Highlights: Total coronavirus cases in Rajasthan rise to 1,964

Congress President Sonia Gandhi says Covid-19 trajectory of growth is disturbing.

CWC meeting begins.

Smt. Sonia Gandhi presides.

She says, “Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly - both in spread and speed.”

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 23, 2020

UN Chief Antonio Guterres said that the pandemic must not become an excuse for erosion of human rights. He said human rights should act as a guide for the world to recover from Covid-19 pandemic.

#COVID19 is a public health emergency — that is fast becoming a human rights crisis.

People — and their rights — must be front and centre.

My new report on how human rights can and must guide #coronavirus response & recovery: https://t.co/CmYirKbsci pic.twitter.com/rssMV0MPBg

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 23, 2020

SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Mansa, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Moga, Pathankot, Ropar along side other districts have new labs to test Covid-19 cases. Punjab has 251 cases of Covid-19.

Where are the Covid samples being tested?

New allocation of labs for all the 22 districts in Punjab. pic.twitter.com/x0UI0GKodY

— KBS Sidhu, IAS, Spl. Chief Secretary, Punjab. (@kbssidhu1961) April 23, 2020

Mike Pompeo said that US want China to end wildlife wet markets, which are a common scene across Asia, outlining that these markets could be storehouses for zoonotic diseases.

Animal lovers in Kerala have been serving food to stray animals since lockdown. Dr Soumya said that local residents have also extended their support in this initiative.

Kerala:Few locals in Kozhikode have been feeding stray dogs&cats in areas b/w Kuttiady&Nadapuram, amid COVID19 lockdown. Dr Soumya, an animal lover says,"We've been serving food to stray animals since first day of lockdown. We're receiving a lot of support from people around us". pic.twitter.com/9eVPIrUqLW

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020

Jodhpur and Jaipur continue to report most number of cases. 1,935 cases registered statewide.

47 #COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Rajasthan today so far - 20 in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, 2 each in Hanumangarh & Kota, 1 in Ajmer. Total number of positive cases in the state rises to 1935, including 27 deaths and 344 recovered: Rajasthan Health dept pic.twitter.com/da0lUpKoQg

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020

With Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi registering most cases, India now has 21,393 cases of Covid-19. The death toll has touched 681. More than 4,200 people have been cured.

Private consumption, exports hit all-time lows since 2008 due to which finance minister Hong Nam-ki warned that Asia's fourth-largest economy might have to brace for the worst.

Doctors in Mount Sinai hospital noticed blood clots forming in the kidneys and lungs of Covid-19 patients. Dialysis catheters being blocked by clots has increased fears that Covid-19 might have the ability to thicken blood.

The civic body said that Greater Mumbai's municipal corporation has asked deans and medical superintendents to extend contract period of their employees.

In view of #COVID19, Municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai has authorised all Deans & Medical Superintendents of various hospitals to extend contract period of all their employees whose contracts are expiring in near future: Brihanmumbai Mahanagar Palika #Maharashtra

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020

The 2 cats in New York could have gotten the disease from humans. There is no case yet where pets have transmitted the disease into humans.

In a bid to cut cost, aviation giant Boeing has removed 10% of its staff citing that aviation sector has faced losses due to Covid-19 pandemic.

#UPDATE Boeing plans to reduce the workforce in its civil aviation unit by 10 percent to cut costs as the coronavirus causes a crisis for airlines, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP https://t.co/lGYNqX3vFt

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 22, 2020

Johns Hopkins tally shows 1,738 new deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours.

#BREAKING US sees 1,738 new #coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins pic.twitter.com/CIwIfH6ATh

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 23, 2020

First lady Savita Kovind stitched face masks for those living in shelter homes in Delhi. The masks will be given to various shelter homes of Delhi Urban Shelter Board.

Delhi: First Lady Savita Kovind stitched face masks at Shakti Haat in the President’s Estate. The masks stitched at Shakti Haat are being distributed at various shelter homes of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (22.04.2020) pic.twitter.com/CwtLvnqht6

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020

In a bid to stop job competition, US president Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending immigration for 2 months into the US. “In order to protect our great American workers I’ve just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States,” Trump said Wednesday evening at a White House press conference.