Portal:Current events/March 2020
March 2020 was the third month of that leap year. The month, which began on a Sunday, ended on a Tuesday after 31 days. The global COVID-19 outbreak was declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.
This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from March 2020.
March 1, 2020 (Sunday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian Civil War, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020), Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War
- Turkey launches an operation in Syria's Idlib Governorate codenamed Operation Spring Shield. (Daily Sabah)
- Two Syrian Air Force Su-24 jet aircraft are shot down by Turkish Air Force F-16s using air-to-air missiles over the Syria–Turkey border, while a Turkish drone is shot down by Syrian government forces in Idlib. (Reuters) (SOHR) (SOHR)
- Syrian state media says the Syrian Air Defense Force has downed three Turkish drones used to hit Syrian Army and air bases. (Reuters)
- Turkish drone and artillery strikes target Aleppo International Airport. (SOHR)
- Turkish drone strikes target the Hama Military Airport. (SOHR)
- Turkish drone strikes kill 19 Syrian Government troops in the past 24 hours, raising the total killed by Turkey in the past 3 days to 93 Syrian Government troops and 14 Hezbollah fighters. (SOHR)
- The Syrian Army launches an operation in the southern city of Al-Sanamayn, Daraa Governorate, after "armed militants" attempted to take over the majority-Sunni city. The operation is reportedly still ongoing as gunmen still hold western parts of the city. (Al-Masdar News)
- Afghan peace process
- Afghan president Ashraf Ghani rejects a clause in the U.S.–Taliban deal setting the release of Taliban prisoners ahead of intra-Afghan talks scheduled for March 10. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea halts religious services and closes churches as the infected toll surpass 3,700. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic confirms its first three cases.
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
- Scotland confirms its first case of COVID-19. (The Telegraph)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
- COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino
- San Marino reports its first death. (Corriere Romagna)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
- A nursing home in Kirkland, Washington locks down due to fears of COVID-19. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
- Florida confirms its first two cases, and Governor Ron DeSantis declares a public health emergency. (WESH)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic
- The Dominican Republic confirms its first case. (Dominican Today)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- European migrant crisis, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–present)
- Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu says 76,358 migrants have left Turkey from Edirne Province as of this morning towards Europe. (Akşam)
- Greece deploys its military on the border with Turkey to prevent thousands of migrants from entering the European Union, and suspends all asylum applications for a month while also vowing to deport any migrants who enter Greek territory illegally. (The New York Times)
- Foreign relations of Syria
- Syria and Libya's Tobruk-based government led by Aguila Saleh Issa agree to establish diplomatic relations following a high level visit to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. Both governments agree to counter "Turkish aggression" in the region. (Xinhuanet)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Malaysian political crisis
- Muhyiddin Yassin is sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, succeeding Mahathir Mohamad. (CNA)
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg suspends his presidential campaign. (The New York Times)
- 2020 Tajik parliamentary election
- Parliamentary elections are held in Tajikistan. (The New York Times)
- Luis Lacalle Pou is sworn in as the new President of Uruguay and succeeds leftist Tabaré Vázquez. (Al Jazeera)
March 2, 2020 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Yemeni Civil War
- Houthi forces capture the city of Al Hazm, the capital of Al Jawf Governorate in Yemen. (Middle East Monitor) (Al Jazeera)
- Syrian Civil War, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)
- Syrian rebels backed by Turkey recapture four towns and villages from the Syrian government forces in Idlib, raising the number of towns and villages recaptured since February 24 to 30. (SOHR)
- Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes recapture the city of Saraqib four days after its capture by the rebels. (SOHR)
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Afghan peace process
- The Taliban say there will be no intra-Afghan talks if about 5,000 of their prisoners are not released. (Reuters)
- The Taliban announce the end of the period of reduction in violence. They say they will not attack foreign troops, but continue their operations against Kabul government troops. According to Belga news agency, it is unclear what the announcement means for the U.S.–Taliban agreement signed on February 29. (Belga via Het Laatste Nieuws)
- European migrant crisis
- Hellenic Police border guards open fire on migrants attempting to illegally enter Greece by crossing the border from Turkey, killing a Syrian man. (France 24) (Middle East Monitor)
- The Hellenic Army's IV Army Corps announces a 24-hour snap military drill on the border with Turkey, and warns civilians to stay away from the area. (Anadolu Angency)
- Moro conflict
- A soldier was killed and two injured after Islamic State-linked militants opened fire against them. Two terrorists were also killed. (Xinhua)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Japan Sumo Association announces its spring tournament in Osaka will take place with no spectators. (News On Japan)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounds 1,294 points to end its seven day decline. (CNN)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- Saudi Arabia reports its first case. (Arab News)
- Indonesia confirms its first case of the coronavirus. (Kompas) (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- Andorra reports its first case. (El Periódico) (Reuters)
- Portugal reports its two first cases. (Reuters)
