All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Monday, announced that it will start screening volunteers for phase-1 testing of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, , on healthy persons aged 18-55, without co-morbidities.
AIIMS, Delhi is among 12 sites listed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) cleared to conduct human trials of Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech.
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:
11.30 am
DGHS cautions against use of N-95 valved respirator masks
The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) has cautioned against the use of N-95 valved respirator masks, stating that they do not prevent the virus from escaping out and, thus, may not aid in the containment of COVID-19
In a communication to States, the DGHS said, “It has come to our knowledge that the use of valved respirator N-95 masks is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of coronavirus as they do not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask. In view of the above, I request you to instruct all concerned to follow the use of face/mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N-95 masks.”
10.30 am
11 BSF jawans, one Army personnel test positive in Mizoram
At least 13 more people, including 11 BSF jawans, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, pushing the total tally in the state to 297, a senior official said on Tuesday.
One of the 13 patients is an Army personnel, who recently returned to the state from Kashmir, he said.
A statement issued by the information and public relations department said the new cases were reported from Zoram Medical College.
– PTI
10.00 am | Andhra Pradesh
Guidelines issued for use of high-end drugs
Andhra Pradesh government issued a G.O. on Monday allowing the YSR Aarogyasri Health Care Trust to pay additional amounts over and above the per-day packages for certain high-end drugs used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, depending on the severity of the infection.
The payments will be made on the basis of utilisation evidences and justification by the doctors submitted by the hospitals designated for COVID-19 in A and B categories.
9.30 am
Transport sector in doldrums even after lifting of lockdown
Lorry owners say that they have suffered losses of not less than ₹2 lakh per vehicle.
There seems to be no respite for the transport sector which continues to be in doldrums, despite relaxation of the lockdown norms.
The transporters and lorry owners say that recurrent hikes in fuel price, high maintenance cost and pending taxes have left them in the lurch. The transporters and lorry owners have suffered loss of not less than ₹2 lakh per lorry, apart from pending EMIs, taxes and etc, they say.
9.00 am | Maharashtra
Eight-day lockdown from July 22 in Sangli district
In the wake of mounting COVID-19 cases, an eight-day lockdown from July 22 to 30 will be enforced in Sangli district in western Maharashtra, said senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and district Guardian Minister Jayant Patil on Monday.
“The lockdown will be in force from 10 p.m. onwards on July 22 and last till 10 p.m. on July 30 owing to a drastic spike in COVID-19 cases over the last few days. While we had not earlier planned to take such a measure, the recent rise in cases has compelled us to do so,” said Mr. Patil, who is also the State Water Resources Minister.
8.30 am | Andhra Pradesh
Total lockdown imposed in Tirupati till August 5
DIG Kanthi Rana Tata (right) inspecting a containment zone in Tirupati
With Tirupati city accounting for close to one-third of COVID-19 cases registered in the Chittoor district, the officials have announced a total lockdown for a fortnight.
With this, the entire city has been declared as a containment zone. All retail outlets will be allowed to remain open only till 11 a.m. However, pharmacies and dairy units can be kept open throughout the day.
8.00 am
Serum Institute of India to commence human trials of Oxford vaccine from next month
The Serum Institute of India (SII), aiming to develop a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year, has said that it will be starting human trials of its Oxford vaccine in the country from August.
“We are working on the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine which is in Phase III of its clinical trial stage. We also plan to start human trials in India next month. Depending on the current situation and updates on the clinical trials, we are hoping that the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine will be available by the year’s end,” said Adar Poonawalla, SII CEO .
7.30 am
Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival unlikely this year
The famed Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is unlikely to be held this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Monday. The 10-day Hornbill Festival that usually starts on December 1 celebrates the culture and heritage of different tribes of the State. It is attended by lakhs of people from across India and abroad.
7.00 am
West Bengal to have two-day lockdown every week
A police officer (not in picture) gives a mask to a cyclist as part of an awareness campaign to control the spread of COVID-19 in Kolkata on Monday.
There will be a complete lockdown for two days every week this month in West Bengal, State’s home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said on Monday. The decision was taken at a high-powered meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Meanwhile, the State on Monday recorded 2,282 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total cases to 44,769. The active cases stand at 17,204.