Highlights: New York governor Cuomo slams Trump over federal funding

Dr Gangakhedkar, of the ICMR, said that BCG vaccine's for Covid-19 prevention has not yielded any definitive results as of now.

ICMR will begin a study next week. Till we don’t have definitive results from this, we won’t recommend it even for health workers: Dr. Gangakhedkar, ICMR on a question by ANI on the use of BCG vaccine to fight COVID19 https://t.co/p3xQRCVKrM

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

Lav Agarwal pointed out that since the second week of lockdown growth factor has decreased to 1.2 compared to previous month's 2.1.

We have been witnessing average growth factor at 1.2 since April 1 which stood at 2.1 (average) between March 15- March 31. Hence, there is 40 per cent decline in average growth factor even as we increased #COVID19 testings: Lav Aggarawal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/kQMzIcX1xI

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

India is aiming to make at least a million indigenous RTPCR kits within the next month, Health ministry's joint secretary L Agarwal told the media-persons during the daily briefing.

We are aiming to make 10 lakh RTPCR kits by the month of May indigenously: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

Lav Agarwal said that death to recovery ratio is higher in India compared to several other countries. He said it stands 80:20.

The ratio between recovered #COVID19 patients and deaths stands at 80:20 in India which is higher than that in several other counties: Lav Aggarawal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry https://t.co/fWmvWV74Lw

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

23 people died in the last 24 hours said Lav Agarwal while addressing the briefing. 1,007 fresh cases were reported.

1,007 fresh COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths in last 24 hours: Health Ministry

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 17, 2020

Lav Agarwal said before lockdown cases were doubling at every three days. Data over the past week shows doubling of rate of cases stands at 6.2 days.

Before lockdown, doubling rate of #COVID19 cases was about 3 days, but according to data in the past 7 days, the doubling rate of cases now stands at 6.2 days. Doubling rate in 19 States, Union Territories are even lower than average doubling rate: Lav Aggrawal, Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/ycYpchvc2Z

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

A septuagenarian in Baramulla succumbed to Covid-19. He died in JVC hospital in Srinagar.

A 75-year-old #COVID19 patient from Armpora Sopore in Baramulla has died at JVC Hospital in Srinagar, taking the death toll due to the disease to five in Jammu & Kashmir: Medical Superintendent of JVC Hospital

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

French PM, according to a report by Reuters, said that to believe that Chinese govt. handled the pandemic better than Western democracies would be naive. He said, ""We don't know. There are clearly things that have happened that we don't know about."

The Myanmar government has released 24,896 prisoners from various prisons. This was done keeping in mind the coronavirus outbreak. People gathered to collect their relatives and kin who were lodged inside these jails defying social distancing measures.

The Kerala High Court asked state police to release the vehicles that were seized due to the lockdown violations by individuals.

Tonk, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kota reported fresh cases in the state, the total number of people affected in the state is 1,193.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that PM's move will ensure economic recovery for the nation. He praised RBI and said the moves will help maintain liquidity in the market.

The measures announced by @RBI today will not only maintain adequate liquidity in the system but also boost the economic recovery in the country.

PM Shri @narendramodi is leaving no stone unturned to stimulate the Indian economy in these difficult times & give relief to people.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 17, 2020

Home Minister Amit Shah lauded RBI's announcements and said PM Modi's road-map will lay foundations for a strong and stable India.

Modi government is leaving no stone unturned in this fight against COVID-19, ensuring minimum disruption in people’s lives while planning for a strong and stable India in days ahead.

Steps taken by RBI today, to boost Indian economy, further reinforce PM @narendramodi’s vision.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 17, 2020

Health Minister Jens Spahn told the press that due to early measures undertaken by the German government the Covid-19 pandemic has been brought under control in Germany.

#BREAKING The #coronavirus pandemic in Germany is "again under control" thanks to a month of lockdown imposed after an early surge in cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn says pic.twitter.com/KvRERFM3YZ

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 17, 2020

Ajay Maken told the press that RBI needs to do more to help Indian economy. He said the party is dissatisfied by the measures announced by RBI.