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Coronavirus pandemic

Reported cases of COVID-19 by country as of 17 March 2020

The World Health Organization recognises the coronavirus outbreak (map pictured) as a pandemic.
In cricket, the Women's T20 World Cup concludes with Australia defeating India in the final.
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara win the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

March 18, 2020 (Wednesday)

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March 17, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- The Italian government announces it will take over the flag carrier Alitalia airline as part of its emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Italy Local)
- British textile design company Laura Ashley plc collapses into administration, saying the coronavirus has had a "significant impact on trading". (iNews)
British multinational electrical and telecommunications retailer Dixons Carphone says it is closing all standalone Carphone Warehouse stores in the UK, with the loss of 2,900 jobs, as part of a company restructuring. The closures are not believed to be related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Pfizer signs a deal with BioNTech [Wikidata] to help develop a vaccine. (US News)
  - China gives go-ahead for human trials for a potential vaccine. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
  - 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
    - Wuhan, where the coronavirus originated, will require returnees to be quarantined for 14 days. (National Post)
    - China reports only one domestic case of COVID-19, but found 20 cases that were imported abroad. (The Jakarta Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Japan
    - The President of the Japan Football Association and deputy Olympic Committee chief Kozo Tashima tests positive for COVID-19. Japan insists the 2020 Summer Olympics will still go ahead as planned. (Business Recorder)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
  - A 37-year-old Woolworths employee is stabbed by a 25-year-old man in Rosebud, Victoria. The crime is believed to be related to mass panic buying across Australian supermarkets that has seen cases of violence between shoppers and staff members. (News.com.au)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia
  - Malaysia reports its first two deaths from COVID-19 as the total number of confirmed cases in the country rises to 673. The victims of the virus were a 60-year-old from Kuching and a 34-year-old from Johor. (The Straits Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Iran temporarily frees 85,000 prisoners, including political ones and British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country. A judiciary spokesman says all of those freed were serving less than five years in prison, while all other prisoners serving heavier sentences remain in jail. (Reuters)
  - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 1,178 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 135 more deaths, bringing the total to 16,169 cases and 988 deaths. (New Indian Express)
  - Sharif University published a study over number of possible casualities, warned it can reach millions of deaths if a full quarantine were not announced. (AP news)
  - Iran bans the traditional Persian fire festival Chaharshanbe Suri. (Outlook India)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - The European Union closes its external border for first time in its history. (CNN)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    - Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announces a 10 million euros donation to Lombardy to arrange a temporary 400-bed hospital at Milan trade fair. (ANSA)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 2,000 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 182 more deaths, raising the total to 11,178 cases and 491 deaths. The Balearic Islands regional government asks tourists to return home and closes airports and ports. (BBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina
    - Bosnia and Herzegovina declares a state of emergency over COVID-19. The Bosnian military is directed to set up tent quarantines on the border with Republika Srpska, which itself has declared a state of emergency. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Montenegro
    - Montenegro reports its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in two female patients who had recently returned from abroad. (U.S. News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil records their first death from COVID-19 in São Paulo state. (Nasdaq)
  - Hundreds of inmates escape from a prison in Mongaguá after rioting over new coronavirus restrictions. Riots and escapes are also reported at prisons in Mirandópolis, Porto Feliz and Tremembé with as many as 1,000 prisoners on the loose; at least 174 have been recaptured by police. (Metro)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The U.S. reports its 105th death from COVID-19 (54 of them in Washington state) with a total of at least 5,748 confirmed cases in two territories, Washington, D.C., and all 50 states. (CNN)
  - As of today, 91,000 American K–12 schools are closed in 39 states, affecting 41.6 million students and their families. (Education Week)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South Carolina
    - After 47 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the state, outgoing Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney goes under self-quarantine in South Carolina. (CBS News) (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan reports 11 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than yesterday, for a total of 65. (WZZM)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Alabama
    - Alabama reports a total of 39 cases of COVID-19 and announces the prohibition of gatherings of 25 people or more in six counties. (WSFA)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York confirms its 12th death from COVID-19, and 1,374 cases total, 432 more than yesterday. (The New York Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in West Virginia
    - West Virginia confirms its first case of COVID-19, becoming the last U.S. state to do so. (CBS)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Arizona
    - Several cities in Arizona declare states of emergency amidst the crisis, with Phoenix and Tucson closing all bars and switching restaurants to take-out only until further notice. (ABC15)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Delaware
    - Delaware confirms eight new presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total of such cases to 16. (WBOC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ontario
    - Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces a state of emergency, closing restaurants, day cares, and all schools. (Global News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
  - Turkey reports its first death from COVID-19, while the number of confirmed cases increases to 98. (Daily Sabah)

