A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine will take at least 12 months to be commercially available and a realistic deadline for it would be some time next year, a group of government officials informed the Parliamentary Panel on Science and Technology headed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh at a meeting held in the Parliament House complex on Friday.
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:
3.15 pm | Maharashtra
Proactive screening helped curb Dharavi’s COVID-19 spread: BMC
With the WHO lauding the efforts taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 in Mumbai’s Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums, the local civic body said proactive screening with the assistance of private doctors and community support helped it in the fight against the disease.
Talking to PTI on Saturday, Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Commissioner of the G North ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the civic body had to change its traditional approach of waiting for patients, contact tracing, isolation and home quarantine to begin proactive screening instead.
2.50 pm | New Delhi
PM appreciates efforts of Centre, Delhi govt in containing COVID situation in national capital
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appreciated the efforts of the Centre, state and local authorities in containing the COVID-19 situation in Delhi and directed that similar approach be adopted with other state governments in checking the pandemic in the entire NCR area.
He made these remarks at a meeting to review the coronavirus situation in the country, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
2.10 pm | Tamil Nadu
Ariyalur Collectorate closed till Monday after employee tests COVID-19 positive
The Ariyalur Collector’s Office has been closed for three days after an employee of the Department of Cooperation tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.
The employee was said to have contracted the virus from his wife, also a government employee in the neighbouring Perambalur district. After the swab sample taken from the employee turned out to be positive, he was immediately admitted to the Government Hospital.
Though he was a field worker, he was said to have visited the Collector’s Office during the last few days. Following this, Collector D. Rathna issued an order to close the office for three days from Saturday to Monday. – C. Jaisankar
1.50 pm | Uttarakhand
Three-day lockdown in Kashipur
A three-day lockdown was imposed from Saturday in Kashipur in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district in view of rising cases of COVID-19.
Barring essential services, all commercial activities in the market area will remain suspended during the period, it said advising people to stay at home and not venture out unless it was absolutely necessary.
Only, medicine shops, private and government hospitals and shops dealing in milk will remain open during the period.
1.30 pm | Delhi
All upcoming semester, final exams of universities under Delhi govt cancelled
Delhi government has decided that in Delhi state universities, upcoming exams will be cancelled,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia while addressing a video briefing.
“This decision is for Delhi’s state universities. Delhi also has central government-run universities such as Delhi University, JNU, and for these, the central government will have to take a decision,” he clarified.
All universities have been told that without written exam, promote students based on previous exams or based on previous semesters or other evaluations till now, he said. – Nikhil M. Babu
1.10 pm | Jammu and Kashmir
Strict lockdown restrictions reimposed after spike in coronavirus cases in Rajouri
Strict lockdown restrictions were reimposed on Saturday in parts of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district following a spike in coronavirus cases.
The entire Rajouri city and adjoining areas were sealed and people were asked to stay indoors as part of the efforts to slow the spread of the infection.
We have five active red zones and all the residents of these areas are being subjected to COVID testing, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Sher Sin