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Barely a week after imposing a lockdown on the unvaccinated, <keyword id="21177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="austria" source="Orion">Austria</keyword> on Friday announced a full national <keyword id="8925953" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-lockdown" source="Orion">Covid-19 lockdown</keyword> starting next week. Austria became the first country in the European Union to take such a measure in the face of the Covid-19 resurgence. Besides, it has also made vaccination mandatory from February 1, Euronews reported. The new measures announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg on Friday morning will come into effect initially for 10 days starting Monday. Most stores will close, and cultural events will be cancelled. "We have to look reality in the face," Schallenberg was quoted as saying at a news conference. "We do not want a fifth wave. Nor do we want a sixth or seventh wave," the Chancellor said, as reported by public broadcaster ORF. After 10 days, the effects will be assessed and if Covid cases don't drop sufficiently, the lockdown can be extended to a maximum of 20 days. However, according to Austria's Health Minister, schools would remain open for those who need to go there, but all parents have been asked to keep their children at home if possible. The lockdown comes as Covid infections soared in Austria in recent weeks. Daily case numbers have trebled in November, touching over 15,000 on Thursday. According to the latest figures, the incidence rate was 990.7 cases per 100,000 people in the past week, and Health Minister Wolfgang Mackstein said imposing a lockdown was the "last resort". The country's per capita infection rate is also the highest so far this year. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with many new Covid patients, and deaths have been rising again, the report said. Last Monday, Vienna had announced a nationwide lockdown for about two million unvaccinated people. Under this, people aged 12 years and older were banned from going outside except for essential activities such as work, attending classes, essential shopping, or going for a walk. The country has 65 per cent people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 -- one of the lowest rates in Western Europe. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned that as Covid cases continue to mount in Europe and Central Asia, the regions are likely to see about 500,000 additional deaths before February 1. Hans Kluge, WHO's European Regional Director, attributed the increased risk to low mask use, vaccine hesitancy and spread of the more transmissible Delta variant. Many other European countries are also planning to reimpose restrictions in the wake of a steep rise in the number of cases, the BBC reported. Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger has announced what he called a lockdown for the unvaccinated starting Monday. The country had reported a record 8,342 cases on Wednesday. The Czech government is also limiting access to a variety of services. The <keyword id="44173" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="netherlands" source="Orion">Netherlands</keyword> introduced a partial lockdown last weekend. German leaders have also agreed to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in areas with high Covid hospital admissions that would affect 12 of Germany's 16 states, the report said. Daily infections had hit a new German record of 52,826 on Wednesday. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/mindhouse-raises-6-million-in-seed-funding-led-by-binny-bansal/articleshow/87798613.cms">Flipkart's Binny Bansal bets on Zomato cofounder's two-year-old venture</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/farm-laws-timeline-important-milestones-from-their-enactment-to-withdrawal/slidelist/87795876.cms">Farm laws timeline – important milestones from their enactment to withdrawal</a>

COVID-19 situation worsens in Europe — Netherlands, Austria imposes full lockdown

New Delhi, Mar 31 () The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on Tuesday said all establishments under designated and optional trade will pay full stipend to apprentices engaged with them. "Additionally, reimbursement of stipend to establishments under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) shall be paid by the government for the lockdown period as per guidelines," an official statement said. Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprenticeship Rules under it state that if a trade apprentice is unable to complete the period of apprenticeship training due to strike or lockout or layoff in an establishment where he or she is undergoing training and is not instrumental for the same, the period of his/her apprenticeship training shall be extended for a period equal to the period of strike or lockout or layoff, as the case maybe, and shall be paid stipend during the period of such strike or lockout or layoff or for a maximum period of six months.Currently, there are 24,884 establishment engaging 2.42 lakh apprentices in both designated and optional trade. As per the provision under NAPS, the government reimburses 25 per cent of the stipend amount to be paid to apprentices subject to a maximum of Rs 1,500 per month. During the lockdown period due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Centre will be paying approximately Rs 36.3 crore to the establishments which would be claiming reimbursement for engaging apprentices under NAPS during this period. Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey stated that all the establishments have shown full commitment in this regard and are cooperating with the government for the smooth delivery of services in a critical time like this. RSN MKJ

