The World Health Organisation is optimistic and hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccines could be available before the end of this year, according to the agency’s chief scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan.
She said that there are about 10 candidates which are in human testing phase and at least three of them are entering the new promising phase-three stage which proves a vaccine’s efficacy.
Here is a list of State Helpline numbers. You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here.
Here are the latest updates:
12 pm | Bengaluru
Vikasa Soudha staff to work from home for a day
After an employee in the building tested positive for COVID-19, Karnataka government has asked all employees at the Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru to work from home today to allow for sanitising the entire building by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
On Tuesday, an employee of the Food and Civil Supplies Department located in the Vikasa Soudha tested positive for COVID-19. Following this, employees of both the Vikasa Soudha and the adjoining Vidhana Soudha are set undergo screening for COVID-19.
The order to work from home is first for State government employees, though Central Ministries had ordered work from home during lockdown.
11.30 am | Chennai
Complete lockdown begins in Chennai, police use drones to monitor movement
The Chennai police have intensified security arrangements to implement the complete lockdown, brought in to control the spread of COVID-19, effectively. On Friday morning, iron barricades were installed on the city’s arterial roads restricting the movement of public on vehicles.
Chennai police department is using drones, fitted with a speaker, to announces a pre-recorded message on lockdown rules.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
Anna Salai and a few other roads, and most bridges are closed for traffic. Many roads wore a deserted look on Friday morning, while some had just a few vehicles, mostly those of essential services, such as medical staff.
11 am | Andhra Pradesh
With another spike, Andhra witnesses 52% of total cases in the last 18 days
The ‘Unlock 1’ phase between June 1 and June 18 has proved costly for Andhra Pradesh, with the State recording 52% of its total COVID-19 cases in this period.
The State registered 3,925 cases in this period. The remaining 3,571 cases were reported between March 12 and May 31, and