International relations

Accession of North Macedonia to NATO
- The Senate of Spain ratifies North Macedonia's accession protocol for NATO, becoming the last of NATO's 30 members to do so. The move formally paves the way for North Macedonia to join the military alliance. (Daily Sabah)

Law and crime

Hashem Abedi, the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Ramadan Abedi, is found guilty of 22 murders. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries
- Voters in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois go to the polls in their primary elections.
- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wins the Florida and Illinois Democratic primaries and is ahead in Arizona. (Business Insider) (CNN)
- President Donald Trump wins enough delegates to win the Republican nomination. (PBS)
- Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on politics
  - Maryland postpones its primary from April 28 to June 2, becoming the fifth state to do so. (CBS News)
  - Ohio was scheduled to vote today, but the election was postponed until June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The delay capped hours of confusion in which the election was called off by the state's governor, Mike DeWine, only for a judge to then rule that he did not have the authority to do so. The state's health director, Amy Acton, then called off the election on the grounds of a health emergency. (Columbus Dispatch) (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Politics of Belgium
- Sophie Wilmès is sworn in as Prime Minister of Belgium. Seven opposition parties have pledged to support the minority government—in its previous composition—with plenary power for three to six months to handle the coronavirus pandemic in Belgium. (Het Laatste Nieuws) (La Dernière Heure)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- UEFA postpones the Euro 2020 association football tournament until summer 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic in Europe. (Sky Sports)
- CONMEBOL postpones the Copa America 2020 association football tournament until 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Globo Esporte)
- The 2020 French Open tennis tournament is postponed until late September. (The New York Times)
- 2019–20 NBA season
  - Brooklyn Nets player Kevin Durant and three of his teammates test positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
2020 NFL season
- Longtime New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady announces he will not re-sign with the team, and will instead select free agency. (National Football League)

March 16, 2020 (Monday)