Apprentices to get full stipend during lockdown: Govt

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12065119" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="austria" source="Orion">Austria</keyword> announced a full <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> lockdown that would end on December 13 for vaccinated people.</li><li>The chancellor said the move "hurts" but not enough people had been convinced to get vaccinated.</li></ul>Austria has announced a full coronavirus lockdown, becoming the first country in western Europe to do so this autumn.The lockdown is to start this coming Monday, <a href="https://www.diepresse.com/6063144/bundesweiter-lockdown-bis-12-dezember-impfpflicht-ab-februar">Die Presse reported</a>. Officials announced the new restrictions on Friday.It will end at midnight on December 13 for vaccinated people, the officials said.The lockdown for unvaccinated people would continue beyond December 13, they said.Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said the country's vaccination rate was to blame. Around two-thirds of Austria's population is fully vaccinated, making the country one of the least vaccinated in Europe, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austria-reimposes-full-lockdown-makes-vaccination-compulsory-2021-11-19/">Reuters reported</a>."We have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated," he said, according to Reuters. "It hurts that such measures still have to be taken."The officials also announced that the whole population must be vaccinated by February 1, 2022.It is not clear yet how that would be implemented and enforced.Austria is seeing a coronavirus surge. Earlier this week the country <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/austria-starts-lockdown-unvaccinated-people-only-2021-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">imposed a lockdown for unvaccinated people</a>, but the high cases counts continued.Other European countries have announced new restrictions as virus numbers climb, but have not announced full lockdowns like Austria now has.

Austria becomes the first country in western Europe to reimpose a full COVID-19 lockdown, and says it plans to make vaccines compulsory

<ul class="summary-list"><li>England will follow Scotland and go back into a full national lockdown, Prime Minister <keyword id="6380867" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson">Boris Johnson</keyword> said on Monday.</li><li>Schools will remain closed, and people will be told to stay at home until at least mid-February.</li><li>There has been an explosion in <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> cases and hospitalizations in the UK following the identification of a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus in December.</li></ul>England will go back into a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home">full national coronavirus lockdown</a>, with schools closed and people required to stay at home until at least mid-February, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday evening.Under the lockdown, household mixing indoors will be banned, and only essential shops will remain open."I want to say to everyone right across the UK that I know how tough this is, and I know how frustrated you are, and I know that you've had more than enough of government guidance about defeating this virus," Johnson said. "But now, more than ever, we must pull together."Schools will be closed to all but vulnerable children and the children of essential workers from Tuesday, one day after many primary schools reopened following the Christmas break.Students will not be expected to return until at least after the February half term, the prime minister said, adding that exams would not go ahead in the summer as planned.People will be ordered to stay at home except for a few reasons, including caring for vulnerable people, performing essential work, and buying food and medicine. Amateur team sports will also be banned, though exercising will still be allowed with up to one other person outside your household.<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19">Shielding</a> will also return for the most vulnerable people, the prime minister said.He added that by mid-February, "if things go well, and with a fair wind in our sails," those most in need of vaccinations will have received one."The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet, but I really do believe that we're entering the last phase of the struggle," Johnson said. "Because with every jab that goes into our arms, we are tilting the odds against COVID and in favour of the British people."Johnson called on the public to observe the new rules immediately, with the law coming into force from Wednesday morning.<h2>Watch Johnson announce the new lockdown:</h2>The prime minister had resisted imposing another full national lockdown and had insisted as late as Sunday that schools were safe to reopen.His statement followed the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scotland-will-go-into-coronavirus-lockdown-says-nicola-sturgeon-2021-1">announcement of a lockdown</a> by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier Monday.The UK has had exponential growth in infections and hospitalizations since a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus was identified last month.Hospitals in some parts of the country are now <a href="https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-is-completely-overwhelmed-240101/">mostly filled with COVID-19 patients</a>. Some hospitals are <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-three-intensive-care-units-in-london-full-on-new-years-eve-leaked-email-shows-12177002">running out of oxygen</a> because of a surge in demand for respirators."Our hospitals are under more pressure from COVID than at any time since the start of the pandemic," Johnson said, adding that there had been about a 30% increase in hospitalizations in the past week alone.Johnson was under growing pressure to impose a full lockdown. Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, on Sunday called for an immediate national lockdown, saying the situation in England is "clearly out of control."Johnson's announcement was the latest U-turn on the coronavirus made by his government in recent weeks.The prime minister had planned to allow widespread household mixing over the Christmas period but reversed the decision in some parts of the country days before the holiday.Weeks ago, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson threatened to take local authorities to court for closing schools early for Christmas because of the surge in infections. But Williamson <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/03/schools-in-england-may-stay-closed-for-weeks-admits-williamson-coronavirus">recently announced</a> that secondary-school openings would be delayed and that <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55511662">primary schools would not reopen</a> in most of London and parts of the South East.The National Education Union has advised teachers across the country not to attend schools because of the "serious and imminent danger" to their health caused by the virus.Teaching unions believe that <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies">newly released papers</a> by the UK government's scientific advisory committee warning that schools would need to close in order to bring the virus under control mean that any attempt to force schools to open would be a breach of UK work-safety regulations.

