The Shopping Centers Association of India (SCAI) has requested governments twin states, Punjab and&nbsp;Haryana to ease down the restrictions of opening shops in the two states.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-cases-in-india-at-over-49000-126-new-deaths-recorded-297022">Also read:&nbsp;COVID-19 cases in India at over 49,000; 126 new deaths recorded</a>

The SCAI has picked up from the recent long queues spotted for alcohol shops and has thus told the governments that they can assure better and more hygienic environment for the shoppers. They have also assured that social distancing norms will be implemented and followed, in addition to making masks compulsory,&nbsp;if the malls get the permission to open.

They have emphasised on the importance of better&nbsp;standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The SCAI has requested&nbsp;intervention of the governments to protect the industry that feeds 12 million people. The group has said in a statement that the organised markets will be able to provide equally safe, if not more, environment to the customers.

The retail industry contributes over 10 per cent to India's GDP, the second largest after agriculture,&nbsp;the SCAI release said, adding it employs over 8 per cent of the overall workforce making it the third largest in the country.

The organised markets have been badly hit financially due to the lockdown. While some standalone shops have been allowed to operate in lockdown 3.0, organised markets still face the blunt of economy crisis.

(With inputs from PTI)

The Shopping Centers Association of India (SCAI) has requested governments twin states, Punjab and Haryana to ease down the restrictions of opening shops in the two states.

The Shopping Centers Association of India (SCAI) has requested governments twin states, Punjab and Haryana to ease down the restrictions of opening shops in the two states. Also read: COVID-19 cases in India at over 49,000; 126 new deaths recorded The SCAI has picked up from the recent long queues spotted for alcohol shops and has thus told the governments that they can assure better and more hygienic environment for the shoppers. They have also assured that social distancing norms will be implemented and followed, in addition to making masks compulsory, if the malls get the permission to open. They have emphasised on the importance of better standard operating procedures (SOPs). The SCAI has requested intervention of the governments to protect the industry that feeds 12 million people. The group has said in a statement that the organised markets will be able to provide equally safe, if not more, environment to the customers. The retail industry contributes over 10 per cent to India's GDP, the second largest after agriculture, the SCAI release said, adding it employs over 8 per cent of the overall workforce making it the third largest in the country. The organised markets have been badly hit financially due to the lockdown. While some standalone shops have been allowed to operate in lockdown 3.0, organised markets still face the blunt of economy crisis. (With inputs from PTI)

SCAI requested Haryana and Punjab governments for better SOPs

Even as Punjab on Friday extended lockdown in the state till May 1, the state government said today that twenty-one new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/37-deaths-896-new-cases-sharpest-increase-in-covid-19-cases-in-india-health-ministry-291820">coronavirus</a> cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total number of confirmed cases to 151.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-community-transmission-of-coronavirus-in-the-country-yet-india-health-ministry-291803">Also Read:&nbsp;No community transmission of coronavirus in the country yet, says India health ministry</a>

Amid the rising number of cases, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh proposed Rs 550 crore project to the government for setting up an advanced centre for virology in the state, with land to be offered by the state government free of cost.

CM Amarinder Singh wrote to PM Modi requesting him to direct the Union Ministry of health &amp; family welfare to set up the proposed centre which would focus on addressing regional, national and global needs in virology, diagnostic, research and therapeutic evaluations to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, elsewhere the Karnataka government said that ten new coronavirus cases were reported in the state in last 24 hours taking the number of cases to 207.

Six people have died to the virus in Karnataka.

Punjab's Mohali district granted permission to Max Super Speciality Hospital to collect samples for testing of coronavirus cases.

Elsewhere in the country, the Tamil Nadu government said that 77 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state today with the total number of confirmed cases climbing to 911 in the state even as the Haryana government said 162 persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in the state, with 22 people having been discharged.

(With ANI inputs)

Even as Punjab on Friday extended lockdown in the state till May 1, the state government said today that twenty-one new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total number of confirmed cases to 151.

