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Topics in the news

Coronavirus pandemic

Igor Matovič

Igor Matovič (pictured) becomes Prime Minister of Slovakia following elections in February.
Edwin Catmull and Pat Hanrahan receive the Turing Award for their work on computer-generated imagery.
Paleontologists announce the discovery of Asteriornis maastrichtensis, the oldest definitive species of modern bird, which lived at the end of the Mesozoic era.

March 24, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Arts and culture

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
- The Badaling section of the Great Wall of China reopens to visitors. (CNN)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - Education in the United States, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Virginia
    - In Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University reopens despite the coronavirus. (CNN)

Disasters and accidents

More than 60 people are found dead inside a cargo container in Mozambique's Tete Province. The deceased are believed to be Ethiopian migrants, while the cause of death is reported as mass asphyxiation. Fourteen people are found alive. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
    - Premier Li Keqiang says that the spread of the domestically transmitted epidemic has been basically blocked and the outbreak controlled in China. (State Council Information Office of China)
    - 2020 Hubei lockdowns
      - China is expected to end lockdowns on most of the Hubei province. Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, is expected to reopen on April 8. (ABC News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India
    - Complete lockdowns are announced in 30 states and union territories of India in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. (The Times of India)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
    - Iran's government rejects the offer of medical help by a team sent by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). (Radio Farda)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Saudi Arabia
    - Saudi Arabia reports the country's first death from COVID-19, as the total number of cases rises to 767. The patient was an Afghan expatriate. (Gulf News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oceania
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand
    - New Zealand reports 40 new cases of coronavirus. (Stuff NZ)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
    - Australia announces a maximum lockdown, outlawing all travel interstate and overseas, and closing the nation's borders. Schools remain open in certain locations. (News.com.au)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 514 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date. (BBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in France
    - Cameroonian musician and songwriter Manu Dibango dies from COVID-19 in Paris, France. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Chile
    - Despite a week-long lockdown, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) reports its first case of coronavirus. (CNN Chile)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Egypt
    - Egypt declares a two-week nationwide curfew bewteen 7pm and 6am to prevent the spread of the virus. Those who break the curfew will be fined up to 4,000 pounds or be jailed, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in California
      - The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California reaches 2,226, with 42 deaths. (Los Angeles Times)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York
      - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says FEMA will send 4,000 ventilators to New York in the next 48 hours. The state now has at least 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (Washington Examiner)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan confirms nine members of the Detroit Police Department have tested positive for COVID-19, with one death, a 38-year-old male dispatcher. An additional 233 officers have been quarantined since Sunday. (MLive.com)
A man in the Chinese province of Yunnan dies after testing positive for hantavirus. (Newsweek)

International relations

South Korea–United States relations, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- South Korea President Moon Jae-in says that President Donald Trump asked the country to send medical equipment to the United States to help fight the coronavirus. (Reuters)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
- The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has been postponed to 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (The Guardian)