England will go back into full national coronavirus lockdown, Boris Johnson announces

<ul class="summary-list"><li>People made 1.56 million <keyword id="418793" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="London-Underground">London Underground</keyword> journeys on October 9, the most since lockdown began in March.</li><li><keyword id="6355002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="transport">Transport</keyword> for <keyword id="6354968" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="london">London</keyword> (TfL) released the figures just before the UK government announced that the city would return to lockdown at midnight on Friday.</li><li>Last year, passengers made just over 100 million Tube journeys each month. This plummeted to just 5.7 million in April, when England was in full lockdown.</li><li>Tube travel has since picked up again, but the number of journeys remains more than two-thirds down on last year.</li></ul>Londoners made more Tube journeys on Friday, October 9 than at any other point during the UK's lockdown.On that day, 1.56 million London Underground journeys were made, according to data from its operator <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMjZjMmQwYTktZjYxNS00MTIwLTg0ZjAtNWIwNGE0ODMzZGJhIiwidCI6IjFmYmQ2NWJmLTVkZWYtNGVlYS1hNjkyLWEwODljMjU1MzQ2YiIsImMiOjh9">Transport for London (TfL)</a>.The data was released just before the UK government said it would <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-government-moves-london-to-tier-two-high-lockdown-household-mixing-banned-2020-10">introduce tougher restrictions for the capital from midnight on Friday</a>. London is moving up to "Tier 2" lockdown, which means that people should avoid using <keyword id="85028" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="public-transport">public transport</keyword> wherever possible.Residents are instead urged to walk or cycle if possible, and to avoid busy times and routes if travelling on public transport.In 2019, passengers made just over 100 million Tube journeys each month, <a href="https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/public-transport-journeys-type-transport">data from Transport for London shows</a>. This plummeted to just 5.7 million in April when the country was in full lockdown.Passenger numbers have since begun to recover as more people return to schools and offices and amenities reopen. London Underground reached 1.52 million journeys on Friday, September 25 — the previous lockdown high before the latest set of figures.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-the-best-thing-for-teslas-business-2020-10">The coronavirus pandemic is the best thing that has ever happened to Tesla's business</a>Around 28.8 million Tube journeys were made between July 21 and August 17, the last full month there is data for.This is less than a third of the number of journeys passengers made during the same period last year.London <keyword id="41800" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bus">bus</keyword> journeys also remain at less than half their pre-pandemic level, TfL's data shows, with 75.1 million journeys made between July 21 and August 17.

