The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued norms for general and health insurers for quick settlement of claims filed by policyholders for coronavirus (COVID-19) disease/infection.

You may now get the option from your insurer to pay your health insurance premiums on a monthly, quarterly or half-yearly basis in addition to the current option of paying premiums on an annual basis amid coronavirus outbreak.

Times may seem bleak, but this too shall pass, and when it does, we will need to get ready for life to return to normalcy. Part of this normalcy will be finances, and for life to move on, it's crucial to make sure savings have not been eaten away through avoidable medical expenses.

The US government has given a grace period of 60 days to H-1B visa holders and Green Card applicants.

They have also asked for the suspension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme which lets foreign students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) work in the United States for up to three years after graduating. In 2019, over 223,000 people had their OPTs approved or extended.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused almost all firms to deploy the work from home practice for employees. While some may be used to this, others may feel lost in the exercise. To crack and make the most of your work from home situation, here are important points.

The ongoing all-India lockdown could be lifted after 21 days or get extended. If the latter happens, the economy will get worse and firms may have to shut shop. Here's how you can achieve career growth even in a lockdown, as you preprare for things to swing either way.

As the country is under Coronavirus lockdown, you can use this opportunity to learn some important skills and accelerate your career growth. Here are the eight skills you can learn.

Though India does not have similar jobs data reporting structure during this pandemic, it is easy to see that the job market this year will be the most challenging that we have seen in our lifetimes.

Factors will determine if your job profile will evolve. However, don’t expect a change where the business-efficient alternative is to replace you to save nonproductive costs or deal with change in customer behaviour.

The country -- hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities -- has now confirmed a total of 1,283,829 cases, Johns Hopkins University reported.

The first phase of easing lockdown began as the government announced removing restrictions by allowing more business to open and operate from dawn to 5pm.

Coronavirus pandemic: Kanpur metro construction resumes amid lockdown 3.0

Coronavirus testing: Over 15 lakhs tested till now for COVID-19, informs Harsh Vardhan

Coronavirus lockdown: 97 trains carrying migrants entered state so far, informs UP Govt

Coronavirus vaccine: ICMR partners with BBIL to develop indigenous COVID-19 vaccine

Coronavirus in West Bengal: 11 deaths, 108 fresh cases reported in last 24 hours

Watch: Delhi cop wins fight against Coronavirus, receives heroic welcome

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting of the DGs of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) where he appreciated the commendable work done by these forces and expressed concern over increasing COVID-19 cases, a home ministry spokesperson said.

CSIR's Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad and Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh are currently sequencing the genomes of the novel coronavirus, he said. Other CSIR institutes are also expected to join the process.

In Europe, investment grade-rated companies raised $83.2 billion in April, according to Refinitiv data.

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and The Federal Trade Commission today issued a joint statement detailing an expedited antitrust procedure and providing guidance for collaborations of businesses working to protect the health and safety of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the U.S., there are at least 25,000 cases across all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. At least 323 have died from the virus.

The battle against coronavirus has intensified across the country as more workers are laid off, medical supplies dwindle, and states enact new rules to get Americans to stay home.

In a statement Saturday, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young said that two individuals had died, a woman in her 60s and another woman in her 80s.

Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April.

The Maryland Department of Health on Sunday announced five new deaths as a result of COVID-19.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Maryland continues to rise.

A reassessment of the relationship is due, but now the world must work to fight COVID-19.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Maryland continues to rise.

New York Times: One-Third of All U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Are Nursing Home Residents or Workers. “At least 25,600 residents and workers have died from the coronavirus at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for older adults in the United States, according to a New York Times database. The virus so far has infected more … Continue reading New York Times: One-Third of All U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Are Nursing Home Residents or Workers

California Literary Review: What coronavirus costs to the Italian cultural heritage.. “Given that Italy’s is generally considered the world’s richest cultural heritage, maintenance of its historic monuments and museum, with exhibits dating from the early Neolithic era through today’s avantgarde, is costly. But with international tourism virtually at the end for an indefinite period because … Continue reading California Literary Review: What coronavirus costs to the Italian cultural heritage.

Institute of Cancer Research: Scientists bring together world’s coronavirus research in ‘intelligent’ online database. “Scientists have created a dynamic database driven by artificial intelligence which is collecting together the world’s research on coronavirus in a single online space. The new resource will make freely available vast amounts of data on the biology and treatment of … Continue reading Institute of Cancer Research: Scientists bring together world’s coronavirus research in ‘intelligent’ online database

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘We have to test more people’: Wisconsin expands coronavirus testing for African American, Latino and tribal communities. “All African Americans, Latinos and tribal community members in Wisconsin will have access to free COVID-19 testing under a plan announced Thursday by Gov. Tony Evers. Evers’ plan is an effort to combat the staggering … Continue reading ‘We have to test more people’: Wisconsin expands coronavirus testing for African American, Latino and tribal communities (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Jerusalem Post: Meet the 107-year-old woman who survived the coronavirus and Spanish flu. “After Marilee Shapiro Asher was admitted to the hospital in mid-April sick with COVID-19, her daughter got a call from the doctor telling her she ought to get down there right away. Her mother likely had only 12 hours to live. ‘Well, … Continue reading Jerusalem Post: Meet the 107-year-old woman who survived the coronavirus and Spanish flu

Josh Spiegel talks about the Coronavirus and unleashes a torrent of blame on China and its eating habits.

Confused about Coronavirus? You’re not alone. Josh Spiegel gives many examples of the mixed messages that have been circulating.

The Guthrie's plans for three shows would be the briefest season in its 60-year history. Among the cuts: "A Christmas Carol."

The number of cases of coronavirus in Maryland continues to rise.

He talked to C4 about the "confusing" and unprecedented dual elections ahear.

Kweisi Mfume returns to Washington in chaotic times.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Maryland continues to rise.

Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April.

The Maryland Department of Health on Sunday announced five new deaths as a result of COVID-19.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Maryland continues to rise.

Flavio Bartmann writes: Over the last few days, as COVID-19 posed some serious issues for policy makers who, both in the US and elsewhere, have employed statistical models to develop mitigation strategies, a number of non-statisticians have criticized the use of such models as useless or worse. A typical example is this article by Victor […]

I’d still go with this article by Ed Yong, which covers biology, epidemiology, medicine, and politics. Here’s one bit: In 2018, when writing about whether the U.S. was ready for the next pandemic, I [Yong] noted that the country was trapped in a cycle of panic and neglect. It rises to meet each new disease, […]

Josh Rushton writes: I’ve been following your blog for a while and checked in today to see if there was a thread on last week’s big-splash Stanford antibody study (the one with the shocking headline that they got 50 positive results in a “random” sample of 3330 antibody tests, suggesting that nearly 2% of the […]

  This post is by Phil Price, not Andrew. I’m going to say right up front that I’m not going to give sources for everything I say here, or indeed for most of it. If you want to know where I get something, please do a web search. If you can’t find a source quickly, […]