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Arts and culture

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on television, Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on cinema
  - Actors Idris Elba and Kristofer Hivju reveal they have both tested positive for COVID-19. (Fox News) (Variety)
Rock art in Iran
- An ancient petroglyph has been discovered in Central Iran. (Newsweek)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States; 2020 stock market crash
  - Asian markets fall substantially and European markets open with huge losses. S&P futures fall 5%, triggering a trading halt in response to the Federal Reserve's emergency measures. (ABC News)
  - The Dow closes 2,997 points or 12.9% lower - its largest daily points movement. (AP via Mercury News)
- Renault announces that it is halting all production at its industrial sites in France until further notice because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
- The 2020 Dayton Hamvention, the world's largest amateur radio convention, is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (The Shortwave Listening Post)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle begins testing a possible COVID-19 vaccine on 45 people. (KOMO-TV)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain, 2020 Spain coronavirus lockdown
    - Regional presidents of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and Catalonia, Quim Torra, test positive for COVID-19, as both regions are the most affected by the pandemic in the country. (RTVE)
    - The Spanish government takes control of all private hospitals to help the country's healthcare system cope with the virus pandemic. (Business Insider)
    - Basque and Galician elections, both scheduled for 5 April are postponed until the crisis is overcome. (El País)
    - The Ministry of the Interior closes all borders. (El País)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Greenland
    - Greenland reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, in Nuuk. (Ekstrabladet)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Finland
    - Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin declares a state of emergency and closes all schools until April 13 in response to the coronavirus. (YLE)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The first death from COVID-19 is confirmed in Wales. The 68-year-old patient was being treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. (BBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Armenia
    - Armenia declares a state of emergency lasting until April 14 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The emergency measures include the closure of all educational institutions, closing the borders with Georgia and Iran, banning gatherings with over 20 people, and postponing the 2020 Armenian constitutional referendum. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malta
    - Prime Minister Robert Abela announces the closing of all public locals but refuses to order a lockdown. (Times of Malta)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Andorra
    - The COVID-19 cases in Andorra amount to 14 after a rise of 9 on the day with the highest cases registered. Prime Minister also announces the stoppage of construction and industry for 8 days. (Diari d'Andorra) (Diari d'Andorra)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Monaco
    - Head of the Monegasque government Serge Telle testes positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Bahrain
  - Bahrain reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 65-year-old woman who returned from Iran last month. (Anadolu Agency)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Israel
  - Israel’s Health Ministry approves experimental treatment for COVID-19. (Jerusalem Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - Benin, Liberia, Somalia and Tanzania report their first confirmed cases of COVID-19. (National Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sudan
    - Sudan declares the emergency status. (Andalou Agency)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Grand Ayatollah Hashem Bathaie Golpayenagi dies two days after testing positive for COVID-19, as Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 129 more deaths from the virus. (Al Jazeera)
  - Economist and social activist Fariborz Raisdana also dies from coronavirus. (Tehran Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
  - Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs imposes a nationwide ban on all prayer gatherings in mosques. (Daily Sabah)
  - Turkey's Ministry of Health confirms 29 new cases, totalling to 47. (Daily Sabah)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The U.S. has 4,459 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of today, resulting in 86 deaths. West Virginia remains the only state with no confirmed cases. (CNN)
  - All K–12 schools are closed in 37 U.S. states as of today, affecting a total of 37.4 million students in 72,000 schools. (Education Week)
  - The San Francisco Bay Area orders a shelter in place for six counties. (San Francisco Chronicle)
  - The governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington, and mayors of cities in other states, order the closure of all bars and restaurants and ban gatherings of 50 or more people in their states or cities in response to the pandemic. (CNBC) (WJBK) (Business Insider)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Netherlands
  - Prime Minister Mark Rutte becomes the first Prime Minister since 1973 to hold a rare televised address to the nation concerning the coronavirus pandemic. (Politico)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
  - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that Canada will close its borders to all foreign travelers due to the pandemic, effective on Wednesday. Exceptions will be made for air crews, diplomats, immediate family members, and U.S. citizens. Only four airports will continue to receive international flights: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montréal–Trudeau, and Calgary. Domestic flights and flights from the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, as well as foreign commerce and trade, will not be affected. (Global News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines
  - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declares a Luzon-wide "enhanced community quarantine" during the second day of the already community quarantined Metro Manila. (GMA News)
  - Philippine Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri becomes one of the 142 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines after his test results return positive. (CNN Philippines)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the Sagamihara stabbings
- A court in Japan sentences Satoshi Uematsu to death for one of the country's worst mass murders, in which he killed 19 disabled people. (BBC)
The Constitutional Court of Russia approves amendments to the Constitution proposed by President Vladimir Putin. (The Moscow Times)
A man shoots six people, killing four and himself, at a gas station in Springfield, Missouri. (The Hill)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Joe Biden is declared winner of the Washington Democratic primary. (Politico)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- 2020 Major League Baseball season
  - Major League Baseball announces that the season will be postponed indefinitely, after the recommendations from the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. (Major League Baseball)
- The National Junior College Athletic Association cancels the remainder of all winter seasons, plus the spring seasons, for all sports. (MLive.com)
- WrestleMania 36
  - WWE announces that this year's edition of its flagship event, WrestleMania, will be moved from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, Florida, to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, without a live crowd. (Wrestling Observer)
- 2020 NFL Draft
  - The 2020 NFL draft will go on in April despite the coronavirus, but with new changes. (Boston Herald) (NBC Sports)

March 15, 2020 (Sunday)

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Arts and culture

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Mexico
- Fans attend the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City despite coronavirus concerns. (AP News)

Business and economy

2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- In an emergency move, less than two weeks after the previous unscheduled intervention, the Fed drops its benchmark rate a full percentage point. It announces a $700 billion quantitative easing program, sets reserve requirements for thousands of banks to zero and lowers other lending rates. The set of measures appears as its biggest ever in a single day. (CNBC)

