Highlights: Tripura’s Covid-19 tally nearing 6,000-mark

One of the 18 passengers, who died when an Air India Express flightfrom Dubai crashed landed at the Kozhikode airport, has tested positive for Covid-19, reports PTI.

Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel told the mediathat samples ofthe passenger, Sudheer Varyath (45), were sent for testing and it hasreturned positive for the disease.

The Australian state of Victoria recorded 466 new cases of Covid-19 and 12 deaths, including another man in his 30s. The figures were released as the city of Melbourne remained in lockdown and under an overnight curfew, reports Associated Press.

Expressing concern that grocery shops, vegetable and other vendors can be potential spreaders of coronavirus infection to a large number of people, the Union Health Ministry has advised states and UTs to take up testing of such people to ensure early detection of cases which can lead to reduction in mortality rate, reports news agency PTI.

In a letter to states and UTs, Secretary in the Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan, also stressed on the need for operationalising ambulance transport system with oxygen facility and quick response mechanism.

Normal life came to a grinding halt in West Bengal on Saturday as a complete lockdown was enforced across the state to stem the spread of Covid-19 cases, reports news agency PTI. All public transport, offices and other commercial establishments, barring those dealing with essential services, remained closed as the strict restrictions were clamped.

Kolkata: Streets wear a deserted look as lockdown measures are enforced in the state. #WestBengal to remain under lockdown on August 8, 20, 21, 27, 28 & 31 due to #COVID19 pandemic outbreak. pic.twitter.com/iNqv01Jg2h

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2020

Rajasthan records 499 new Covid-19 positive cases and nine deaths, taking the total positive cases and deaths to 50,656 and 776 respectively. Active cases stand at 13,570: State Health Department

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates the 400-bedded Covid-19 hospital in Noida, Sector 39.

Gautam Buddha Nagar: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates the 400-bedded #COVID19 hospital in Sector 39.

Noida District Magistrate Suhas LY was also present at the event. pic.twitter.com/Pq0I0FuKNu

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 8, 2020

The nation recorded 61,537 new cases and 933 deaths in last 24 hours.

As cases rise in north Bengal districts, the government has implemented biweekly lockdowns. Siliguri can be seen empty as lockdown commences for the weekend.

#WestBengal : Shops closed in Siliguri today due to #COVID19 lockdown.

Complete lockdown to be observed in the state on August 20, 21, 27, 28 & 31 also. pic.twitter.com/ChO47bJysh

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2020

Streets are deserted across Prayagraj as weekly lockdown begins in UP to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

Streets wear deserted look in Prayagraj as weekly lockdown has been implemented in the district.Weekend lockdown to continue till further orders. pic.twitter.com/pjxWYRahHv

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 8, 2020

M Ortagus, spokesperson for the US State Department said Mike Pompeo has spoken to foreign Ministers of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, and the Republic of Korea on developing close coordination to curb Covid-19.

Secretary Pompeo and his counterparts discussed the importance of continued close coordination in response to the #COVID19 pandemic: Morgan Ortagus, Spokesperson for US State Department https://t.co/tozoyR8W5n

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2020

Some states in US have allowed schools to reopen but they continue to tackle quarantines along with fresh outbreaks.

🇺🇸 Undeterred by the #coronavirus, schools in several #US states have reopened for in-person classes -- but some have already been hit by large quarantines of students and staff following fresh outbreaks https://t.co/Z9TU4U574k

By @IssamAhmed pic.twitter.com/dAEO5Tbm8p

— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 7, 2020