- Russia reports its first case in Moscow. (Urdu Point)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
- Two dozen more cases are reported in the U.S., bringing the total number of infected Americans to 102. Four deaths also occur in the state of Washington, bringing the total death toll in the U.S. to six. Washington and Florida issue state emergencies. (CNN)
- Ecuador reports its first cases in Guayaquil. (Reuters)
- Morocco reports its first case. (Hespress)
- Tunisia confirms its first case. (The Punch)
- The Dominican Federation of Municipalities call for all mayors to remain vigilant with the threat of the coronavirus. (HOY DR)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- The United Kingdom and the European Union start post-Brexit trade talks. Last week, each side publicly set its negotiating mandate. (The Economist) (The Irish Times)
- Japan–North Korea relations
- North Korea fires two short-range projectiles from the coast of Wonsan before landing in the sea dividing the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japan's Defence Ministry says it had not detected any projectile landing in its territory and that no ship or aircraft in the area had been damaged. (The Guardian)
- Libyan peace process
- The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salamé resigns citing stress and health concerns. In a statement on Twitter, Salamé says he has been frustrated with foreign powers, particularly France and Russia for covertly backing Khalifa Haftar's forces in the civil war. (The Guardian)
Law and crime
- A hostage situation occurs at the V-Mall in San Juan, Philippines. The suspect, a disgruntled security guard, took about 60 to 70 people hostage and shot and injured another security guard. The crisis is resolved after ten hours, with the suspect being arrested following an official apology and the resignation of his bosses for alleged corruption. (CNN Philippines)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Dominican Republic municipal elections
- Industrial Associations Federation's president Ramón Porfirio Báez announces the election crisis is beginning to hurt the economy. (Dominican Today)
- Former Santo Domingo mayor Roberto Salcedo Sr. resigns from the government and the Dominican Liberation Party. (Dominican Today)
- 2020 Guyanese general election
- People of Guyana head to the polls to elect the members of their National Assembly. (AlJazeera)
- 2020 Israeli legislative election
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar suspends her presidential campaign, and joins fellow former contenders Pete Buttigieg and Beto O'Rourke in announcing their endorsement of Joe Biden. (The New York Times)
- MSNBC political anchor Chris Matthews resigns over criticism of making sexist comments and comparing Bernie Sanders' campaign to the Nazi invasion of France. (The New York Times)
March 3, 2020 (Tuesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian civil war, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020), Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War
- A Syrian Air Force L-39 jet aircraft is shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 near the Syria–Turkey border. (SOHR), (RT)
- Turkey says it will deploy its domestically-produced surface-to-air missile HISAR to Syria's Idlib Governorate next week. (Star)
- Syrian government sources say a Turkish drone was shot down by the Syrian Air Defense Force near Idlib; subsequent footage shared by the source shows drone to be a Bayraktar TB1. (Muraselon)
- Four Turkish soldiers are killed and seven are wounded in Tranbeh, west of Saraqeb by Syrian Army shelling; some are transferred to Turkish hospitals in Reyhanlı by helicopter. (SOHR) (SOHR)
- Twenty-six Syrian Army troops are killed by Turkish ground and drone strikes, raising the number of pro-Syrian government forces killed by Turkey in the past five days to 139. (SOHR) (SOHR)
- Second Libyan Civil War
- The GNA government says all flights from Mitiga International Airport, the only functioning airport in the capital Tripoli, will be shifted to Misrata Airport after Libyan National Army forces struck the airport with rockets. (Reuters)
Business and economy
- Australian news agency Australian Associated Press (AAP) announces it will be closing down at the end of June, after 85 years of operation. (AP)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- In an emergency move, its first since 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve cuts the federal funds rate by 0.5%, to a range between 1 and 1.25%. (Yahoo Finance)
- U.S. stocks extend their drop in response to the cuts. (The Wall Street Journal)
Disasters and accidents
- United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- Three tornadoes, two at least EF 3 in strength, rip through downtown Nashville and surrounding towns, killing 25 people. (WKRN) (USA Today)
- The state of Tennessee declares a state of emergency over the outbreak. (WBIR)
- John C. Tune Airport sustained major damage from the outbreak. (Fox News)
- President Trump announces he will visit Tennessee on Friday. (Washington Post)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea declares "war" on the coronavirus. (NBC)
- Myanmar turns a Silversea Cruises cruise ship away due to fears of coronavirus, a government spokesman says. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Japan announces it will cancel ceremonies marking the anniversary of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- Ukraine reports its first case. (Reuters)
- Spanish authorities announce that the first death from COVID-19 in the country occurred in Valencia on February 13. (El Mundo) (Reuters)
- Liechtenstein reports its first case. (Vaterland)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Iran says it will release 54,000 prisoners in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in overcrowded jails. Only inmates who test negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to leave prison and those sentenced to longer than five years will not be freed. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
- Two people who died in the Seattle area on February 26 are found to have died from COVID-19, bringing the total death toll in the state of Washington to nine. (NPR)
- A Twitter human resources official advises that Twitter employees work at home to prevent exposure to Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. He adds that telecommuting will be mandatory for employees based in the Twitter offices in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. (Sputnik)