Disasters and accidents

A pipeline explosion causes a fire and destroys dozens of buildings in Lagos, Nigeria, killing at least 15 people. (Reuters)
European migrant crisis
- Malta's Navy rescues 112 migrants from a sinking boat in the Mediterranean Sea. (New York Times)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Uzbekistan
  - Uzbekistan confirms the Central Asian country's first case of COVID-19, an Uzbek citizen who had recently returned from France. All schools, colleges and universities are ordered to close for three weeks, while all public events are cancelled. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
  - The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Italy jumps to 24,747, while the death toll rose to 1,809 people. (Corriere della Sera)
  - Noted Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti dies in Milan, at age 92, after contracting coronavirus. (Corriere della Sera)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - The Republic of the Congo reports its first case of coronavirus, a 50-year-old man who arrived in the country on a Ethiopian Airlines flight from Paris. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 1,209 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 113 more deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date, bringing the total to 13,938 confirmed cases and 724 deaths. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kazakhstan
  - Kazakhstan declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic. The presidential decree from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev imposes a national quarantine and restricts both entry and departures from the country to all except diplomats and individuals invited by the government. (RFE/RL)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Argentina
  - President Alberto Fernández reinforces security at the borders and bans all travelers from hard-hit countries that spent at least 14 days there. In addition, he says he is considering a national quarantine and suspension of school classes. (Buenos Aires Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Israel, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Palestine
  - The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf announces the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock to upend contamination of the holy sites from COVID-19. (Al Jazeera)
  - The corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, originally slated to open on March 17, has been delayed to May 24 due to restrictions on public gatherings enacted to stop coronavirus spread. (New York Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports its first death from COVID-19, a 75-year-old man. (Index)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care reports 232 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14 more deaths. The UK government says a "wartime-style" mobilisation will be enforced in the coming weeks to tackle the virus. (ITV)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain, 2020 Spain coronavirus lockdown
    - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 2,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 105 more deaths, as the country enters a nationwide lockdown. (Business Recorder)
    - Pere Aragonès, Vice President of Catalonia, confirms via Twitter he tested positive for the virus. (Europa Press)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Government closes down all schools and Horeca establishments, and the Royal Dutch Football Association suspends all football matches until April 6. (DutchNews)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Austria, 2020 Tyrol coronavirus lockdown
    - Günther Platter, the governor of the Austrian state of Tyrol, announces a statewide lockdown set to last for one week, out of concerns of the coronavirus. (The Boston Globe)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Germany
    - Germany closes its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg. (BBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Slovenia
    - Slovenia closes all schools indefintely and suspends public transport effective midnight as COVID-19 cases rise to 219. (Total Slovenia News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
  - Canada's public health agency posts an advert for nurses, citing "an urgent need". Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he does not rule out the possibility of closing the borders. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a recommendation to suspend gatherings of 50 or more people for the next two months. (NPR)
  - The governors of five states: California, Ohio, Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts, order bars and restaurants to close in response to the pandemic. (USA Today)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ohio
    - The Ohio Department of Health reports it now has 37 cases of COVID-19 in the state. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio orders the city's public schools close until April 20. (New York Daily News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reports the state now has 20 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than yesterday, for a total of 53. (WXYZ-TV)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Arkansas
    - Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announces the closing of all public schools in the state beginning March 17 over coronavirus concerns. (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Turkey
  - Turkey's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun reports 12 new confirmed cases, totalling 18. (Daily Sabah)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Guatemala
  - Guatemala reports the country's first death from the coronavirus, an 85-year-old man who had recently returned from Spain. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2020 Democratic Party presidential debates
- The first one-on-one debate of the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries takes place between former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders in Washington, D.C., instead of Arizona as originally scheduled and without an audience as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
2020 Georgia Democratic primary
- Georgia postpones its primary elections to May 19 after 66 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state. (ABC News)
The Royal Household of Spain announces that the King has refused the heritage of his father after emeritus King Juan Carlos I had been involved in a tax haven scandal and money-laundering. His public fund is also withdrawn. (La Vanguardia)

Science and technology

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aborts takeoff shortly after igniting its engines. (CBS News)

Sports

2020 NFL season
- National Football League players vote to ratify a proposed CBA rule that changes the NFL regular season to seventeen games and the playoff format to seven games. (USA Today)