Even as Punjab on Friday extended lockdown in the state till May 1, the state government said today that twenty-one new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total number of confirmed cases to 151. Also Read: No community transmission of coronavirus in the country yet, says India health ministry Amid the rising number of cases, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh proposed Rs 550 crore project to the government for setting up an advanced centre for virology in the state, with land to be offered by the state government free of cost. CM Amarinder Singh wrote to PM Modi requesting him to direct the Union Ministry of health & family welfare to set up the proposed centre which would focus on addressing regional, national and global needs in virology, diagnostic, research and therapeutic evaluations to cope with the coronavirus crisis. Meanwhile, elsewhere the Karnataka government said that ten new coronavirus cases were reported in the state in last 24 hours taking the number of cases to 207. Six people have died to the virus in Karnataka. Punjab's Mohali district granted permission to Max Super Speciality Hospital to collect samples for testing of coronavirus cases. Elsewhere in the country, the Tamil Nadu government said that 77 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state today with the total number of confirmed cases climbing to 911 in the state even as the Haryana government said 162 persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in the state, with 22 people having been discharged. (With ANI inputs)

Punjab extends lockdown till May 1; Tamil Nadu reports 77 in last 24 hours

A 23-year-old woman in Chandigarh tested positive for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-more-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-karanataka-total-now-at-13-287231">COVID-19 </a>with travel history to the United Kingdom, authorities said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-quarantine-due-to-coronavirus-you-have-got-company-in-pm-modis-speeches-287213">Also Read:&nbsp;In quarantine due to coronavirus? You have got company in PM Modi's speeches</a>

Telangana reported seven more cases of coronavirus. The state government said all patients were Indonesian nationals and were sent to isolation wards.

Watch Video:

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Indian authorities on Wednesday continued to put a mechanism in place to fight the virus with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan visiting Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to take stock of preparedness to fight the virus.

"I reviewed the arrangements we have made here to ensure everything is running smoothly," Harsh Vardhan said, adding,"we are doing our utmost to ensure that we take care of what is required to manage the situation in a scientific and professional manner."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-passengers-coming-to-kashmir-from-leh-to-be-quarantined-srinagar-dm-287228">Also Read: All passengers coming to Kashmir from Leh to be quarantined&nbsp;</a>

Goa health minister&nbsp;Vishwajit Rane inspected the Dabolim airport to review the state government's action plan to fight the virus even as Odisha conducted large scale a disinfection drive at Coaching Depot Bhubaneswar as a precautionary measure.

The Assam government has issued advisory over the closure of all liquor bars, night clubs, beauty parlous and salons in the state. 
&nbsp;

A 23-year-old woman in Chandigarh tested positive for COVID-19 with travel history to the United Kingdom, authorities said. Also Read: In quarantine due to coronavirus?

A 23-year-old woman in Chandigarh tested positive for COVID-19 with travel history to the United Kingdom, authorities said. Also Read: In quarantine due to coronavirus? You have got company in PM Modi's speeches Telangana reported seven more cases of coronavirus. The state government said all patients were Indonesian nationals and were sent to isolation wards. Watch Video: Indian authorities on Wednesday continued to put a mechanism in place to fight the virus with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan visiting Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to take stock of preparedness to fight the virus. "I reviewed the arrangements we have made here to ensure everything is running smoothly," Harsh Vardhan said, adding,"we are doing our utmost to ensure that we take care of what is required to manage the situation in a scientific and professional manner." Also Read: All passengers coming to Kashmir from Leh to be quarantined Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane inspected the Dabolim airport to review the state government's action plan to fight the virus even as Odisha conducted large scale a disinfection drive at Coaching Depot Bhubaneswar as a precautionary measure. The Assam government has issued advisory over the closure of all liquor bars, night clubs, beauty parlous and salons in the state.

Woman tests positive for coronavirus in Chandigarh with travel history to UK