- Argentina reports its first case. (Reuters)
- Chile confirms its first case of COVID-19 in the Maule region. (BioBio in Spanish)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- European migrant crisis
- Turkish interior minister says over 130,000 refugees have crossed into Greece in the past four days. (TRT Haber)
Law and crime
- A court in Kazakhstan orders the early release of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former CEO of state nuclear firm Kazatomprom, who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption in 2010. Upon his release he will have served more than 11 years in prison. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries
- Voters in 14 U.S. states and American Samoa go to the polls in this year's Super Tuesday. (Vox)
- Former Vice President Joe Biden is the night's big winner with victories in ten states, while Senator Bernie Sanders wins four and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wins American Samoa. (CNN)
March 4, 2020 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Afghan peace process
- The United States Armed Forces says it has carried out its first airstrike against the Taliban since a peace deal was signed in Doha, Qatar. (Al Jazeera)
- Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian Civil War
- The Syrian Air Defense Force engages "hostile objects" over the central Homs Governorate and southern Quneitra Governorate. Syrian state media says Israel is behind the attacks. (Israel National News) (RT)
Disasters and accidents
- United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- The National Weather Service reports 11 tornadoes touched down resulting in 25 confirmed deaths. Eighteen people remain unaccounted for. (CNN)
- 140 buildings were destroyed with thousands damaged. 44,000 people are without electric power. (WAFF)
- Mount Merapi in Java, Indonesia erupts, forcing the airport in Surakarta to close. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Wallis and Futuna turns away a German cruise ship due to fears of coronavirus, and says that it is studying the possibility of denying another ship entry. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Italy says all schools and universities will close from March 5 through March 15 to stop the spread of the virus, as the country confirms a total of 3,090 cases and 107 COVID-19-related deaths. (CNBC) (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain reports its second death in Basque Country, an 82-year-old man, as infected toll rises to more than 210. (El Mundo)
- Hungary confirms first two COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
- Slovenia confirms its first case of COVID-19. The patient had recently travelled home from Morocco, passing through Italy on the way, and is now in isolation at the Ljubljana University Medical Centre. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The first in-person use of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool is conducted, intended to reverse a genetic mutation causing Leber congenital amaurosis, a form of inherited blindness. (The Guardian)
International relations
- Canada–Iran relations, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752
- Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne urges Iran to allow access to the flight recorders of the Ukrainian passenger plane that was shot down in January. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- Egypt executes top Ansar al-Sharia militant Hisham al-Ashmawy, a former special forces officer who was convicted over several high-profile attacks, the country's military spokesman said. (Reuters)
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bans the use of electroshock devices for aversive conditioning on patients with mental disorders. The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Massachusetts, the last U.S. institution that still uses electroshock devices to punish patients, say they will challenge the federal ban in court. (AP)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- After a poor performance on Super Tuesday, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg suspends his presidential campaign and endorses former Vice President Joe Biden. (Fox News) (Reuters)
- Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro
- Avoiding questions about lower-than-expected GDP growth in his first year as President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro invites an impersonator to the restricted press section around the Planalto Palace to answer the questions in his stead. The comedian also distributed bananas (in reference to the name given in Brazil to the bras d'honneur) to the attending journalists. (Estado de S. Paulo)
- Government of Ukraine
- Oleksiy Honcharuk and his government are voted out by the Verkhovna Rada after less than six months in office. President Volodymyr Zelensky proposes Denys Shmygal as Prime Minister. (The Guardian)
March 5, 2020 (Thursday)
Arts and culture
- Egypt reopens the Pyramid of Djoser after a 14-year restoration. The pyramid is deemed the oldest stone structure of its size in the world. (ABC News)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- British airline Flybe collapses into administration with the loss of 2,000 jobs after failing to secure financial support. The airline says the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is partly to blame for its collapse. Flybe provided more than half of UK domestic flights outside London. (BBC News)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops again almost 1,000 points over coronavirus fears. (Fox Business)
Disasters and accidents
- United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- The National Weather Service confirms 13 tornadoes occurred. (USA Today)
- The tornado in Putnam County, Tennessee, is upgraded to an EF4, becoming the strongest tornado of the outbreak. (NBC News)
- The EF3 tornado that went through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties was confirmed on the ground for 53.4 miles (85.9 km), becoming the second longest path a tornado has taken in Tennessee. (Washington Post)
- Every person is accounted for at the end of the day, after three people were missing previously. Official death toll from the outbreak is 25. (USA Today)