March 14, 2020 (Saturday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Maghreb insurgency
- Canadian national Édith Blais and her Italian partner Luca Tacchetto are found alive in Mali after escaping from their captors. The pair were abducted in Burkina Faso on December 15, 2018. (CBC)
Gulf crisis, Camp Taji attacks
- A second rocket attack this week hits the Camp Taji base in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq, wounding three United States troops. (ABC News)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Apple Inc. is closing all its stores outside China for two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to its CEO Tim Cook. (The Guardian)
- Solomon Islands bans all travelers from China, South Korea and Japan. Health minister Dickson Mua also says that the country has suspended flights to Brisbane, Australia, and banned all civil servants from overseas travel in an effort to contain COVID-19. (RNZ)
- In Texas, major grocery chain H-E-B limits its store hours to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., closing early in an effort to maintain product availability and restock empty shelves. (KVUE)
- American Airlines says it will suspend long haul international flights from March 16 until May 6. (Yahoo! News)
- Walmart says all of its stores will reduce their hours to 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. local time until further notice in response to the pandemic. Several other chains have already done so. (CNN)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - A group of researchers in the Netherlands have found antibodies that can be used to combat COVID-19. (NL Times)
  - Scientists from Imperial College London say that a vaccine could be tested soon. (The Independent)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
  - Javier Solana, former Secretary General of NATO and former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has been hospitalized since Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19. (US News)
  - Spain's Ministry of Health reports more than 1,500 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a single day, including over a thousand in the capital Madrid. (Euronews)
  - Jet2.com planes return to the United Kingdom after the airline cancelled flights to Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. (BBC)
  - María Begoña Gómez Fernández, spouse of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, tests positive for coronavirus. (El Confidencial) (Reuters)
  - 2020 Spain coronavirus lockdown
    - Spain officially places the entire country in a lockdown for two weeks after declaring a Status Alarm the day before. (Washington Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Iran reports 1,365 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 97 more deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date, bringing the total to 12,729 confirmed cases and 611 deaths. (Gulf News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Africa
  - Namibia reports its first two cases of COVID-19. President Hage Geingob says he imposes a travel ban to and from Qatar, Ethiopia and Germany for 30 days. (Reuters)
  - Rwanda confirms the country's first case of coronavirus, an Indian citizen who arrived in the country on March 8 from Mumbai. (The New Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - A newborn baby tests positive for COVID-19 at North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton, London, becoming the youngest known victim of the disease in the United Kingdom. The child's mother has also tested positive for the disease. (The Guardian)
  - NHS England reports 10 more deaths from the coronavirus, doubling the number of deaths in the UK to 21. All patients were aged over 70 and had underlying health conditions. (Daily Standard)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Indonesia
  - Budi Karya Sumadi, the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, tests positive for COVID-19. (Antara News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy, 2020 Italy coronavirus lockdown
  - Italy's Ministry of Health reports 250 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. The Mayor of Bergamo Giorgio Gori says churches are now being used to store dead bodies as the city's morgues are full. (Sky News)
  - Air pollution in Northern Italy drops following the coronavirus lockdown. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Syria
  - Syria's government closes all schools and cancels public events until April 2, to prevent the spread of the virus. Syrian Minister Imad al-Azab rejects claims the government is covering up cases and says the new measures are "precautionary". (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - U.S. President Donald Trump confirms he has been tested for COVID-19, after coming into contact with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's Press Secretary last week, who has been diagnosed with the disease. President Trump's results were negative. (USA Today) (CNBC)
  - A total of 16 U.S. states have closed all of their schools as of this date. (USA Today)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reports his state has confirmed 613 cases of COVID-19, with two deaths today. (WPIX) (WNBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in California
    - Contra Costa County bans gatherings over 100 people, effective March 15. This is more than twice as strict as Governor Gavin Newsom's ban of crowds of 250 or more people earlier in the week. (San Jose Mercury News)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan reports eight more confirmed cases of COVID-19 since yesterday, for a total of 33. (WDIV)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)
    - After 66 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp declares a public health emergency. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Colorado
    - In an unprecedented move, Colorado Governor Jared Polis orders the closure of all downhill ski areas for a week, citing coronavirus concerns. (The Colorado Sun)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Morocco
  - Abdelkader Aamara, Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics and Deputy tests positive for COVID-19. (Straits Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand
  - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposes a 14 day mandatory quarantine to everyone arriving in New Zealand, including diplomats, tourists and returning citizens, but excluding those coming in from Pacific Island nations, and bans all cruise ships from entering the nation until at least June 30. (News.com.au)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in San Marino
  - The Government of the Republic of San Marino orders a nationwide quarantine until April 6. (San Marino RTV)

Politics and elections

2020 United States presidential caucuses in the Northern Mariana Islands, 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders wins the Northern Mariana Islands Democratic caucuses. (CNN)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- The Bath Half Marathon is expected to go as planned despite the coronavirus. (BBC)
- 2020 in UFC
  - The Ultimate Fighting Championship events will go as planned despite the coronavirus. (SFGate)
- 2020 XFL season
  - A player on the Seattle Dragons tests positive for the coronavirus. (Sports Illustrated)
- 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in Hubei
  - Wuhan Zall F.C. is expected to leave Spain and return to Wuhan, where the coronavirus was originated. (ESPN)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States, 2019–20 NBA season
  - Detroit Pistons power forward Christian Wood reportedly tests positive for COVID-19. (WEYI-TV)

March 13, 2020 (Friday)

