Highlights: Hid nothing from US, warned since day one about Covid-19, says WHO

As airlines across the planet struggle financially, Virgin Atlantic's part owner Richard Branson says the airline will require financial aid from the UK government.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that there has been no confrontation between Kerala and the Centre.

There has been no confrontation between state govt&Centre. Kerala is following directions issued by Centre. Barber shops will not be opened&restaurants will only provide online delivery: Kerala CM on Ministry of Home Affairs' letter to Kerala over modified lockdown guidelines pic.twitter.com/IzQygIc8KF

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2020

Maharashtra health minister said that 283 cases have been reported in last 24 hours taking the number of cases to 4,483 in the state.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally increases by 283 to 4,483: Health Minister Rajesh Tope

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 20, 2020

83 areas in Delhi have come under the containment zones. 4 new areas have been added.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan outlined in the press conference that compared to the global mortality rate of 5.75, the state's mortality rate is 0.5.

There was a time when the situation in Kerala could have gone out of hand but with proper contact tracing, we were able to contain & overcome it. The mortality rate in the world is 5.75, it is 2.8-3 in India, & 0.58 in Kerala. We are carrying out testing aggressively: Kerala CM https://t.co/8gT9Vgy35o

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2020

Earlier the Afghanistan President had thanked PM Modi for hydroxychloroquine tablets and paracetamol shipments sent by India. PM Modi said India and Afghanistan share common resolve against the pandemic.

India and Afghanistan share a special friendship, based on ties of history, geography, and culture.

For long, we have fought jointly against the scourge of terrorism. We will similarly combat COVID-19 together, with solidarity and shared resolve. @ashrafghani https://t.co/du6Rw0jvPV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 20, 2020

IMF chief K Georgieva said Covid-19's economic effect is unprecedented since the Great Depression, and added that 170 countries will have negative impact due to the pandemic.

With 750 fresh Covid-19 cases, Netherlands has reported 33,405 cases of Covid-19.

Total number of cases in India has touched 17,656. 2,842 have recovered while 559 lost their lives.

Infosys follows Wipro as the IT major suspended its revenue forecast owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Ram Nath Kovind in a series of tweets thanked police, healthcare workers, army personnel and every one involved in India's battle against the pandemic.

मैं सभी देशवासियों, गैर सरकारी संस्थानों, सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताओं, धार्मिक व जन-सेवी संगठनों, तथा रेड क्रॉस सहित उन सभी लोगों को धन्यवाद देता हूँ जो विभिन्न तरीकों से योगदान दे रहे हैं। उनका सेवा-भाव सराहनीय है। मुझे विश्वास है कि कोविड-19 पर विजय पाने में उनका सतत योगदान बना रहेगा।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 20, 2020

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asked PM Modi and Amit Shah to clarify why Certain districts in West Bengal were put under IMCTs (inter-ministerial central teams).

I urge both Honb’le Prime Minister @NarendraModi Ji & Home Minister @AmitShah Ji to share the criterion used for this. Until then I am afraid, we would not be able to move ahead on this as without valid reasons this might not be consistent with the spirit of federalism. (2/2)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 20, 2020

The following states where the doubling rates are less than 20 days -

■ Delhi - 8.5 days,

■ Karnataka - 9.2 days,

■ Telangana - 9.4 days,

■ Andhra Pradesh -10.6 days,

■ J&K (UT)- 11.5 days,

■ Punjab - 13.1 Days,

■ Chattisgarh - 13.3 days,

■ Tamil Nadu-14 days

■ Bihar -16.4 days.

The following states where the doubling rates are between 20 days to 30 days:

■ Andaman and Nicobar (UT) - 20.1 days,

■ Haryana - 21 days,

■ Himachal Pradesh - 24.5 days,

■ Chandigarh (UT) - 25.4 days,

■ Assam - 25.8 days,

■ Uttarakhand - 26.6 days

■ Ladakh (UT) - 26.6 days

The following states where the doubling rates are more than 30 days:

■ Odisha - 39.8 days

■ Kerala - 72.2 days

6 new districts with zero case in last 14 days:

■ Dungarpur, Pali (Rajasthan)

■ Jamnagar, Morbi (Gujarat)

■ North Goa (Goa)

India's doubling rate before the lockdown was 3.4 days, it has now improved to 7.5 days. As per data on April 19, in 18 states, the rate is better than the national average: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry https://t.co/YC4sZJ4Lk8

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2020

ICMR said that it has heard of reports that RTPCR kits are not working properly in West Bengal. ICMR says they are US FDA approved and have good standards.

#WATCH "We have received a grievance that In West Bengal, RTPCR kits are not working properly. These kits are US FDA approved & have good standards, only thing is they should be stored under 20 degrees temperature, otherwise, results may not be correct": R Gangakhedkar, ICMR pic.twitter.com/wQponrqUXy

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2020

Health ministry said that 15% of Covid-19 afflicted pateints turn into severe cases, while the rest 5 per cent turn in to critical cases.

Fifteen per cent of those infected get converted into severe cases and 5 pc into critical cases: Health Ministry

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 20, 2020