According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of Coronavirus infections in India.Despite that, almost half of the residents in the state continue to go to their offices, according to Covid-19 mobility report by Google. The report reveals that 47% employees in Maharashtra went to work between March 15 and April 26.The State Police helped companies to shift the equipment from office premises to employees’ residence.Overall, there was a 40% decline in people visiting their places of work. Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of Coronavirus infections in India. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total infections in the state stood at 12,974, including 548 deaths, as on May 4, 2020. Despite that, almost half of

Oklahoma begins a multi-phase reopening of state businesses on Friday.Small business owners are feeling the pressure of unpaid bills — and the risk of infection — as they await government loans and support funds."Everyone is cautious about opening," one small business owner told Business Insider.Another said: "I want to go back to work tomorrow. I'm tired of this."Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Small-business owner Sandra Dickson faces a seemingly impossible choice.A massage therapist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Dickson is among the 20.6% of Americans who are jobless. She opened a beauty and wellness spa just weeks before the coronavirus pandemic. It's been shut down for at least as long as it was open. In that time, Dickson has "received no income," she told Business Insider.

President Trump signed into law a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill that includes another $310 billion in funds designed to provide relief to small businesses.The Small Business Administration will resume accepting loan applications through the Paycheck Protection Program on April 27.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.President Donald Trump signed into law a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill on April 24.The bill includes $310 billion in new funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was put in place to provide aid for small businesses.According to a statement released by Jovita Carranza, administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the SBA will begin accepting PPP loan applications again on Monday, April

US banks earned $10 billion in two weeks processing the loans from the government scheme to protect small businesses from financial ruin during the coronavirus crisis, according to an NPR report.The rescue plan worth $349 billion offered businesses loans of up to $10 million to thousands of US companies and were guaranteed by the federal Small Business Administration.The banks charged a transaction fee of 5% on loans worth less than $350,000, while on loans worth between $2 million - $10 million, the cost was 1%.The banks defended the massive windfall of loan transaction fees, saying that processing the loans involved complicated vetting procedures.Treasury Department guidelines are less rigorous than for regular loans, and the taxpayer provides the funding, so there is little risk for the

The US government added a second round of $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). But small business owners who haven't applied for PPP loans yet, may be too late to receive any funding. Bankers, lawyers, and consultants said the volume of already approved loans will be enough to tap out the second round of funding.If you don't get government loans and funding, there are still a few other options available to small businesses.Click here for more BI Prime content.If you were hoping to get your loan application into the second round of stimulus funding for small businesses, the chances are stacked against you. But you could turn to tax relief or private companies, local governments, and organizations offering grants and resources to small businesses hurt by the pandemic.Late last

Alexis Dent is a freelance writer based in upstate New York whose company, XO Juliet, offers custom wedding vow writing services.By mid-March, her business all but dried up as spring and summer weddings began getting canceled because of the pandemic.Dent recognized there was a new need for eulogies to meet the rising number of funerals for people who passed away from COVID-19. "When I get a new order, I take a moment of silence," says Dent. "Every order for the past month has been a notification that someone is gone too soon."Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.One afternoon in February, I was staring out the window, experiencing writer's block after getting off the phone with a client who'd ordered wedding vows. It had been a long afternoon of writing, and I needed a change

The Elzarka family has owned Beninni, a men's formal wear store in Hayward, California, for 30 years. The shop was forced to shut down in the coronavirus lockdown, and has tried and failed to get government assistance loans through the coronavirus relief package.Shady Elzarka, whose dad founded the store, struggled to access either the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance (EIDL) and relief from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).Elzarka for weeks heard nothing from the Small Business Administration, through which he applied for an EIDL, or from Bank of America, where he applied for the PPP loan.Meanwhile much larger companies did not struggle to access government funding, some of which public pressure forced them to hand back.After Business Insider contacted Bank of America for

Christina Stembel founded her floral company, Farmgirl Flowers, in her dining room in 2010, using her personal savings and a cash-back credit card to cover business expenses.The company has since blossomed into a thriving startup that employed almost 200 staff members prior to the coronavirus.However, as the pandemic causes economic fallout worldwide, Stembel told Business Insider that the future of her company is uncertain.She said the process of applying for the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program, a government fund meant to help small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic, was frustrating and fruitless."I know that the intention of this program is to help small businesses, so let's change it to make sure this money does fall into the hands of small businesses," she said.Visit

The Federal Reserve announced Thursday it will expand its Main Street Lending Program to include mid-sized companies and those with greater leverage.The central bank expanded program eligibility to businesses with 15,000 employees or $5 billion in revenue, up from the 10,000 employee and $2.5 billion limits.The Fed didn't provide a start date for the relief program, adding that it would be announced "soon."A separate aid program for nonprofit organizations is under consideration, the Fed said in a release.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.The Federal Reserve is widening its Main Street Lending Program to include more mid-sized businesses seeking loans amid the economic downturn.The central bank announced Thursday it will expand credit eligibility to firms with up to 15,000

Jonathan Ross is one of the 300 master sommeliers in the world: He is an educator for the Guild of Sommeliers, an examiner for the Court of Master Sommeliers, and sits on multiple wine investment advisory boards, as well as founded Micro Wines.He says that although the alcohol industry is booming for large retailers, small businesses are struggling to find ways to stay afloat.Many smaller retailers and restaurants are turning to creative ways of staying open, including virtual tastings, delivery, and designer happy hours.Support your local restaurants and wine sellers now if you want them to survive this lockdown period.Click here for more BI Prime stories.With a substantial amount of lockdown time under our belts, people around the world have found creative ways to remain social, active,

Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loan approvals are more concentrated in areas with existing small business-bank partnerships instead of regions hit hardest by the coronavirus, Federal Reserve Bank of New York economists wrote Wednesday. Virus hotspots including New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania are receiving fewer PPP loan approvals per small business than less-affected states.The economists found "strong similarity" between states with high proportions of small business-bank financing relationships and PPP loan issuance.States with larger shares of community banks also issued a greater proportion of relief loans, the Fed found.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Emergency loans issued by the Small Business Administration have been more concentrated in areas

For 18 days starting on Friday, Sydney will be transformed into an interactive, creative playground that bursts with colour for Vivid Sydney 2014.