March 23, 2020 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Islamist insurgency in Mozambique
- Islamist militants seize the port town of Mocímboa da Praia in northern Mozambique after capturing the town's military base in an overnight attack. Residents say militants have blocked all exits in the town. The armed forces and police launch a counter-offensive. (BBC)
Syrian civil war
- The Syrian Air Defense Force says that it intercepted a drone near Khmeimim Air Base. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on cinema, 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
- About 500 cinemas reopen in China. (Deadline)
Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on cinema, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
- Italian actress and former beauty pageant winner Lucia Bosè dies aged 89 from pneumonia complicated by COVID-19. (Billboard)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - Fast food restaurant chain McDonald's closes all of its restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland citing the safety of its employees and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Guardian)
- Economy of the United States, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The United States Senate votes down for a second time a stimulus relief package. (Fox 4) (CNBC) (Washington Post)
  - The Federal Reserve Bank announces the commitment to buy any amount of government-backed securities needed to keep interest rates down. Among other measures being developed to support the real economy, it will also establish a special purpose vehicle allowing it to buy investment-grade corporate bonds directly. (Reuters)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oceania
  - Vanuatu puts the island of Aneityum under "temporary lockdown" after a cruise ship with a reportedly infected passenger on board visited the island. (RNZ)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand
    - New Zealand enters alert level 3 after the investigation into two assumed community-spread cases do not find any links to travel. All schools and public venues are closed. The country will enter alert level 4 on 26 March at midnight local time. (Stuff)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji confirms its third case of COVID-19. (FBC News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 4,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases, rising to 33,000 infected and 2,182 dead. (El País)
    - The Spanish Army has found elderly people abandoned and dead inside retirement homes, according to Defence Minister Margarita Robles. A criminal investigation has been launched. (BBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The British Army begins Operation Rescript, to assist the UK's efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. (The Independent)
    - The United Kingdom is placed in lockdown. The new measures close all non-essential stores and ban gatherings of more than two people. (The Guardian)
    - The British government announces that ExCeL London will be turned into a 4000-bed hospital to open next week, staffed primarily by military medics. (The Guardian)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Dutch Health Ministry reports 545 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 34 more deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 4,749 and 213 deaths. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malta
    - Malta's government announces that citizens who test positive for COVID-19 and disobey self-isolation rules will be fined 10,000 euros. (Times of Malta)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Uzbekistan
    - The Uzbekistan government announces that a lockdown of Tashkent will begin on March 24. (New York Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Myanmar
    - Myanmar reports the country's first confirmed cases of COVID-19, the patients are a 36-year-old who had travelled back from the United States and a 26-year-old returning from the United Kingdom. Panic buying is reported in the country's largest city of Yangon. (Channel News Asia)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Tunisia
    - Tunisian President Kais Saied orders the army to deploy in the streets to enforce a lockdown in response to the coronavirus. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South Africa
    - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces a 21-day nationwide lockdown effective from March 26, to contain the coronavirus, as the number of confirmed cases rises to 402. Soldiers will be deployed to help police enforce the lockdown. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ontario
      - Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces that non-essential businesses in Ontario are to be shut down for at least two weeks. (National Post)
      - Mayor of Toronto John Tory declares a state of emergency for the city of Toronto. (CTV News)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Quebec
      - Quebec Premier François Legault announces that non-essential businesses in Quebec are to be shut down for three weeks. (National Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hawaii
      - Norwegian Jewel arrives at Honolulu after cutting its trip short due to COVID-19 and mechanical problems. No positive cases were confirmed among the passengers and crew members. (ABC News)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts
      - Governor Charlie Baker orders all businesses and organizations not providing essential services to close until April 7, effective at noon on Tuesday. Baker states that he is not issuing a stay-at-home order, saying it "doesn't make sense from a public health point of view", but has directed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue a stay-at-home advisory, limiting public gatherings to 10 people or less. (WBUR)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issues a stay-at-home order for all Michiganders except for essential services. (Fox News)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York
      - New York is expected to be the first state to test the treatment of coronavirus with blood from recovered patients. (NBC News)

International relations

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy, Cuba–Italy relations
- Cuba sends doctors to Italy to fight the coronavirus. (Reuters)
United Arab Emirates–United States relations, 2019–20 Persian Gulf crisis
- The United States Marine Corps and the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces hold military exercises amid tensions with Iran. (ABC News)

Law and crime

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ghana
- Eight people are arrested at a market in Ashaiman for violating restrictions while disinfection on the market began. (Ghanaweb)
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is expected to plead guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter in the Camp Fire. (NBC News)
Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on prisons
- Rapper-turned-informant 6ix9ine requests a early prison release over fears of COVID-19. (The Daily Beast)
Capital punishment in the United States, Capital punishment in Colorado
- Colorado abolishes the death penalty and commutes sentences of death row inmates. (New York Times)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Bernie Sanders wins the Democrats Abroad primary. (The Hill)

March 22, 2020 (Sunday)

