Andhra Pradesh with nearly 8,000 COVID-19 cases topped southern States in daily numbers for the second day on Thursday as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala also reported record single day tallies with the aggregate of the four breaching the 20,000 mark.
The four States and the Union Territory of Puducherry registered a total of 20,701 cases on July 23.
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:
4.50 pm | Himachal Pradesh
Fine of ₹5,000 in Hamirpur, ₹1,000 in Shimla for not wearing face masks
A fine of ₹5,000 will be imposed against persons who do not wear face masks while going outside their homes in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh while the state capital Shimla will levy a penalty of ₹1,000 against the violators, officials said on Friday.
In a message posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Arjit Sen Thakur said that violators would be fined ₹5,000 if they do not wear a face mask when stepping out of their homes.
Both central and state government had made wearing of face masks mandatory for checking the spread of novel coronavirus, he added. – PTI
4 pm | New Delhi
Phase-I human clinical trial of potential COVID-19 vaccine: Man given first dose at AIIMS
The phase-I human clinical trial of India’s first indigenously-developed vaccine against novel coronavirus, Covaxin, began at the AIIMS here on Friday with the first dose of the injection given to a man, who is in his 30s.
Over 3,500 volunteers have already registered themselves for the trial at AIIMS since last Saturday, of whom the screening of at least 22 people is underway, said Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS and the principal investigator of the study.
“The first volunteer, a resident of Delhi, was screened two days ago and all his health parameters were found to be within the normal range. He also does not have any co-morbid conditions.
“The first dose of 0.5 ml intramuscular injection was given to him around 1.30 pm. No immediate side-effects have been observed so far. He was under observation for two hours and will be monitored for the next seven days,” Rai said.
Few more participants would be given the vaccine on Saturday after their screening reports come. – PTI
3.40 pm | Jharkhand
Tata Steel adopts tech-based initiative for safe working inside factory,mines during pandemic
As part of the efforts to check spread of novel coronavirus, Tata Steel has adopted a digital technology-based initiative named “connected workforce” to ensure safe working inside the factory premises and mines spanning various geographies by real-time tracking, alerts and Quick Response Team (QRT) protocols.
The objective behind the “connected workforce” app is to monitor coronavirus-related risks. It is among a series of measures that have been taken to effectively combat COVID-19, said Kulvin Suri, Chief Corporate Communications (India & South East Asia), Tata Steel.
There are altogether 32,000 employees in Tata Steel across the country and 55,000 contractual workforce.
Its manufacturing facities are- Tata Steel, Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Kalinganagar (Odisa), Long products in Gamariah, Seraikela-Kharswan district of Jharkhand, one unit in Angul, Odisha.
The company has mines in Jharkhand and Odisha of iron- ore, collieries and magnese. – PTI
3.20 pm | Maharashtra
‘Janta curfew’ in Nagpur city on Saturday, Sunday
A ‘janta curfew’ will be imposed in Nagpur city of Maharashtra on Saturday and Sunday to curb the rising number of coronavirus cases, the civic chief said on Friday.
Nagpur municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced the imposition of ‘janta curfew’ on Saturday and Sunday (July 25 & 26) in the city.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of elected representatives and the civic administration here.
More details were awaited. – PTI
3 pm | Mumbai
Must follow CPCB norms for disposal of biomedical waste: HC to govt
The Bombay High Court on Friday said the Maharashtra government and civic bodies are obligated to adhere to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) guidelines on the treatment and disposal of biomedical waste generated during diagnosis and quarantine of COVID-19 patients.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta