Clapping won’t help daily wagers, big financial package need of hour: Rahul Gandhi on COVID-19

कोरोनावायरस हमारी नाज़ुक अर्थव्यवस्था पर एक कड़ा प्रहार है।

छोटे, मध्यम व्यवसायी और दिहाड़ी मजदूर इससे सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हैं। ताली बजाने से उन्हें मदद नहीं मिलेगी। आज नकद मदद, टैक्स ब्रेक और कर्ज अदायगी पर रोक जैसे एक बड़े आर्थिक पैकेज की जरुरत है।
तुरतं कदम उठाये!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 21, 2020

The Congress leader’s comments came even as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases swelled to 298, including 22 who have recovered and four deaths.

Gandhi’s remarks also come days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on people to observe ‘Janata Curfew’ on Sunday by not stepping out of homes between 7 am and 9 pm. The Prime Minister had also urged people to thank doctors, media and providers of other essential services for five minutes at 5 pm by ringing bells, clapping or other means.

Several state governments have tightened the lockdown to check the spread of the virus after the Union government barred all international commercial passenger flights from landing in India for a week.

On Friday, the United Kingdom government had announced that it would pay 80 per cent of wages for employees not working, up to 2,500 pounds a month.

Here’s a quick coronavirus guide for you to stay updated: Who all should be tested for Covid-19 and when? | How should you quarantine yourself? | How often (and how) should you clean your home? | What is the Janata Curfew announced by PM Modi? | Who are restricted from coming to India, and from when? | How long can the virus live on surfaces or in air around you? | Still more Coronavirus Q&A Explained news here