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Arts and culture

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in France
  - The Louvre museum in Paris closes until further notice. (U.S. News & World Report)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Nepal
  - The Nepalese government suspends climbing of Mount Everest for tourists and halts visas for visitors until April 30. (BBC)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Delta Air Lines says it will cancel all flights to Europe for the next 30 days. (Forbes)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- Uzbekistan suspends flights to and from France, Spain, and Great Britain. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
  - Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is diagnosed with COVID-19, after travelling to the United States earlier in the month. (Brisbane Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kazakhstan
  - Kazakhstan reports its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19; both are Kazakh nationals who recently returned from Germany. (U.S. News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Bulgaria
  - Bulgaria declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus. As part of the emergency measures, all schools and universities will be closed, all Bulgarian Football Union matches suspended and police will be given special powers for quarantine enforcement. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
  - Queen Letizia suspends her agenda and self-isolates for an expected two weeks after meeting with an infected Minister. Both the King and Queen have tested negative. (El País)
  - For second time in democratic history and the first time of such magnitude, the Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez decrees the Alarm Status in all the country, invoking article 116.1 of the Constitution, for 15 days. (Politico)
  - Catalan and Balearic Islands Governments implore national government help to lockdown both regions. (RTVE)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Czech Republic
  - The Czech Republic declares a state of emergency and announces the closure of its borders to all foreigners starting from midnight on March 16, while Czech citizens will no longer be allowed to leave the country for at least 30 days. (Prague Morning)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran
  - Iran's police, security council and interior ministry will empty the streets of people in the next 24 hours in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Morocco
  - Morocco closes its border with Spain. (La Vanguardia)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Brazil
  - President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro tests negative for the disease, and decries news outlets that reported he had received an initial positive test result. (Time)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ukraine
  - Ukraine's Ministry of Healthcare reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 71-year-old woman from Radomyshl. (Kyiv Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Guinea
  - Guinea confirms its first case of COVID-19, an EU employee traveling to Conakry. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sudan
  - Sudan confirms its first case and death from COVID-19, a man in his 50s who had recently visited the United Arab Emirates. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ethiopia
  - Ethiopia confirms its first case of COVID-19, a 48-year-old Japanese woman coming from Burkina Faso. (Ethiopia Ministry of Health)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in France
  - Guadeloupe confirms its first case of COVID-19, a 36-year-old woman returning from a cruise with relatives who recently visited Metropolitan France. (RCI)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kenya
  - Kenya confirms its first case of COVID-19, a 27-year-old Kenyan woman travelling from the United States through London. (Capital News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan
  - Pakistan closes all land borders, shuts down schools for three weeks, limits international flights, and discourages any large public gatherings in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (National Post)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Oman
  - Oman suspends tourist visas, sporting events, and non-class student activities to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Gulf Business)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Venezuela
  - Venezuela suspends all incoming flights from Europe, supends all student activities and public gatherings to slow the spread of the coronavirus after the first two cases in the country were confirmed by the vice president. (Runrun.es)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Guatemala
  - Guatemala confirms its first case of COVID-19, is a Guatemalan who returned from Italy. (Prensa Libre)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
  - Quebec company Medicago announces it has found a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and hopes to begin human testing this summer. (Global News)
  - Canada will suspend sessions of Parliament until at least April 20. (Politico)
  - Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's symptoms remain "mild" after testing positive COVID-19. (People)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - U.S. President Donald Trump declares a national emergency in response to the pandemic. This will allow up to $50 billion of federal money for relief efforts. (CNBC)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Illinois
    - After 32 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Illinois, Governor J. B. Pritzker bans gatherings of 1,000 or more people for 30 days. (Chicago Tribune)
  - Four hundred United States National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are activated in six states to help contain the coronavirus: Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island and Washington. (The Hill)
  - After 41 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf orders all K–12 schools to close from March 16–29. (WPVI)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan confirms it now has 25 cases of COVID-19, more than double than reported the previous day. (Michigan Radio)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Colorado
    - 72 confirmed cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Colorado, while the state's first death from the virus, identified as an 80-year-old woman, has been reported in El Paso County. (The Colorado Sun)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Connecticut
    - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont orders the closing of all schools for at least two weeks, beginning March 16. (WVIT)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Delaware
    - Delaware Governor John Carney orders the closing of all public schools in the state due to coronavirus concerns. (WBOC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Andorra
  - The Prime Minister Xavier Espot announces in a special public appearance that orders the closure of all public establishments except basic stores, pharmacies and gas stations during two weeks. (Diari d'Andorra) (Govern d'Andorra)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Romania
  - After Senator Vergil Chițac [ro] tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first Romanian high-ranking official with the disease, interim government headed by Prime Minister Ludovic Orban self-isolates for 14 days. (Euronews)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kosovo
  - Kosovo reports its first two cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Poland
  - Poland declares a state of epidemic emergency late on Friday, bans all foreigners from entering the country, and Polish citizens returning from abroad will be placed under a 14-day quarantine. The country closes all restaurants, pubs, clubs and casinos. From March 14, gatherings of more than 50 people will be banned. From March 15, international air and rail connections will be suspended. (Radio Poland)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Cyprus
  - President Nikos Anastasiadis, in a special televised appearance, announces the closing of all borders except for nationals for 15 days since 15 March. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand, aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings
  - Ahead of the one-year anniversary of two far-right terror attacks on mosques in Christchurch that killed 51 people, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces the cancellation of a national remembrance service as a precaution due to the coronavirus. (The Guardian)

