Covid-19 Highlights:AI flights from Sharjah, Malaysia, Kuwait bring back Indians

394 new coronavirus cases in Gujarat, tally rises to 7,797; with 23 patients succumbing, death toll reaches 472: health official.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) partners with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) for developing indigenous Covid-19 vaccine.

Puducherry government to keep liquor shops closed till May 17, reports ANI.

Tamil Nadu reported four more Covid-19 deaths on Saturday. Forty four people have died from coronavirus diseasein the state till now. 526 people test positive for virus, according to the health department. : PTI

Andhra Pradesh government has decided to reduce the number of retail liquor outlets to 2,934 by May end, said an official: PTI

A special flight carrying 177 Indians took off from Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur for Trichy, Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

#VandeBharatMission: A special flight carrying 177 Indians takes off from Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur for Trichy, Tamil Nadu.#COVID19lockdown pic.twitter.com/WI86ly0TnL

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

Two persons evacuated from the middle-eastern countries have tested positive on Saturday, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Both came from the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. One from Dubai and the other from Abu Dhabi, he said adding the state will have to maintain utmost vigil as expatriates and people stranded in other states have started returning in large numbers.

Operation Samudra Setu: Western Fleet Ships mission deployed in the Indian Ocean Region joined INS Jalashwa, on her passage back to Kochi in Kerala from the Maldives. INS Jalashwa is bringing back 698 Indians from the Maldives.

Operation #SamudraSetu: Western Fleet Ships mission deployed in the Indian Ocean Region joined INS Jalashwa, on her passage back to Kochi in Kerala from the Maldives. INS Jalashwa is bringing back 698 Indians from the Maldives. pic.twitter.com/NL5GAUWV5z

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

Number of Covid-19 cases reaches 1762 in Punjab, with 31 more people testing positive today. Number of active cases an fatalities due to the infection stands at 1574 and 31, respectively: Punjab Health Department

Tamil Nadu announced on Saturday the easing of a host of restrictions beginning May 11, allowing 33% workforce to return to offices in Chennai, 24x7 petrol pumps on state and central highways and opening of tea-shops (except those in containment zones) across the state, even as the government moved the Supreme Court against the Madras high court’s Friday order to close all state-run liquor outlets.

41 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Karnataka today, taking total number of cases to 794 including 30 deaths & 386 discharges. Number of active cases stands at 377: Karnataka Health Department

13 new positive cases have been reported since yesterday. The total number of positive cases is now 836: Govt of UT of Jammu and Kashmir

13 new positive cases have been reported since yesterday. The total number of positive cases is now 836: Govt of UT of Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/S75hENZjPF

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

5 new positive cases (Surat returnees) reported in Ganjam; the total number of positive cases in the state is now 294: Information & Public Relations Dept. Govt. of Odisha.

108 cases of Covid-19 and 11 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours in West Bengal, taking total number of cases to 1786 and death toll to 99 in the state. Number of active Covid-19 cases stands at 1243: West Bengal Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay

All 177 passengers and 4 infants checked in and ready to fly back home. Three mortal remains are also being sent back in today's repatriation flight to Kochi: Embassy of India in Muscat, Oman