London Tube journeys reach their highest level since March as the city prepares to return to lockdown

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6380867" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson">Boris Johnson</keyword> was briefed by the architect of <keyword id="23050" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sweden">Sweden</keyword>'s no-lockdown policy, <keyword id="9079717" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="anders-tegnell">Anders Tegnell</keyword>, before announcing new <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> restrictions this week.</li><li>The new restrictions, which include a curfew on bars and restaurants, fell short of much tougher measures reportedly being pushed by his own scientific advisers.</li><li>Tegnell was the architect of Sweden's decision not to impose a full lockdown earlier this year.</li><li>Sweden has gone on to record a much higher death rate than its neighbours.</li><li>However, current data suggests the <keyword id="117964" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nordic">Nordic</keyword> country is not experiencing a second wave, unlike the UK.</li></ul>Prime Minister Boris Johnson was advised by Anders Tegnell, the man behind Sweden's decision not to impose a full coronavirus lockdown, before rejecting tougher new restrictions for the United Kingdom.Downing Street on Thursday confirmed a <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/tegnell-downing-street-briefing?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&amp;utm_campaign=f372eb18c7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_09_24_06_04&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_10959edeb5-f372eb18c7-190121793c7-190121793" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spectator magazine report</a> that Johnson had been briefed by a series of <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> experts, outside his normal circle of advisers, before announcing the new measures.The new restrictions, which included a curfew on bars and restaurants in England, stopped short of much tougher measures reportedly being pushed by his own chief medical adviser.Among those briefing, the prime minister was Anders Tegnell, the architect of the Swedish government's controversial response to the pandemic.A spokesman for Johnson said: "On Sunday, the PM took evidence sessions from a number of scientists via Zoom. The Prime Minister was in the Cabinet room and he [Tegnell] was one of the contributors."Unlike its Nordic neighbours and most other countries, Sweden did not impose wholesale lockdown measures in response to the initial coronavirus outbreak earlier this year. Instead, it allowed shops, bars, and restaurants to remain largely open and students to attend school, with the aim of avoiding a second spike in cases later in 2020. Sweden has gone on to record a much higher death rate than any of its neighbours since adopting this strategy. 5,876 Swedes had died after catching the coronavirus as of Thursday morning, while just 267 had died in Norway.Supporters of Sweden's response — including some Conservative members of Parliament — are pointing to the fact that Sweden is not witnessing a significant second national surge in coronavirus cases, unlike the UK, Spain, and France, with some scientists <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sweden-beating-coronavirus-with-herd-immunity-expert-claims-pmmww8b7k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beginning to suggest</a> that the country has achieved a sufficient level of immunity for avoiding a second wave.However, the country is considering a strict local lockdown in Stockholm after a recent spike in infections in the country's capital.Johnson on Tuesday announced a 10pm curfew on the hospitality industry in England and advised people to work from home where possible after his government spent weeks urging workers to return to their offices.However, the UK government's new restrictions did not go as far as those introduced this week in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the devolved administrations have banned different households mixing indoors.

Boris Johnson took advice from Sweden's no-lockdown scientist before rejecting tougher coronavirus restrictions