Politics and elections

Politics of Greece
- Katerina Sakellaropoulou is sworn in President of Greece in the Hellenic Parliament and becomes the first woman to hold the office, succeeding Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Amid the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Greece, she suspends the protocol ceremony for the inauguration scheduled for Saturday 14 and no handshakes are allowed. (ABC News) (US News)
2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- 2020 Louisiana Democratic primary
  - After 36 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Louisiana, Secretary of State R. Kyle Ardoin postpones its primary elections from April 4 until June 20. (CNBC) (KATC)
- Florida, Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio will proceed having Democratic Party primaries despite the coronavirus outbreak. Ohio Democratic Party chairman David Pepper said that the Ohio primaries will go on as planned. (Straits Times) (The Hill)

Science and technology

Planets beyond Neptune
- Astronomers discover 139 new "minor planets" in the Solar System that are beyond the orbit of Neptune, which helps boost odds of finding Planet Nine. (NBC News)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- 2020 Formula 1 season
  - Formula 1 officially cancels the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, then later announces the postponement of the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix. (RACER) (Formula 1)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - The Premier League holds an emergency meeting after Arsenal F.C. manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea F.C. player Callum Hudson-Odoi both test positive for COVID-19. The current season is suspended until April 3, along with the English Football League and FA Women's Super League. (The Guardian) (TalkSPORT)
- 2020 Masters Tournament
  - Augusta National Golf Club postpones the 2020 Masters Tournament. (ESPN)
- 2020 IndyCar Series
  - IndyCar, the organizer of the IndyCar Series, cancels all events through the end of April. (Road & Track)
- 2020 Boston Marathon
  - Mayor Marty Walsh announces that the 124th annual running of the Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 20, will take place on Monday, September 14 instead. (New York Times)

March 12, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Arts and culture

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia, Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on cinema
  - Actor Tom Hanks reports that he and his wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after visiting Australia where he was filming Elvis. (The New York Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York (state), Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on American television
    - It is announced that all Broadway theatres will go dark until the week of April 13, by order of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The ban also affects several television shows which film with live audiences in New York City. (Playbill) (The New York Times)