The Opera house has been lit up in galactic-inspired designs (pictured), surreal snakeskin and multi-coloured digital patterns, with one stage of the sequence looking as though Jackson Pollock has taken to the landmark with his famous abstract paintbrush.

Controversial former Smiths singer Morrissey has banned meat from being served backstage when he performs at Vivid at the Sydney Opera House in May.

An Australian photographer has taken to the air to catch a glimpse of the Sydney skyline at this years Sydney Vivid festival.

Larger-than-life animal light sculptures filled with colour and striking beauty have been scattered along ​lit up pathways of Taronga Zoo ready for Vivid Sydney's official launch.

A burst of brilliant colours and vibrant illumination burst to life in Sydney as the 10th anniversary of Vivid Festival kicked off on Friday.

Solange Knowles is setting the record straight about a recent call for extras to join the musician on stage at 2018 Vivid Live festival for free. Solange is now claiming the person who posted it was misinformed.

Samba Widhyastuti, 59, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris last month - three years after her 25-year-old boyfriend Florent Gregoire, from Nantes, disappeared.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I was really impressed with how England bounced back from their World Cup final disappointment because that will have been difficult.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I was not surprised in the slightest at Scotland turning over France because they are a good and improving side. France are still a long way from the finished article.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: My gut instinct was to call a halt to this year's Championship but the Six Nations committee are determined to bring it to a conclusion so let's respect that.

Rhys Carre has gone from plump to Wales' new trump card in the pack in the space of a year after he had no contract at Cardiff Blues this time last season and weighed 21-stone.

England coach Eddie Jones has been disciplined by his bosses at the RFU following his scathing criticism of referee Ben O'Keeffe.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I've never really reflected on the 1980 Grand Slam - you move on quickly in life and sport - and it has caught me by surprise that the 40th anniversary is upon us.

NIK SIMON'S GAIN LINE: Sale Sharks are waiting in the wings if England star Jonny May does not sign a new contract with Leicester Tigers. The former Gloucester winger has reached a stand-off.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The decision to bring the curtain down on Premiership rugby for five weeks and postponing European competitions only delays an inevitable shutdown.

English rugby is in turmoil as players were being advised to consider strike action after Premiership clubs demanded swingeing pay cuts amid fears of impending financial disaster.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Only seven days ago, Jack Nowell still had a note in his diary earmarking this weekend as the time for him to return to Exeter's starting team.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY WILL KELLEHER: Life in the lockdown is exacting enough for everyone - but not many have as many balls to juggle as Gareth Steenson.

EXCLUSIVE: English Premiership clubs are queuing up to seek financial help from the Government as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cast long shadows over rugby.

Eddie Jones is stuck in Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak where England still intend to tour in July - although it is increasingly likely the trip will be called off this month.

WORLD OF RUGBY: When the RFU released their annual report, the document contained an opening page which stated: 'Our purpose: to encourage rugby, and its values.' 

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The England legend has been answering all of your questions, ranging from the serious to the funny, on subjects such sport obsession and how to drop players.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are difficult times for all sports but I believe such moments create a time for organisations to demonstrate they are in touch with the world around them.

Bill Beaumont or Agustin Pichot, the rivals standing next month to lead World Rugby, must be shocked into a drastic overhaul of the game following the coronavirus pandemic. 

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Vunipola is glad Jones will continue to provoke trepidation and inspiration among players because he believes the Australian can lead them to World Cup glory.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Sir Bill Beaumont says he 'still alive and kicking' as he revealed his manifesto to be re-elected as World Rugby chairman after Sir Clive Woodward backed Agustin Pichot.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Bill Beaumont and challenger Agustin Pichot are in the final week of their election campaign to become chairman of World Rugby. 

For Premiership chief executives during the coronavirus pandemic it is not so much that the management text-book has been thrown out the window.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Sir Bill Beaumont's attempt to win re-election as World Rugby chairman has been thrown into further chaos after the governing body received a damning letter.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I wonder if all those voting for the chairmanship of World Rugby on Sunday realise the great gift and opportunity they have - or what a pivotal moment for the game this is.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Naiyaravoro is the first player to pledge his future to Fiji if a controversial rule allowing players to switch allegiance goes through.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Bill Beaumont has turned to ex-Lions team-mates to 'keep Wales and Ireland on track' in the World Rugby chairman election.

The four Welsh regions are banking on their £40m share of the proposed deal helping them to balance their books and to help them become more competitive on the field.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: A four-day voting window opens on Monday and a handful of members remain undecided in what is expected to be the closest ballot battle in rugby's history.

Genge insists his proposed organisation would complement rather than rival the Rugby Players' Association, which represents more than 1200 past and present players

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: When Bill Beaumont clocks back on Monday morning, it would be worth remembering that, although the official tally says 28-23, he actually won by only one vote.