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="44181" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Scotland">Scotland</keyword> will go back into national <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon announced Monday.</li><li>Members of the public will be legally required to stay at home, with schools remaining closed in January. </li><li>A new, faster-spreading coronavirus variant has taken hold in Britain.</li><li>The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also under pressure to place England back into full lockdown.</li></ul>Scotland will go back into full national coronavirus lockdown with schools remaining closed and members of the public legally required to stay at home, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Monday afternoon.Sturgeon said the measures would come into force starting at midnight."I can confirm now in summary that we have decided to introduce from midnight tonight for the duration of January a legal requirement to stay at home except for essential purposes," she told the Scottish Parliament."This is similar to the lockdown of March last year."Starting Tuesday, all household mixing will be banned indoors, and a maximum of two people over the age of 11 will be allowed to meet outdoors.It will be illegal for anyone to leave home unless taking part in essential work, essential shopping, exercise, or visiting an extended household bubble.Schools will also remain closed to most pupils for the rest of January, with a review taking place on January 18 on whether schools can reopen in February.Sturgeon said she had chosen to act to prevent the situation in Scotland "deteriorating" to the same level as seen in England, where there's been an explosion in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations over the Christmas holidays."We are now seeing a steeply rising trend of infections," the first minister said.It is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we face now than I have been at any time since March last year."The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected on Monday evening to announce new national coronavirus restrictions amid <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-could-impose-national-lockdown-schools-shut-across-uk-2021-1">growing pressure</a> to also place England back under a strict lockdown.Johnson's spokesman said on Monday afternoon: "The prime minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives. He will set those out this evening."Coronavirus restrictions already apply in differing degrees in English regions. But Johnson had previously resisted imposing another full national lockdown.Speaking on Monday morning as the latest figures show exponential growth in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, the prime minister said "tougher measures" were needed to control the virus.He told reporters during a visit to a hospital in London that "if you look at the numbers there's no question we will have to take tougher measures and we will be announcing those in due course."Opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer <a href="https://twitter.com/ShehabKhan/status/1345754232302030855">on Sunday</a> called for an immediate national lockdown because of the explosion in case numbers and hospitalizations over the Christmas holidays, saying the situation in England was now "clearly out of control."Parents across many parts of England where primaries schools were set to open on Monday received messages from their children's schools over the weekend informing them that they would also not be reopening because of a shortage of teaching staff.Teachers have been advised by the National Education Union not to attend schools because of the "serious and imminent danger" to their health caused by the virus.

Scotland will go back into national coronavirus lockdown, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="43588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization">World Health Organization</keyword> has said countries going back under full <keyword id="8919629" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lockdowns">lockdowns</keyword> could be possible as <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> <keyword id="44392" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cases">cases</keyword> surge in areas across the world. </li><li>Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO's Health Emergencies Program executive director, said Friday countries going back under full lockdowns could be "the only option" if they fail to squash "small embers," or early signs of resurging outbreaks. </li><li>Though regions that were previously hit hard by the pandemic, like Italy and New York City, have begun promising reopenings, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week that worldwide data indicate that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/09/who-warns-the-coronavirus-is-getting-worse-continues-to-accelerate.html">"the virus is not under control; it's getting worse."</a></li></ul>Top officials with the World Health Organization said that further lockdowns are possible across the world as some regions track surges in coronavirus cases after relaxing quarantine measures.<a href="https://www.who.int/dg/who-headquarters-leadership-team">Dr. Michael Ryan</a>, the organization's Health Emergencies Program executive director, <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/media-resources/press-briefings">said at a Friday press conference</a> that "there may be situations" in the near future of the novel coronavirus pandemic in which countries going back under full lockdowns "is the only option."WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member nations one day earlier that "the virus can be brought under control," but surges indicate that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/09/who-warns-the-coronavirus-is-getting-worse-continues-to-accelerate.html">"the virus is not under control, it's getting worse."</a> On Friday, Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases recorded in countries across the world had doubled in the span of six weeks. In comments also reported by outlets like <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-cases-double-six-weeks-world-health-organization-lockdown/">CBS News</a>, Ryan said at the briefing "in our current situation it is very unlikely that we can eradicate or eliminate this virus," pointing to recent upticks as potential beginnings of future massive outbreaks."There are very particular environments in which that can occur, island states and other places, but even they risk re-importation," Ryan said.Ryan continued: "A more worrying pattern is large clusters of cases that could occur in association with super spreading events, events in which large crowds gather."Each country should aim to quash "small embers," or early signs of resurging outbreaks, before the virus comes back in a metaphorical forest fire, he added. The agency added to concern over how easily the virus can spread on July 9, when it identified for the first time that the coronavirus may be transmitted through aerosols, which can linger in the air over several feet, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-coronavirus-may-be-airborne-could-float-indoors-2020-7">Business Insider's Hilary Brueck previously reported</a>.The updated information came after hundreds of scientists and engineers drafted an open letter to the WHO demanding it changes its stance on transmission, which had said the virus was spread by droplets that are much larger and heavier, and fall through the air faster, than aerosols.Since the virus was first recorded in December, it has infected more than 12.5 million people and killed at least 560,921 people so far worldwide, <a href="https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6">per data from Johns Hopkins University</a>.<a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200710-covid-19-sitrep-172.pdf?sfvrsn=70724b90_2">A situation report released July 10</a> said more than half of the total cases identified worldwide are in the Americas, where at least 20 South American countries have grappled with poverty, weak infrastructure, and overwhelmed healthcare systems to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52711458">confront the worsening situation</a> that has infected millions as of early July. In the US, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surgeon-general-some-places-may-have-reopened-too-early-2020-6">states began reopening in May despite recommendations from public health experts</a>. Previously hard-hit regions like New York City saw encouraging indicators like falls in infections and hospitalizations after serving as the epicenter for the virus.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-coronavirus-deaths-rising-again-after-cases-surge-2020-7">However, states like Arizona, California, Texas, and Florida</a> recorded concerning increases in positive coronavirus tests while last week the country saw the daily average of coronavirus-related deaths increase to more than 600 three days in a row.

