'Corporate sector agrees to allow employees to work from home'

Mumbai, Mar 17 () Representatives of the corporatesector have agreed to let their employees work from home inview of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Maharashtra HealthMinister Rajesh Tope said here on Tuesday.

The representatives also agreed to hold virtualmeetings instead of in-person interaction and will spreadawareness towards combating the disease, Tope said.

The minister made the remarks after holding a meetingwith 20-25 representatives of the sector here.

"The corporate sector representatives with big heartaccepted to go for work from home. They agreed for holdingvirtual meetings," he told reporters after the meeting.

Tope said the companies have agreed to shut down theirnon-essential units where it is possible.

"The non-essential units, however, cannot be shutdown," he said.

The corporate players have also agreed to help thegovernment in information campaign to educate people oncombating the coronavirus, Tope said.

"They are also ready to help in providing masks,sanitisers and 80 vital medicines," he added.

At 39, Maharashtra reported the maximum number ofCOVID-19 cases in the country, as on Monday.

A 64-year-old man from Mumbai is suspected to havedied of novel coronavirus on Tuesday. ENMNSK NSK