Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is likely to issue an order directing Information Technology (IT) companies and other large companies to mandatorily extend the duration of work from home option, as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Medical Education minister K.Sudhakar said that a 'strict advisory' to Bengaluru-based companies will be issued to get their employees to not work from office.

"In my opinion, it's a strict advisory issued by none other than the honourable chief minister himself," Sudhakar said on Saturday.

He requested companies to give a direction to this effect.

Several companies continue to operate from their offices while a few have extended the work from home option for varying periods of time.

The statement comes a day after Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa ordered the closure of places of mass gatherings including malls, theatres, night clubs and cancel conferences, conventions and even marriages or at least conduct them in a simple manner.

The chief minister on Friday said it was only a suggestion but Sudhakar said that an order will be passed by the ministry concerned in this regard.

Some companies have asked its employees to report to office on Monday.

"I am sure that no company will ask their employees to come and work in the office," Sudhakar said, reiterating the state government's mantra, which is 'stay home stay safe'.

Out of the six positive cases identified in Karnataka, three people work with IT firms and two more are immediate family members of one of the executives.

The 76-year old who died due to Covid-19 in Karnataka was not connected to the IT sector.

"If anybody is asking (to work from office) we will talk to those people and we will issue a strict order because they work under a very close atmosphere and centrally air conditioned offices that have more chances of infecting," he said.

Walmart-owned Flipkart has extended work from home option to its employees for three days while software exporter Infosys, which evacuated one of its buildings after one of its employees came in contact with a suspected COVID-19 patient, has also extended the same policy but hasn't specified a timeline to report back.

For people who are arriving at Bengaluru and Mangaluru airports and other ports of entry into the state, the government came up with a grading system of people into three categories — A,B and C.

People with symptoms will be categorized under A and directly will be placed under medical observation. Senior citizens and other susceptible age groups will be categorized under B and will be under observation but not be necessarily kept at a medical facility and monitored by professionals. People under category C will be screened and their details collected but will not be put under any restrictions.

A total of 1657 people have been enrolled for observation and 313 have completed 28 days observation in Karnataka, the state health department said.

A total of 1,308 people are currently in home quarantine.

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