In Brief: Zoomcar, ICICI, BharatPe, T-Hub join the fight against Covid-19

As India enters into the second week of the 21-day lockdown imposed by the government to reduce the spread of the Covid-19, stakeholders across the startup and corporate ecosystem have joined hands to combat the pandemic.

Covid-19 or Corona Virus Disease-2019 has infected 1,071 individuals in India and has claimed 29 lives, as of Monday noon. The infected include 942 active cases, 99 cured or discharged cases.

See: Coronavirus India LIVE Updates

Zoomcar offers to provide select vehicles to essential services workers

Self-drive mobility platform Zoomcar has offered to provide transportation services to workers from essential services such as banks, healthcare, groceries and delivery, it said in a statement on Monday. It has ensured completely clean and sanitised cars to ensure the safety of passengers it said. Government officials in Mysore, Karnataka have opted for the services for regular commuting requirements, the statement added.

ICICI duplicates some of its online banking offerings on WhatsApp

ICICI Bank has joined hands with WhatsApp to provide some of its banking services to retail customers over the Facebook-owned messaging giant’s platform, it said in a statement on Monday. Customers can check their savings account balance, last three transactions, credit card limit, get details of pre-approved instant loan offers, and block or unblock credit and debit cards securely, among other features, the statement added.

BharatPe offers insurance cover for Covid-19 positive shopkeepers

Digital payments and lending platform BharatPe has partnered with insurance company ICICI Lombard to roll out a Coronavirus-specific insurance cover for shopkeepers. The insurance policy will apply on a diagnosis of Covid-19 and pay 100% of the sum insured, irrespective of hospitalisation expenses, a statement said on Monday. The health cover, designed for individuals aged 18 to 65 years of age, is priced at a premium starting at an amount of Rs 199, and provides a sum insured for Rs 25,000, amongst other benefits.

T-Hub unveils research programme to tackle Covid-19

Hyderabad-based startup incubator T-Hub has launched a programme to encourage student research for the development of potential solutions to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, it said in a statement on Monday. It has partnered with the centre for cellular and molecular biology (CCMB) and emerging technologies wing of Telangana government’s information technology and communications (IT&C) department. The focus areas of the programme include easy detection of infected persons, viable implementation, efficiency in tracking of infected persons and their contact with other persons and regular monitoring of the spread of the virus and outcome prediction.