The WHO says 'total lockdown' possible for countries after concerning surges in coronavirus cases

New Delhi, May 18 () The government has withdrawn its order directing companies and commercial units to pay full wages to workers even when they are not in operation during the COVID-19-induced nationwide lockdown, which began on March 25.The lockdown, imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, entered its fourth phase on Monday.The government's move is expected to bring relief to a large number of industries and companies which were unable to pay full wages to their employees.While issuing guidelines for the lockdown's fourth phase, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla's order on Sunday said, "Whereas, save as otherwise provided in the guidelines annexed to this order, all orders issued by National Executive Committee (NEC) under Section 10(2)(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, shall cease to have effect from 18.05.2020."The Sunday's guidelines mentioned six sets of standard operating protocols, mostly related to movement of people, which will continue to remain in force. But it does not include the March 29 order issued by the Union home secretary that directed all employers to pay wages to workers on due date without any deduction even if the commercial unit was closed during the lockdown period.The March 29 order had said: "All employers, be it in the industry or in shops and commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages of their workers, at their workplaces, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown."Bhalla, while issuing fourth phase's guidelines, had said he, as chairperson of the NEC under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, "has issued orders on lockdown measures on March 24, March 29, April 14, April 15 and May 1 specifying various issues related to implementation of the lockdown and the exemptions given to various people and services from the curbs".Interestingly, the Supreme Court on May 15 had asked the central government not to take any coercive action for a week against companies and employers who are unable to pay full wages to their employees during the nationwide lockdown. There may be small companies which are not earning and therefore unable to pay, the top court had observed.A bench of justices L N Rao, S K Kaul and B R Gavai, hearing multiple petitions on the issue through video conferencing, observed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) circular of March 29, directing companies to make payment of full wages to workers, was an omnibus order and there was a larger question involved which needs to be answered.The top court issued notice on a plea of the Hand Tools Manufactures Association, comprising of MSMEs seeking quashing of the order asking private establishments to pay full wages to their workers during the lockdown.Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that he had a conference on the issue and needs to file a detailed response on the pleas.The bench said there may be small industries, which are affected due to the lockdown as they can sustain for say 15 odd days but not more and if they cannot earn, how are they going to pay their workers.This is an omnibus order (March 29). There is a larger question involved and government has to find an answer to it, the bench observed and posted the matter for this week.It added that if the government does not help these small companies, then they will not be able to pay to their workers.Senior advocate Jamshed Cama, appearing for the association, said the companies are going out of work as they do not have orders for production of goods and they are being prosecuted due to the government circular.He said the government must hold hands of these companies and help them but they cannot be prosecuted.The bench said there shall be no coercive action against any of these companies for failing to pay full wages to its employees till next week.The Association of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) said in its plea that the Ministry of Home Affairs had passed orders without due care and deliberation on the financial implications for employers.The small industrial units warned that making full payments will lead to their closure, which, in turn, will cause permanent unemployment and adversely affect the economy.They have said that such a blanket direction for payment of full salaries is arbitrary, unconstitutional and unsustainable. ACB SKL ANBANB

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