Portal:Current events

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. (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)

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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

Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports
- 2020 AFL season, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia
  - The 2020 Australian Football League season opener between Richmond Football Club and Carlton Football Club will go on as planned despite the coronavirus outbreak. (BBC News)
2020 NFL season
- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leaves the team after 20 seasons and, pending contract stipulations, will sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (uSports)

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 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 publishes a study about the number of possible casualties, warning that it could reach millions of deaths if a full quarantine is not imposed. (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 Monaco
    - For first time in his reign, Albert II addresses to the Nation in a serious speech reporting on the strengthening of quarantine measures. (Monaco Matin)
- 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 nationwide. (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. Governor Jim Justice ordered restaurant dining rooms, bars, and casinos to close for two weeks. (CBS) (WSAZ)
  - 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 Illinois
    - The air traffic control tower at Midway International Airport in Chicago closes after several technicians employed there tested positive for COVID-19. Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center will control the airport and its airspace until cleaning is completed. (CNBC)
- 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)
- American singer Katy Perry wins a copyright infringement verdict regarding her Dark Horse song. (CBS 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. (Business Insider) (CNN)
- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wins all three states, increasing his delegate count to 1,180, while U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders now has 885. The minimum required to win the nomination is 1,991. (Business Insider) (CNN)
- Incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump wins enough delegates to clinch 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 tests 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 Russia
  - Russian government has decided to provisionally limit the entry of foreigners into Russia to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The rules will come to force on Wednesday and will last until May 1. Diplomats, those "residing permanently in Russia", along with some other categories e.g. crews of aircraft, international truck drivers and people who attend funerals are exempted. (RT)
- 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, 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)

More March 2020 events...

Time: 18:20 UTC|Day: 21 March