Is coronavirus an airborne infection? Uncertainity surrounds this as the World Health Organisation admitted that there is evidence emerging of that possibility, after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease passes between people.
This is particularly worrying for the densely-populated metro cities in India, which have already emerged as hotspots of COVID-19. The Union Health Ministry has said that it is “closely watching the dynamic evolution of the virus situation in India.”
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:
3.00 pm | Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Minister Sellur K. Raju tests positive for COVID-19
Minister for Co-operation Sellur K. Raju, has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Chennai.
Mr. Raju is the third Tamil Nadu Minister to test positive for COVID-19. Earlier, Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan had tested positive on June 18. On July 8, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani tested positive, and is being treated at a private hospital.
Mr. Raju is believed to have contracted the virus from his wife, who had tested positive for the infection four days ago.
2.30 pm | Meghalaya
Rs 500 fine for violating COVID-19 protocols
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the state government has decided to impose fine of Rs 500 on people who violate the COVID-19 safety protocols which include social distancing, wearing of mask, not spitting in public places.
“For first time violators, a fine of Rs 500 will be imposed and this will be increased to Rs 1,000 for repeated offence. We need to ensure people take the protocols seriously. These are simple rules which will help you to protect your family,” he said.
2.00 pm | Karnataka
Karnataka CM to ‘work from home’ after staff test positive for coronavirus
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said he would work from home as a precautionary measure after some of the staff in his office- cum-residence tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement, Mr. Yediyurappa said, “I am going to discharge my duties from home from today for the next few days in view of some of the staff in the office-cum-residence Krishna testing positive for coronavirus.”
He said he would give necessary directions and suggestions online.
Noting that he was healthy, Mr. Yediyurappa appealed to the people not to panic.
1.20 pm | Karnataka
ASHA workers boycott work; contact tracing hit
Demanding a fixed honorarium of ₹12,000 and adequate personal protection equipment, ASHA workers in the State stopped work on Friday.
Following this, tracing of primary and secondary contacts of COVID-19 positive patients and coordination work for quarantining of asymptomatic patients, apart from regular activities including immunisation and mother/child tracking, have been hit across the State.
12.50 pm | Maharashtra
With record spike of 1,803, Pune COVID-19 tally reaches 34,399
Pune district in Maharashtra reported its highest single-day spike of 1,803 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed its overall count to 34,399.
This single-day rise was reported on Thursday, an official said.
The death toll in the district reached 978 with 34 more people succumbing to the infection on Thursday, the official said.
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