PUNE: Following the rising number of positive cases  of COVID-19, several Information Technology companies are exercising caution to tackle the situation. Some companies have started working on contingency plans in case of a major coronavirus outbreak in India.

One of the big five IT companies in India, that has a major presence in Hinjawadi IT hub, is sending mails to its employees on a daily basis informing them about coronavirus’ spread in other countries, giving specific areas and number of cases.

Similarly managers are being asked to check for details of their team members who have broadband and laptop facilities at home, to explore the option of work-from-home. The companies are also taking steps to discourage travel of employees and are regularly monitoring travel advisories from all nations.

Speaking about the ongoing situation, Forum of IT Employees (FITE) President Pavanjit Mane said, “It is indeed true we have been asked to avoid traveling. We will be urging the district collector and the guardian minister to direct IT companies to ban travel of IT employees outside India. We recently saw an instance when a resident of Telangana tested positive for COVID-19 and he had a history of Dubai travel. Many companies have cancelled the travel plans of their employees. We have facility of video conferencing and tele calling which can be used in such situations.” Mane said many companies have started sanitation exercises at their centres.

Another employee of an IT company, Shruti Godbole said, “We have two full-time available doctors stationed at all our offices, who immediately look after any sick employee. As a precaution, all the mothers of infant children working at our company have been asked to work from home, so that they do not come in contact with any sick person.”

Another IT employee  who works in a multinational company in Hinjawadi said that while travel plans of employees have been postponed, employees have been asked to follow all protocols pertaining to hygiene and not to panic. “We are receiving all communication related to  COVID-19 on our mail from the company and we follow the guidelines,” added the employee who did not wished to be named.