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Arts and culture

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Vatican City
- Pope Francis, in a call for a worldwide prayer, announces he will hold a special service to pray for the end of the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
  - Dubai-based airline Emirates announces that it will be suspending all passenger flights effective March 25 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but will continue to operate cargo flights for essential goods. (Associated Press)
- Economy of the United States, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The U.S. Senate votes down a coronavirus relief stimulus bill. (CNBC)
  - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to set up a second vote on a coronavirus relief stimulus bill for Monday. (The Hill)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Zagreb earthquake
- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hits Zagreb, Croatia. Seventeen people are injured; one is in critical condition. The earthquake is Zagreb's largest since 1880. (RT) (BBC News) (Bloomberg News)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India
    - India observes a 14-hour nationwide self-imposed Janata Curfew amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Economic Times)
    - India suspends the entry of international flights due to the coronavirus. (NDTV)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Palestinian territories
    - The Palestinian National Authority confirms the first cases of COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip. Both patients are Palestinian men in their 30s who recently returned from Egypt. They are being held in quarantine in the border town of Rafah. (Haaretz)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Afghanistan
    - Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health reports its first death from COVID-19, a 40-year-old man in Balkh Province. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Uzbekistan
    - Uzbekistan orders companies in Tashkent to do remote working and makes protective masks as an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Reuters)
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China, 2020 Hubei lockdowns
    - China reports only one domestic case of COVID-19 but reports 45 imported cases. (CNN-News 18)
    - The Civil Aviation Administration of China says that flights to Beijing will be diverted to 12 Chinese airports for screening amid the coronavirus pandemic. (China Daily)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iraq
    - Iraq issues a lockdown until March 28 in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Al Arabiya)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey's Ministry of Health reports that the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 30, with a total of 1,236 confirmed cases. (Hürriyet Daily News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Syria
    - The government announces the war-torn country's first confirmed case of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    - Italy raises its COVID-19 death toll to 5,476. (WION)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez tells the Congress of Deputies the country will to extend its state of alarm, implemented due to the coronavirus, for an additional 15 days. (CNN) (El País)
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 394 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 28,572 with 1,720 deaths. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says "the worst is yet to come". (Reuters)
    - Tenor Plácido Domingo announces he has tested positive for COVID-19. (Daily Mirror)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Romania
    - Romania reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 67-year-old man from the town of Filiași. (Romania-Insider)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in France
    - French Health Minister Olivier Véran confirms the first death of a doctor treating COVID-19 patients. (France 24)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Greece
    - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis orders a nationwide lockdown starting March 23. (Greek Reporter)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Andorra
    - Andorra reports its first death from COVID-19. (The New York Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel self-isolates after being in contact with a doctor infected with COVID-19. (CNBC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Colombia
    - Riots break out at several prisons in Colombia over COVID-19 fears. Residents report explosions and gunfire inside La Modelo prison in the capital Bogotá. Inmates release a statement demanding the government allow vulnerable prisoners to be granted house arrest. (Colombia Reports)
    - Colombian Justice Minister Margarita Cabello Blanco says 23 prisoners are dead and 83 others are injured following an attempted "mass criminal escape" at La Modelo prison and other detention centers. Two guards are also in critical condition. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York
      - Former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein tests positive for COVID-19. He is put in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility. (The Daily Beast)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ohio, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Louisiana
      - Ohio and Louisiana declare coronavirus lockdowns. (Reuters)
      - Ohio governor Mike DeWine issues a stay-at-home order. Grocery stores, pharmacies and manufacturing industries deemed "essential" will remain open. (The Plain Dealer)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Maryland
      - Ocean City, Maryland announces that their beaches will be closed to slow down the spread of coronavirus. (Indy Star)
    - U.S. Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul tests positive for COVID-19. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee self-quarantine for 14-days despite not testing. (Politico) (The Hill)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
  - Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the country is shutting down non-essential services effective midday Monday for pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and places of worship, while restaurants and cafes will have to switch to takeaway only. The number of cases in Australia has risen to 1,315. (BBC)

