Startup Cipla Health, a subsidiary of Cipla, on Wednesday said it has partnered with Swiggy, Zomato and Dunzo for home deliveries of over-the-counter wellness products in the wake of the nationwide lockdown.

Leveraging on the extensive service delivery mechanism of the partners, Cipla Health will cater to 4 lakh people and cover 250 stores in 45 cities across the country.

A home-delivery system makes it very convenient and safe for customers to get access to the wellness products, which otherwise might be difficult due to these lockdown conditions, the company said in a statement.

Cipla Health CEO Shivam Puri said, We have collaborated with these premier delivery partners as their expertise coupled with our suppliers will allow us to reach out to a larger segment of the population."

Further, he said, "Our set of offerings are specially curated to meet the varying needs of our consumers especially in these times and hence, this association helps us in ensuring our products reach their consumers who are finding it difficult to purchase them due to the lockdown..."

Zomato COO - Food Delivery - Mohit Sardana said, "Through our partnership with Cipla Health, we will employ our logistics capabilities to ensure our users have easy access to OTC wellness products from the safety of their homes.

"Currently available in the metro cities, we will expand this partnership to tier-II cities by the coming week."

Similarly, Swiggy COO Vivek Sunder said, "Our partnership with Cipla will ensure that health, hygiene and wellness products, which are just as essential, will reach customers in need as required. This is another step forward in helping citizens stay at home during the nationwide lockdown.

Dunzo CEO and Co-Founder Kabeer Biswas said whether it is medicines for the sick or groceries for the elderly, the company is committed to helping cities and users fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: PTI

Scientists have developed a semi-autonomous robot that can disinfect large surfaces quickly, and reduce the risk of cleaners picking up the novel coronavirus from potentially contaminated areas.

The researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore are planning to have public trials to support the fight against Covid-19.

Named eXtreme Disinfection roBOT (XDBOT), it can be wirelessly controlled via a laptop or tablet, removing the need for cleaners to be in contact with surfaces, the researchers said.

The new robot differs from other disinfection robots currently on the market that are primarily intended to clean and vacuum floor surfaces and are unable to disinfect odd-shaped surfaces or anything above ground level, they said.

Source: PTI

The West Bengal health department has adopted a slew of containment strategies for Covid-19 "high-risk spots" in the state, without naming them.

The multipronged strategies will help break the chain of virus transmission, according to the order issued by the department.

"An analysis of the available data reveals that some geographical areas in the state show a higher number of Covid-19 infected persons. As a significant number of these cases can be traced to a few pockets, settlements and families, it calls for heightened vigilance and preventive steps," the department stated.

The order also emphasised on the need for early detection of cases by tracing and tracking primary and secondary contacts of those that have contracted the disease.

"Aggressive listing, tracing and tracking of all primary and secondary contacts will be undertaken with utmost promptness. Asymptomatic, low-risk and secondary contacts will be placed under home quarantine and thereafter closely monitored for symptoms," it said.

Source: PTI

The vegetable, onion-potato and masala markets in Vashi have resumed operations after being closed on April 11.

A decision on the operation of the grain and fruit markets will be taken soon, an official told BloombergQuint.

Dharavi recorded five new confirmed cases of Covid-19, as the highly contagious pathogen spreads rapidly in Mumbai’s biggest slum.

All the five new cases have been recorded from the Mukund Nagar slum in Dharavi, said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner in charge of the G/North Ward in Central Mumbai. “Investigation for high risk contacts under progress.”

Among the latest to test positive for the virus include a 47 year old woman and four men between the ages of 24-39 years.

Dharavi—a sprawl of shanties spread over 240 hectares with a population of 8.5 lakh and over 13,000 small businesses—has so far recorded 60 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including seven deaths.

Total Cases In Dharavi So Far: 60