 days ago

Mobile Phone prices in India to get dearer: Here are the new GST rates

At the 39th GST Council meeting held in New Delhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced rationalization of tax rates on five sectors - mobile phones, fertilizers, footwear, renewable energy equipment, and man-made textiles. The GST rate on mobile phones will be hiked from the current 12% to 18%.

13 days ago

Alas! 69,607 people have recovered from coronavirus globally

Now that's a positive relief, an air of optimism to breathe for the infected and their families amidst the soaring number of deaths caused by the deadly coronavirus, and most reports confirming no cure for the infected. Over 50,000 people have recovered in China's Hubei province worst-hit by Covid-19 and Iran has seen over 2,900 recoveries, also few coronavirus victims from India have been cured.

13 days ago

Home quarantine guidelines for Covid-19 patients: Most important tips everyone must know

The Directorate General of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) issued home-quarantine guidelines in case of suspects of novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease wherein focal clusters are arising from travel related transmission in an individual, or if a person is coming back from COVID-19 affected areas where local and community transmission is evident.

14 days ago

Coronavirus Scares: Trump might be infected, Ivanka in self-isolation after Brazil meetings

US president Donald Trump denies responsibility for administration failures earlier during the coronavirus outbreak and declares national emergency to allocate $50 billion in federal resources to fight out the viral spread of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump chooses self-isolation after meetings with the Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Brazilian communications director, Fábio Wajngarten who were later tested Covid-19 positive.

14 days ago

India's first coronavirus survivor shares her story: How did she get cured?

A 20-year-old medical student from Thrissur in Kerala was tested positive for coronavirus on January 30, in a week after returning from Wuhan, China. She was discharged from the hospital on February 20, but was asked to remain in-home quarantine until March 1. Do you wonder how she got cured? Read on...

14 days ago

IPS condemns NYTimes article on Delhi riots as "dangerous innuendo, biased reporting and outright lies"

The Indian Police Service (IPS) Association condemned the article published by the New York Times dated March 12, a narrative on the conduct of police during the recent Delhi riots as a combination of "dangerous innuendo, biased reporting, and outright lies."

14 days ago

SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, LIC, others to invest Rs 11,700 crore to revive Yes Bank

Public-sector undertaking State Bank of India will be joined by seven other private lenders namely HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, Damani, Jhunjhunwala, and Azim Premji Trust to pick up stake and support revival of Yes Bank. LIC has also been roped in by the RBI to revive the private-sector lender

14 days ago

Here's why SBI cut interest rate on its saving banks account to 3%, issued AMB waiver

State Bank of India (SBI) has cut the interest rates on its savings bank account to 3 per cent and has also done away with the need for customers to maintain an average quarterly balance.

15 days ago

Flipkart, Unacademy, Meesho and Zerodha issue work from home mandate due to coronavirus

In one of corporate India's biggest work from home experiments battling the spread of coronavirus, Flipkart mandates its 11,000-strong workforce to work-from-home for the next three days. Also, Bengaluru-based startups - Fintech player Instamojo, edtech player Unacademy, Urban mobility platform Bounce, social commerce firm Meesho and Zerodha have asked their staff to mandatorily work from home.

15 days ago