The said employee had visited Italy on vacation and has contracted Covid-19
Team members of the employee have been advised to get health tests done immediately
Paytm has shut down its offices until they are sanitised
As coronavirus outbreak picks up pace in India over the last two days, the impact has now reached digital payments giant Paytm. As a Gurugram-based employee has tested positive for coronavirus and Covid-19, Paytm has urged employees to work from home, the company confirmed to Inc42.
The affected employee had visited Italy on vacation and has contracted the Covid-19 in the European country, which is the worst affected nation outside Asia. A Paytm spokesperson told us the employee is receiving appropriate treatment and the company is extending complete support to his family.
“As a precautionary measure, we have suggested his team members to get health tests done immediately. We have also advised all our colleagues to work from home for a couple of days while we get our offices sanitized,” the spokesperson added.
While the work from home might affect productivity, Paytm says it will not impact daily operations and Paytm services will continue as usual.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the novel coronavirus is deadlier than seasonal flu strains. At present, globally, there have been 94,348 cases of Coronavirus, of which 3,221 have led to death and 51.317 have recovered.
In December 2019, China became ground zero for the coronavirus epidemic. And now in March, it is on the verge of becoming a global pandemic with the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling it a public health emergency for the entire world. The coronavirus epidemic has gained ground in Europe and the UK as well, which has led to stock markets crashing, at a time when global tech giants have also recognised the impact.
In India, there have been 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus, almost all of them coming in the past week. The government on Tuesday (March 4) announced additional measures to check the spread of coronavirus. Now, all international passengers arriving in India will have to submit self-declaration forms as soon as they arrive. PM Narendra Modi also tweeted urging people not to panic.