International relations

Italy–Russia relations, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
- The Russian military sends medical help and disinfection tools to Italy to battle the coronavirus. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2020 Guinean legislative election, 2020 Guinean constitutional referendum
- Despite violent protests, boycotts from the political opposition and fears about potential coronavirus infections, legislative elections are held in Guinea next to a controversial referendum. (Aljazeera)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
  - The 2020 AFL season has been postponed to May 31 after South Australia and Western Australia close their borders to all non-essential travelers, and both New South Wales and Victoria engage a total lockdown. (News.com.au)
- Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
  - Fans attend the Olympic flame despite the coronavirus. (Republic World)
  - After ruling out cancelling the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee considers postponing the Olympics to 2021. They set a deadline to decide within the next four weeks. (USA Today)
  - The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee announce that they will not be sending athletes to the Summer Games in 2020. (CBC)

March 21, 2020 (Saturday)

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Arts and culture

2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Tennessee
  - The Grand Ole Opry broadcasts from an empty venue for the first time since 1925. (ABC News)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Economy of China, 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
  - China resumes construction of its infrastructure to help ease the economic impact of COVID-19. (The Star)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- The World Health Organization says at least 20 vaccines for COVID-19 are in development around the world and that clinical trials are underway. (The Times of Israel)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
    - China reports zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for a third consecutive day. (South China Morning Post)
    - China sends masks and medical experts abroad to aid countries affected by COVID-19. (ABC News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in East Timor
    - East Timor confirms its first case of COVID-19. (New Strait Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports 18 imported cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oceania
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji confirms its second case of COVID-19. (FBC News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Mauritius
    - Mauritius reports its first death from COVID-19. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Angola
    - Angola reports its first confirmed cases of COVID-19, two male Angolan nationals who recently returned from Portugal. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Uganda
    - Uganda reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The patient is a 36-year-old Ugandan male who recently arrived in the country on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Dubai. (National Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    - Italy says an additional 793 people have died from COVID-19 in the country, bringing the death toll to 4,825. It is the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. (New York Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Finland
    - Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare reports the country's first death from COVID-19. (Yle)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Georgia (country)
    - Georgia declares a nationwide state of emergency due to COVID-19, effective until April 21. (Civil Georgia)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports an additional 324 COVID-19 deaths, the country's largest one-day increase. The country's death toll stands at 1,326, with 24,926 cases, the second highest in Europe. (The Independent)
    - Spain announces it is closing hotels in the country for the sake of converting them into hospitals, as local medical facilities are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. A military hospital will also be constructed in the capital Madrid. (Lailasnews) (Reuters)
    - Lorenzo Sanz, the former president of Real Madrid CF, dies after testing positive for COVID-19. (Evening Standard)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The British government orders all pubs, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, gyms and other social hubs to close down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (Reuters)
    - The United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care confirms 53 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to 233. All those who died had underlying health conditions and the oldest patient was 94-years-old, according to NHS England. (ITV News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Albania
    - Albania's government deploys troops to enforce a 40-hour nationwide curfew. Prime Minister Edi Rama says Albanians "will stay inside after 13:00", and that police and the armed forces "will use force against whoever breaks the law, including pensioners, and will use water canons and tear gas if need be." (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in France
    - France reports 112 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to 562. There are 1,525 people in severe condition with the virus, half of which are people under the age of 60. (France 24)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey's Ministry of the Interior imposes a curfew for people over the age of 65 and the chronically ill. (Daily Sabah)
    - Turkey's Ministry of Health reports that the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 21, with 947 confirmed cases. (Daily Sabah)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - Ketchikan, in Southeast Alaska, shelters in place after six people test positive for COVID-19 in the town of 8,000 residents. (KTUU-TV)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan says eight people have died from COVID-19. (MLive)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Chile
    - Chile's Ministry of Health reports its country's first COVID-19 death in an 83-year woman from Renca, Santiago. The country has more than 500 confirmed cases, the second-largest number in South America after Brazil. (Reuters)

