Tata Group commits Rs. 1,500 crore to combat coronavirus outbreak

Tata Trusts has committed Rs. 500 crore for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

Medical professionals across India have raised complaints about a shortage of PPE, which shields them from getting infected while treating COVID-19 patients.

The donation is also committed to procuring more testing kits, respiratory systems, setting up modular treatment facilities, along with training of healthcare workers and the general public.

Ratan Tata said, "I believe that urgent emergency resources need to be deployed to cope with the needs of fighting the COVID-19 crisis, which is one of the toughest challenges the human race will face."

He added, "We are deeply grateful and have immense respect for every person of member organizations who have risked their life and safety to fight this pandemic."

Separately, Mahindra & Mahindra Group Chairperson Anand Mahindra offered Mahindra resorts for establishing care facilities for COVID-19 patients. Mahindra's manufacturing units are also working on producing ventilators.

India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, pledged Rs. 5 crore to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited will start manufacturing 1 lakh face-masks daily.

Vedanta Resources Limited Executive Chairperson Anil Agarwal pledged Rs. 100 crore.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Ola announced a 'Drive the Driver' fund under its social welfare arm, Ola Foundation.

The fund aims to benefit drivers of auto-rickshaws and taxis who have been affected due to restrictions amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ola group and its employees have donated Rs. 20 crore to the fund while co-founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal contributed 1 year's salary.

As of 9:30 am on Saturday, the Ministry of Health had reported a total of 873 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India.

These included 775 active cases, 19 deaths, 78 cases where the patient had been cured or discharged, and one patient who migrated out of India.

Maharashtra and Kerala reported the highest number of cases: 180 and 173, respectively.

COVID-19 was first reported in China's Wuhan city in December 2019. The disease is caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2.

The virus attacks a host's respiratory system triggering symptoms such as fever, cough, and breathing difficulties.

In severe cases, it may cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure, or death.

COVID-19 has spread to roughly 170 countries, killing over 28,000 and sickening 6 lakh.