Infosys begins contact tracing in Bengaluru after campus bank staff gets COVID-19

Coronavirus

The contact tracing exercise was taken up after a staff member working in the bank of the terminal building of the IT company's Bengaluru office tested positive.

TNM Staff

Information Technology (IT) company Infosys is taking measures to trace contacts of a vendor staff member who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the company's Bengaluru office premises. The contact tracing exercise was taken up after a staff member working in the bank of the terminal building of the IT company's Bengaluru office tested positive.  "To take further precautionary measures, we are now conducting a contact tracing exercise to identify any employees who may have visited the bank branch during the week commencing 22nd June or come in contact with the specific vendor staff member," Gururaj Deshpande, Head of Infosys' Bengaluru Development Centre said in a statement. The terminal building and the food court will be closed down until further notice. An alternate food court in building 27 of the premises will be operational alongside the food court at the heritage building.  The medical centre at building 18 will also remain closed till Tuesday and an alternative medical centre at gate 4 will be operational. "Precautionary measures in order to ensure safety at the workplace, please wear your facemask at all times, maintain social distancing as well as adhere to all precautionary advisories from Govt Public Health authorities as well as the company. Please pay attention to the self declaration on a daily basis and do not come into office if you have any signs of being unwell," the statement from Gururaj Deshpande added. Earlier in June, Infosys had said that 5% of its workforce was working from the office while the rest were working from home. The company was looking to increase the number of people turning up for work over time. Over the last three months since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in India, Infosys has outlined long term plans to have its employees work from home rather than turn up at their offices. In an interview with Business Today, the IT major’s Head of HR and Executive Vice President Richard Lobo said that they expect as many as 80,000 of the company's 2.42 lakh employees could be working from home when the restrictions due to the pandemic are lifted.

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Karnataka government allocates land, funds for actor Ambareesh's memorial

Memorial

In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, it was decided that 1.34 acre of land at Kanteerava Studio and Rs 5 crore will be allocated for the memorial.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Monday approved the construction of a memorial in honour of late actor Ambareesh. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa chaired a meeting on Monday along with Member of Parliament from Mandya, Sumalatha Ambareesh, who is the late actor's wife.  ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀ @BSYBJP ಅವರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ದಿವಂಗತ ಡಾ. ಅಂಬರೀಶ್ ಸ್ಮಾರಕ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾನದ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಉನ್ನತ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆ ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯಿತು. ಅಂಬರೀಶ್ ಅವರ ಪತ್ನಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಸದೆ ಸುಮಲತಾ, ಪುತ್ರ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್, 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ywZWBt8ET1 — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 29, 2020 It was decided that 1.34 acres of land at Kanteerava Studio will be set aside and an initial fund of Rs 5 crore will be allocated for the memorial.  Sumalatha Ambareesh thanked BS Yediyurappa for recognising the social and political significance of the late actor.  "Heartfelt thanks to the CM of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa for honouring the memory of Ambareesh and as a recognition of his social, films, political services and contributions by granting 1.34 acre of land at Kanteerava Studio and proposing an initial fund of Rs 5 crore for Ambareesh Smaraka," she said in a social media post. ಅಂಬರೀಷ್ ಅವರ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸುತ್ತ ಅಂಬರೀಷ್ ಸ್ಮಾರಕಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಎಕರೆ 34 ಗುಂಟೆ ಭೂಮಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅದರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಮೊದಲ ಕಂತಾಗಿ Rs 5 ಕೋಟಿ ಘೋಷಿಸಿದ ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @cmofkarnataka @BSYBJP ಬಿ ಎಸ್ ಯಡಿಯೂರಪ್ಪ ರವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನಪೂರ್ವಕ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು. https://t.co/8HMJYvA8q5 pic.twitter.com/qy5p3NzbQw — Sumalatha Ambareesh ಸುಮಲತಾ ಅಂಬರೀಶ್ (@sumalathaA) June 29, 2020 Film actor Doddanna, director and producer Venkatesh (better known by his moniker Rockline Venkatesh), and Sumalatha's son Abhishek, who is also an actor, were present at the meeting along with the Chief Minister.  Ambareesh, known as the 'rebel star' in his career, passed away in November 2018. Following his death, Sumalatha Ambareesh decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 as an independent candidate in Mandya constituency.  After a bitter, drawn out contest against Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of HD Kumaraswamy, the then Karnataka Chief Minister, Sumalatha emerged victorious and became the MP of Mandya, the hometown of Ambareesh.  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not field a candidate in the election and backed Sumalatha's candidature in her fight against the JD(S). During the lockdown, Sumalatha took the initiative of distributing food to those in need in Mandya. Sumalatha will soon be shooting for Darshan-starrer Gandugali Madakari Nayaka which is being produced by Rockline Venkatesh.  

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Deep-red Oklahoma could become first to expand Medicaid during pandemic

A ballot measure on Tuesday, if successful, could also set back Trump's efforts to block grant Medicaid.