International relations

North Korea–South Korea relations, North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- Yonhap News Agency reports that North Korea has fired two projectiles from Pyongan Province into the Sea of Japan. (Reuters) (BBC News)
North Korea–United States relations
- North Korea says that U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to express his willingness to work with him on dealing with COVID-19. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Washington, D.C.
- Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence test negative for COVID-19. (CNBC)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- Football player Wu Lei, a Chinese national based in Spain, tests positive for COVD-19. He says he is recovering from the virus. (Reuters)

March 20, 2020 (Friday)

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Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Japan, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - Japanese car manufacturer Nissan suspends production indefinitely at its major Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK plant in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, over the coronavirus pandemic. (Evening Chronicle)
  - The British government announces a stimulus plan to counter the socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, which includes the government paying a portion of citizens' wages. (Bloomberg News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The United States moves Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 due to the spread of the coronavirus. (CNN)
  - United Airlines announces it will cancel 95 percent of its international flights starting next month. (USA Today)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Argentina
    - Argentina begins a mandatory national quarantine until March 31, restricting people to their homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. People will only be allowed to leave their homes to shop for basic goods, like food and medicine, according to President Alberto Fernández. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Paraguay
    - The first death from COVID-19 is reported in Paraguay, a 69-year-old man who had been hospitalized in intensive care, while the total of those infected rises to 18. (The New York Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - The death toll from COVID-19 in Spain exceeds 1,000 while the total number of those infected reaches 20,000. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - NHS England increases the United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll to 184. The patients who died were aged between 50 and 99 and had underlying health conditions. (Sky News) ITV News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Poland
    - Poland declares a 'state of epidemic' amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces at a press conference late on Friday. Two-week suspension of schools, introduced earlier this month, would be extended until after the Easter holidays. The government announces that fines for anyone breaking coronavirus quarantine increase from the current PLN 5,000 up to PLN 30,000 (EUR 6,600, USD 7,050). (Radio Poland) (Politico)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oceania
  - Papua New Guinea reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a male patient from Spain currently being isolated in Lae. The country will also close its borders. (Papua New Guinea Today) (Radio New Zealand)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in Hubei, 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
    - China reports zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for a second consecutive day. (The Hill)
    - The World Health Organization says China reporting zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for two days in a row should "give the world hope." (SBS World News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - The Sri Lankan government imposes a nationwide curfew to contain COVID-19. Mosques across the nation are closed. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Israel
    - Israel reports its first death from COVID-19, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor with pre-existing health conditions. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Times of Israel)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
    - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education says the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 1,433, and confirms 1,237 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 19,644 and 1,433 deaths. (Anadolu Agency)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines
    - Disinfection begins in La Trinidad, the capital of the Philippines province Benguet, in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Sun.Star)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
    - The United Arab Emirates announces its first two deaths from COVID-19. (The New York Times)
    - Dubai Municipality begins an 11-day sterilization campaign in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Gulf News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Cuba
    - In an effort to further prevent the spread of COVID-19, Cuba announces a ban on tourism and most air travel, starting Tuesday. This restriction does not apply to citizens and residents. (Miami Herald)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Illinois
      - Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all Illinoisans except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (WMAQ-TV)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York
      - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all New Yorkers except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (CNN)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Connecticut
      - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all Connecticuters except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (United Press International)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - A fourth death from COVID-19 is reported in Michigan, a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions in Oakland County. (MLive)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Arizona
      - Arizona records its first death from COVID-19, a Maricopa County man in his 50s with underlying health conditions. (KPNX)
    - The Donald Trump administration announces it will limit nonessential travel between the United States and Mexico. (CNN)
    - The Washington Post reports that U.S. intelligence agencies repeatedly warned President Trump about the threats posed by COVID-19 in January and February, but administration officials say they "just couldn't get him to do anything about it." (The Washington Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Madagascar
    - Madagascar confirms its first cases of COVID-19. (National Post)

Law and crime

Capital punishment in India
- India executes four men convicted of the 2012 Delhi gang rape. (Reuters)
Cannabis in Ghana
- The parliament of Ghana votes to legalize the medical and industrial use of cannabis. (GhanaWeb)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- 2020 Summer Olympics
  - International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach says that canceling the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic "is not on the agenda," but says it is too early to make a decision. (The New York Times)

