Indian Olympic Association asks its staff to ‘work from home’

The staffers at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be asked to 'work from home' from the next week with the sports body set to suspend majority of its operations from its headquarters in the wake of coronovirus outbreak.

"The IOA will start work from home facility for its staff from 23 March. We are currently ensuring that all back-up systems are in place for a smooth functioning from home," an IOA member told PTI.

"The coronavirus is becoming serious day by day and we can't risk our employees." The virus outbreak has already forced the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) to temporarily shut its headquarters in Mumbai. The BCCI asked its employees to work from home on 16 March.

In India, the number of people infected with the highly contagious novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has risen to 169 with three deaths reported in the country so far. The IOA member also said some of the staff in the finance department will have to come to office in between since March is a financial year-end month.

"From Monday it will start but some of the finance department workers will have to attend office after 25 March to clear all our pending dues and settle accounts. Like any other professional organisation, we will go by the government's advisory on this matter," the member said.

The total number of cases reported worldwide so far stands at more than 218,800, with at least 8,800 deaths.

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