Business and economy

Black Thursday; socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- All three major United States trading indexes fall 7% during early trading, leading to a 15-minute trading halt. They all closed over 9% down. (Business Insider)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls by 10%, the largest one-day percentage drop since Black Monday in 1987. (CNBC)
- Spain's IBEX 35 falls 14%, its worst drop in history in a single day. The UK FTSE falls by 11%, the German DAX and French CAC 40 by 12% and Italy's MIB by 17%. (El Comercio)
OMV, the giant Austrian oil and gas concern, is selling $2.3 billion in assets to buy a majority interest in Borealis AG, which will make it a major player in the production of polymers. (Reuters)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India
  - India's first COVID-19 death is confirmed in Karnataka. (Hindustan Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
  - The number of confirmed cases in Italy climbs to 15,113, while the death toll rose to 1,016. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Poland
  - Poland suspends all schools and universities, closes all theatres, operas, cinemas and museums for two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mass events are also banned, and the Polish Football Association announces that the two friendly matches scheduled later this month with Finland and Ukraine will be played behind closed doors. (PAP) (Daily Mail)
  - Poland reports the country's first death from COVID-19 in the city of Poznań. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Greece
  - Greek authorities reports its first death, a 66-year-old pilgrim who visited Israel and Egypt last month. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Cuba
  - Cuba has confirmed its first three cases of COVID-19. (Miami Herald)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain
  - Spain's Ministry of Health reports 828 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 36 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to 84. (News18)
  - Irene Montero, Minister of Equality and Deputy, tested positive for coronavirus. Her domestic partner, Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Pablo Iglesias, self-isolates and all the government undergo tests. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also undergo tests after the Queen was in contact with Montero on March 6. (El Mundo)
  - The Catalan government orders the confinement of the city of Igualada and the towns of Vilanova del Camí, Òdena and Santa Margarida de Montbui after Igualada Hospital became a contagion focus. This first measure in Spain will affect 70,000 people during 14 days. (El País)
  - Spanish Minister of Territorial Policy and Civil Service Carolina Darias and Santiago Abascal, Deputy and leader of the third political force Vox, had tested positive in the disease. (ABC.es)
  - The closure of schools and universities extends to the entire country for two weeks affecting 9.5 million students. (El Mundo)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Lithuania
  - The Vilnius City Municipality announces that from March 13 until the end of the Easter holidays all educational facilities in the city will remain closed to contain the spread of the virus. (LRT)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ireland
  - Ireland suspends all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until March 29 in response to the coronavirus, while indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled until further notice, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. (The Irish Times)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Austria
  - Austria reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 69-year-old man in Vienna. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Slovakia
  - Slovakia orders the closure of all its borders to non-residents, while closing all international airports and schools to prevent the spread of the virus. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines
  - President Rodrigo Duterte announces "community quarantine" in Metro Manila, Philippines, implementing travel restrictions to and from the metropolitan area. (GMA News)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada
  - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire self-isolate after she shows flu-like symptoms. They are both tested for the COVID-19, with Sophie later testing positive. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Andorra
  - Andorran authorities confirms the second case in the country. (El Periòdic)
  - The Government announces that it will close all schools from March 16. (Diari d'Andorra)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Washington, D.C.
    - After 10 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Washington, D.C., the U.S. government closes the White House, the Capitol building, and the U.S. Supreme Court Building to visitors until the end of the month. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Washington (state)
    - Washington Governor Jay Inslee closes all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties until April 24. (The News Tribune)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declares a state of emergency. (The New York Times)
  - United States Senators Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz announce that they will temporarily close their offices. (The Hill)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in California, impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on American television
    - California Governor Gavin Newsom bans gatherings of more than 250 people. The ban puts several television shows filmed in the Los Angeles metropolitan area with live audiences on hiatus. (New York Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
    - After 12 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer orders all K–12 schools in the state to close from March 16–April 5 as well as banning gatherings of over 250 people. (MLive.com)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ohio
    - After five cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine orders all K–12 schools to close from March 16–April 5. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Arkansas
    - Five more presumptive cases of COVID-19 are reported in Arkansas, prompting Governor Asa Hutchinson to order school closings in four counties. (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Colorado
    - The University of Colorado Boulder confirms its first presumptive case of COVID-19, identified as an employee who worked in the dining center. (Boulder Daily Camera)
    - School districts across the state close due to coronavirus concerns. (The Denver Post)
  - 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Delaware
    - Delaware Governor John Carney declares a state of emergency and recommends the cancellation of all non-essential public gatherings of over 100 people. (WBOC)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Bolivia
  - Interim President of Bolivia Jeanine Áñez announces the suspension of all flights to Europe from March 14. (EFE)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malta
  - Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela calls for the closing of all educational centers for one week from March 13. (Times of Malta)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Portugal
  - Portuguese Government calls for the closure of all schools and night clubs. (USNews)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Israel
  - The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces it is working on a vaccine. (Haaretz)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - The first case of COVID-19 is found in the Cayman Islands. (Loop Cayman)
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Armenia
  - Armenian Government orders the shut down of all schools until 23 March. (Armen Press)

Politics and elections

2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States
- Mitch McConnell announces that the United States Senate will not have recess to work on a bill to contain the coronavirus. (CNN)

Sports

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- The NCAA, which had previously ordered that all of its winter championship events, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, would be played with no spectators, cancels all championship events until the 2020–21 academic year. This affects more than 70 of the NCAA's 90 championship events in all three of its competitive divisions. (NCAA)
- The YMCA Short Course Nationals swim meet is canceled in the United States for the first time since 1947. (Swim Swam)
- 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay
  - The Olympic torch relay begins in Olympia, Greece, without public attendance. (CTV News)
- The 12 Hours of Sebring is postponed until November 11–14. This follows an announcement that the companion event 1000 Miles of Sebring would be cancelled. (Road & Track) (RACER)
- 2019–20 NHL season
  - The National Hockey League announces the suspension of its season. (NHL)
- 2020 Major League Soccer season
  - Major League Soccer announces it will suspend its season for thirty days. (ESPN)
- 2020 Major League Baseball season
  - Major League Baseball announces the cancellation of all remaining spring training games and the delay of Opening Day of the regular season by at least two weeks. (MLB)
- 2020 LPGA Tour and 2019–20 PGA Tour
  - The LPGA announces that the first three events of its season—including the ANA Inspiration, the season's first major championship—have been postponed due to the coronavirus. (CBS Sports)
  - The PGA Tour cancels The Players Championship and the next three tour events. (New York Post)
- Chinese Professional Baseball League Commissioner John Wu announces that the opening game of the 2020 season will be postponed until 11 April. (FTV)