March 19, 2020 (Thursday)

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Arts and culture

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on television
  - Actor Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
The wreckage of the USS Stickleback is discovered on the Hawaii Island of Oahu. (Live Science)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- Domino's Pizza is expected to hire 10,000 delivery drivers in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the pandemic, numerous government officials have banned restaurant customers from using dining rooms. (The Hill)
- Jet's Pizza is hiring hundreds of employees for its delivery service in 20 states to keep up with demand during the coronavirus pandemic. (MLive)
- Meijer, whose stores are usually open 24 hours, announces it will decrease its business hours to 8am–10pm local time starting tomorrow to allow for cleaning and restocking. (MLive)
- U.S. Senate Republicans unveil a $1 trillion economic stimulus package proposal to aid businesses and the American public during the coronavirus pandemic. (CNN)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, tests positive for COVID-19. (Sky News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    - In Italy, the military is deployed to the city of Bergamo, Lombardy, the Italian city worst hit by COVID-19, to collect and transport the bodies of dead residents to crematoriums in other cities, as Bergamo’s authorities say their facilities can no longer process the large number of fatalities. The city's mayor Giorgio Gori says the true number of dead could be much higher than what's been reported. (Sky News)
    - The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Italy overtakes the number in China, as 3,405 are now confirmed dead due to the virus. (BBC News)
    - Marcello Natali, a doctor from Italy known for exposing the country's chronic shortage of medical supplies, dies from the coronavirus. The Italian Federation of General Practitioners confirms his death. (New York Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Northern Ireland confirms its first death from COVID-19, an elderly man with an underlying medical condition who was being treated at a hospital in Greater Belfast. (BBC News)
    - The COVID-19 death toll in the United Kingdom rises to 144. (ITV News)
    - The British government introduces the Coronavirus Bill 2019–21, which would grant it extensive discretionary emergency powers in managing the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
    - The British government puts 20,000 British Army reservists on standby to help with the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
    - Transport for London announces the closure of 40 train stations, including London Waterloo station and the Hammersmith & City line. (The Guardian)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Monaco
    - Albert II, Prince of Monaco, tests positive for COVID-19, becoming the world's first head of state to test positive for the virus. (Daily Mirror)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Spain's Ministry of Health says the country’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 767, with 169 more deaths and 3,431 new confirmed cases, for a total of 17,147 cases. (Gulf News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in Hubei, 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
    - China, in its daily National Health Commission report, lists no new domestic COVID-19 cases for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in Wuhan. (The Economic Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
    - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 149 more COVID-19 deaths and an additional 1,046 cases, bringing the death toll in the country to 1,284 and its total number of cases to 18,407. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oceania
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
    - Australia closes its borders to all non-Australian residents. (Reuters)
    - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says about A$100 billion will be injected into the Australian economy to support it during the coronavirus pandemic. (MSN)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a male patient in Lautoka. (The New Zealand Herald)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Russia
  - Russia reports its first death from COVID-19. Moscow city authorities say the victim was a 79-year-old woman with underlying health conditions. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpasses 10,000, with 13,229 confirmed cases. The death toll stands at 195. (CNN) (The Wall Street Journal)
    - The U.S. State Department warns American citizens not to travel abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic. (CNN)
    - Sean Payton, the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, says he has tested positive for COVID-19. (New York Post)
    - Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on education
      - While educational facilities close across the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education tells educators that online learning must comply with civil rights laws, including making sure learning tools are available to students. However, as not every student has access to the internet, many students will be unable to participate, prompting some public school systems to implement "enrichment" policies. Under these policies, coursework completed under online learning will not officially count towards advancing to the next academic term. (The Wall Street Journal)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in California
      - Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area announce shelter in place orders for all residents due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (San Francisco Chronicle)
      - Los Angeles County, California, announces a near-lockdown, urging residents to stay in their homes and to only go out in public for essential needs. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
      - California Governor Gavin Newsom issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all Californians except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (PBS NewsHour)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - Two more people die from COVID-19 in Michigan and the total number of cases in the state rises to 334. The two fatalities are identified as an 81-year-old and a woman in her 50s with underlying health conditions. (MLive) (MLive₂)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hawaii
      - Hawaii says that it will not allow the passengers of two cruise ships heading for its coast to disembark upon arrival due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, despite both ships reporting zero cases of COVID-19. (ABC News)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York
      - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city's COVID-19 death toll stands at 22, with 3,615 cases. (CNBC)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Florida
      - Florida Senator Rick Scott urges those visiting the state for spring break to stay away from public beaches to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. (Sun-Sentinel)
      - In an effort to prevent those visiting the state for spring break from gathering on beaches amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis institutes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines preventing large crowds and says "the party’s over." However, he stops short of closing all public beaches in the state, despite calls for him to do so. (New York Post)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Pennsylvania
      - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf orders all non-life-sustaining businesses in the state to close physical locations to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (WGAL)
      - The first COVID-19 death in Pennsylvania is reported, an adult from Northampton County. He was being treated at a hospital prior to his death. There were no specific details released on the patient or his health prior to contracting the virus. (WGAL)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)
      - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says he does not plan on ordering business to close or shutting down public events amid the coronavirus pandemic. (WJXT)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Mexico
    - Mexico reports its first death from COVID-19, a 41-year-old diabetic man. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Haiti
    - Haiti confirms its first two cases of COVID-19. (Voice of America)
    - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Haiti declares a state of emergency. All schools, universities, industrial parks and airports will be closed from midnight, while a nationwide curfew will be in force from 8pm to 5am. (Reuters)

