NITI Aayog sealed for 48 hours after staffer tests Covid-19 positive

NITI vice-chairman says staff to work from remote locations

An employee of the NITI Aayog, the government’s main think-tank, tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday after which the building was sealed for the next 48 hours, a senior official said.
 

However, Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said members have been working from remote locations and will continue to do so. The Aayog also issued a statement, saying all officers are currently working from home.
 

Quoting Alok Kumar, an advisor in the Aayog, news agency PTI said the employee was a director-level officer. He got his report at 9 am after which he informed the authorities. Kumar said those who came in contact with the person have been asked to go on self-quarantine. “We are following protocol. The health ministry has been informed and the due processes will be followed,” Kumar added.

According to health ministry protocol, the Bhavan will resume normal operations after 48 hours.
 

Later, NITI Aayog tweeted that “disinfection and sanitization of the building are underway. Contacts of the single Covid-19 positive person have been asked to go on self-quarantine”.
 

Recently, the aviation ministry headquarters was sealed after an employee who had attended office on April 15 tested positive for Covid-19.
 

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 29,000 people in the country. More than 900 people have died due to the deadly virus. On March 29, the government had set up 11 empowered groups to suggest measures to ramp up health care, put the economy back on track and help reduce the misery of people once the lockdown is lifted.

Two critical groups — the empowered group on medical equipment and management plan headed by NITI Aayog member V K Paul and the empowered group on coordinating with private sector NGOs and international organisations headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant — were functioning from NITI Bhavan.
 

That apart, the Aayog has been part of several more important groups set up to tackle Covid-19. Recently, it organised several webinars on critical issues such as working during Covid-19, health issues etc.