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Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar cycle to party office protesting fuel hike in Bengaluru

Coronavirus

The latest increase in the fuel prices on Monday meant that the prices have increased on 22 of the last 23 days (with no rise on Sunday).

TNM Staff

The leaders including the party's state president DK Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were followed in the rally by party workers on the route to the party office. Karnataka Congress leaders led by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and current state president DK Shivakumar held a cycle rally in Bengaluru to register the party's protest against the fuel price hike in India.  Congress leaders cycled to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru's Queens Road on Monday morning. Similar cycle rallies were replicated in the district offices of the Congress party in the state.  The leaders were followed in the rally by party workers who shouted "Down Down BJP" and "Down Down Central Government" on the route to the party office. In New Delhi on Monday, the petrol price stood at Rs 80.43 per litre while diesel prices stood at Rs 80.53 per litre.  The latest increase in the fuel prices meant that the prices have increased on 22 of the last 23 days (with no rise on Sunday). The fuel prices in India have been increasing since June 7 after oil companies began the daily price revision mechanism following a hiatus of 82 days during the lockdown. Similar cycle rallies were held in Madhya Pradesh by Congress workers. Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh and 150 Congress workers were booked for carrying out the protest disobeying prohibitory orders. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav along with party workers held a cycle rally to protest the hike in fuel prices in Patna.  Although most leaders and workers in Bengaluru were wearing masks, there was very little physical distancing followed in the protest with party workers congregating close to each other at the party office on Queen's Road.  DK Shivakumar, who was announced as the KPCC President in March, is yet to formally take oath as the party's chief in Karnataka. A swearing-in ceremony - 'Prathigna Dina' (oath day) -  is set to be held on Thursday in the party office in Bengaluru and in the party's offices across the state.  Watch TNM's video explained on the fuel price hike: 

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Karnataka govt allows online classes with limited timings: Here’s the schedule

Education

Earlier this month, the Karnataka government had banned online classes for students below class five.

TNM Staff

File photo

The Karnataka government has tentatively allowed schools to conduct online classes, following a petition in the High Court challenging the ban on live and pre-recorded online classes for children in classes below standard 5. The permission has been granted until the government receives the report from the expert committee formed by the Department of Public Instruction. The state government has put out a schedule of the amount of time each level of student can have for online classes: LKG and UKG: 30 minutes a week Classes 1-5: 30-45 minutes (in two sessions) every alternate day Classes 6-8: 30-45 minutes (two sessions a day) for five days a week Classes 9 and 10: 30-45 minutes (four sessions a day) for five days a week Earlier this month, the Karnataka government had banned online classes for students below class five. The government had cited the advice from NIMHANS, which stated that children below five should not be forced to have that prolonged screen time. Several groups had also raised objections to online classes citing lack of access for children from lower-income families, or children living in rural areas. While the government proposed classes through television, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka had observed that this was not much different from online classes. Read: Karnataka HC asks govt to consider online classes for limited hours The High Court had asked the government to look into allowing online classes until the report from the expert committee comes in. The expert committee, which comprises health experts, educationists and child psychologists, among other stakeholders, will submit its report on how children can be engaged, including the permitted screen time for each age group. The petition to the High Court was filed by several interested parties, especially from parents and private schools. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday, June 29.

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Expert committee to submit report to Karnataka govt on possible community transmission

Coronavirus

Minister R Ashoka told reporters that the government was looking at a tag system to make sure that people who were quarantined were staying indoors.

PTI

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With a spike in coronavirus cases in the city, Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Sunday said an expert committee advising the Karnataka government on COVID-19 related matters would soon submit its report on possible community transmission. "...There is a committee of experts, who have had discussions with the Chief Minister. They will take three-four days to survey the entire Bengaluru after which they will give a report. Once they submit it, we will inform you," he told reporters in response to a question on whether there was community transmission. The statement from the Minister, who is currently in-charge of COVID-19 management in the city, has come amidst media reports quoting some senior experts indicating that community transmission might have begun in some places, especially in certain parts of Bengaluru. The number of COVID-19 cases in the state, which stood at 3,408 as of June 1, was 11,923 on Saturday with the capital city topping the districts in the infection count. Read: COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Bengaluru, 783 people test positive A cumulative total of 2,531 cases have been reported in Bengaluru as of Saturday evening, which includes 84 deaths and 533 discharges. The Minister said a new tag system, "a model to the entire country," would be introduced to keep a watch on those in quarantine and to prevent people from flouting this norm. Once the person is tagged, it would remain active for 14 days and if the individual tried to cut it, a beep sound would alert officials manning the system, he said. This was being done following complaints that those supposed to be in quarantine were roaming outside, keeping their phones at home, Ashoka said, adding that there were even reports of people escaping from hospitals. “It (tag system) is in the process...we are in talks with a company in this regard," he added.

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Pence attributes coronavirus spike to young Americans ‘disregarding’ Covid guidance

Many more people are testing positive, the vice president said.

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