International relations

Syria–United States relations
- U.S. President Donald Trump calls for the Syrian government to release journalist and veteran Marine Austin Tice, arguing the "U.S. has done a lot for Syria". (CBS News)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- U.S. Representative from Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard ends her presidential campaign in the 2020 presidential election and endorses former Vice President Joe Biden. (CNN)
2020 Vanuatuan general election
- Registered voters in Vanuatu head to the polls to elect members of parliament. (Radio New Zealand)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- The suspension of football games in England, including the Premier League and English Football League, is extended until at least April 30 due to the continued spread of the coronavirus. (BBC News)
- 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay
  - Despite calls for the cancelation of the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Greece hands the Olympic flame over to Japan in a ceremony without spectators. (Kyodo News Plus)
- 2019–20 NBA season
  - Three people employed by the Philadelphia 76ers test positive for COVID-19. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Los Angeles Rams release running back Todd Gurley from the team hours before a contract stipulation that would have required the Rams to pay Gurley $10.5 million goes into effect. (CBS Sports)
The Boston Red Sox announce that pitcher Chris Sale will be undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. As a result, Sale will miss the entire 2020 Boston Red Sox season. (Yahoo Sports)

March 18, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Arts and culture

Eurovision Song Contest 2020, List of major events affected by the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 is cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19. (The Guardian)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- List of major events affected by the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - The 2020 Glastonbury Festival, scheduled for June 24–28, is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - U.S. President Donald Trump suspends all foreclosures and evictions, and invokes the Defense Production Act to address shortages of supplies needed for responding to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. (NPR) (KTIV)
  - The U.S. Treasury Department says it will ask Congress for $500 billion in direct payouts for taxpayers in order to combat the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Under the current proposal, the payouts will consist of two tiered payments, with the amounts of each based on income level and family size. (NBC News)
  - Unemployment in the United States could reach 20 percent if sufficient action is not taken in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warns. (The Guardian)
  - The U.S. Senate approves the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, an emergency relief aid bill, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill will ensure that people who are employed in places with less than 500 employees will receive paid benefits while on leave. It also offers free testing for uninsured people and expands federal funding for medical coverage. (Essence)
  - President Trump signs the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law to provide economic relief to families affected by the coronavirus pandemic. (ABC News)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Salt Lake City earthquake
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 hits Salt Lake City, Utah, with several aftershocks reported and tens of thousands of residents left without power. The earthquake is the largest in the state since the 1992 St. George earthquake. (CNN)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on education
  - More than 850 million students are not attending school due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to UNESCO. (Al Arabiya)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in The Gambia
    - The Gambia reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a female patient in her 20s who recently returned from the United Kingdom. The patient is in isolation at a clinic in Fajara. (Anadolu Agency)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Burkina Faso
    - Burkina Faso reports its first death from COVID-19, a 62-year-old diabetic woman. (Africanews)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Djibouti
    - Djibouti reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a member of Spain's Special Operations Groups who arrived at Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport on March 14. (CGTN Africa)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education says the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 1,135 following 147 more deaths. The total number of cases rises to 17,361. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    - In Italy, the coronavirus death toll rises to 2,978. A total of 35,713 people have the virus in the country. (Haaretz)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - All schools in Scotland and Wales are to close, effective March 19, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Sky News) (BBC News)
    - The COVID-19 death toll in the United Kingdom surpasses 100. (Manchester Evening News)
    - The United Kingdom advises its citizens vacationing in Spain to return home due to the coronavirus pandemic. (The New York Times)
    - The British government’s Department of Health and Social Care confirms an additional 676 cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain, 2020 Spain coronavirus lockdown
    - King Felipe VI of Spain addresses the nation in a special speech for the second time in his reign, and the sixth by a monarch in the democracy’s 40 years. Focusing on the coronavirus pandemic, he gives his appreciation for the work of health personnel and calls for a break in differences, stating that Spaniards can "defeat this crisis" through unification. (El País)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Portugal
    - Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declares a state of emergency, the first in the country in 45 years, due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Politico Europe)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in North America
  - The United States and Canada suspend nonessential travel between the two countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. (CBC News) (CNN)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
    - The United States reports its 150th death from COVID-19, with a total of at least 9,400 confirmed cases nationwide. (Yeni Şafak)
    - Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on education
      - In the United States, several K–12 school systems will keep their learning facilities physically closed for the remainder of the academic school year due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in 92,000 American schools across 39 states, and 42.1 million students and their families, transitioning to online learning, while some systems will not calculate grades at all. (Education Week) (CNN)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan reports its first death from COVID-19, as the state reaches 110 recorded cases. (WOOD-TV)
    - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Washington
      - COVID-19 cases in Washington exceed 1,000. (Fox News)
      - The U.S. Navy will deploy a hospital ship to New York City to aid in the response to COVID-19. (Business Insider)
      - A hospital ship will be deployed to the coast of Washington state by the U.S. Navy to assist in the response to COVID-19. (NPR)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
  - Turkey reports its second death from COVID-19, a 61-year-old male patient, while the number of confirmed cases rises to 191. (Hürriyet Daily News)

Law and crime

The Abortion Legislation Bill 2019 passes its third reading in the New Zealand House of Representatives, legalising abortion in New Zealand. (Stuff)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders says he will assess his presidential campaign after losing three more states (Florida, Illinois, and Arizona) to former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic primaries of the 2020 presidential election. Biden has 1,181 delegates, while Sanders has 885. The minimum required to win the nomination is 1,991. (The Hill) (CNN)
2020 Republican Party presidential primaries, Bill Weld 2020 presidential campaign
- Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld ends his presidential campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. (The New York Times)
2020 United States House of Representatives elections
- 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois
  - In a major upset in the 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Illinois, Democrat Marie Newman defeats conservative Democrat Dan Lipinski in Illinois's 3rd congressional district. (The New York Times)
Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on politics
- 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama
  - Alabama postpones its Republican Party Senate primary to July 14 due to coronavirus concerns. (The Hill)
- The White House postpones a state visit from Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia due to the coronavirus pandemic. (The Seattle Times)
- U.S. Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kosovo
  - Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti sacks Interior Minister Agim Veliu over disagreements regarding a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)

Science and technology

2020 in spaceflight
- SpaceX successfully launches and deploys 60 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 rocket, making a record fifth launch, misses the autonomous spaceport drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, crashing in the Atlantic Ocean. (Space)

Sports