- At least nine people, of whom four are children, are killed and 60 are injured when a fire at a bakery spreads to a crowded market in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (Reuters)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Officials in Republika Srpska reports the first case of COVID-19 in the country. (N1 BA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The Italian government postpones the constitutional referendum, originally scheduled for 29 March. (Reuters) (ANSA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The first death from COVID-19 is confirmed in England, after a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions dies at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, as the number of confirmed cases of the virus rises to over 100. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly member and former Ambassador to Syria, Hossein Sheikholeslam, dies after becoming infected with COVID-19. Iran suspends its parliament indefinitely. (Business Insider)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Law and crime
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- The International Criminal Court overturns on appeal a previous decision to block an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed by U.S. troops, the Taliban and the Afghan government. (BBC News)
- Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present)
- A court in Russian-controlled Crimea sentences a Jehovah's Witness to six-years imprisonment for activities of a banned extremist organization, part of a crackdown that activists say violates religious freedom. (Reuters)
- The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives passes a bill banning transgender females from women's sports. (Fox News)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Dominican Republic municipal elections, 2020 Dominican Republic protests
- The pots-and-pans protest continue in front of Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra where the meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the political parties was to take place. (Dominican Today)
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- After failing to win any states on Super Tuesday, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren suspends her presidential campaign, leaving Hawaii U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard as the only woman left in the race. (The New York Times) (Reuters)
March 6, 2020 (Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 6 March 2020 Kabul shooting
- At least 32 people are killed and 81 are injured when gunmen attack a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghan politician Abdullah Abdullah was present and escapes unharmed. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. (Reuters)
- Two suicide bombers on a motorcycle detonate their explosives near the United States embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, killing a policeman and wounding five others. (Middle East Eye)
Disasters and accidents
- United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- U.S. President Donald Trump approves a disaster declaration for all areas affected by the tornadoes. (WSMV Nashville)
- The National Weather Service concludes the EF3 tornado that went through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties in Tennessee was confirmed on the ground for 60.13 miles (96.77 km), becoming the second longest path a tornado has taken in Tennessee. (NWS)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- Bhutan confirms its first COVID-19 case. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- The Vatican City reports its first case. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
- Florida confirms its first two deaths from the coronavirus. (CBS News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma confirms its first case of COVID-19 in Tulsa County. (The Oklahoman)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- The Committee on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations condemns the government of the Cook Islands for criminalizing homosexual sex. (RNZ)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Guyanese general election
- Police in Georgetown, Guyana, surround the nation's election commission after there are accusations that the elections results were altered to help incumbent President David A. Granger win the election. (Reuters)
Science and technology
- SpaceX CRS-20
- SpaceX successfully launches a Dragon spacecraft in orbit to resupply the International Space Station. This marks the last launch of a Dragon spacecraft, soon to be replaced by Dragon 2, and the 50th successful recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage booster. (Space.com)
March 7, 2020 (Saturday)
Business and economy
- Lebanon says it will default on a eurobond repayment and pursue restructuring its debt. The country has never before defaulted. Lebanon's government debt is about 170% of its yearly gross domestic product. (The Guardian)
Disasters and accidents
- Collapse of Xinjia Express Hotel
- Twenty-two people are killed and more than 70 are injured when a tank truck, two buses and another vehicle collide in the road between Damascus and Homs, in Syria. (Reuters)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- Malta reports its first case of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- Bulgaria reports its first two cases. (Darik News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Nicola Zingaretti, the President of Lazio since 2013 and Secretary of the Democratic Party since 2019, confirmed he has contracted the virus. (La Repubblica)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- The Maldives report its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Newly elected member of parliament Fatemeh Rahbar dies after contracting COVID-19. (Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- A 50-year-old man is arrested for breaching quarantine and traveling to two crowded bars in Gamagōri after testing positive for COVID-19 the day prior. He reportedly told family members he intended to spread it and bragged to bar employees that he had tested positive. (Tokyo Reporter)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- The Ministry of Health of Argentina confirmed the country's first death due to COVID-19, a 64-year-old man who had traveled to Paris who also had other health conditions. This marks the first death due to COVID-19 in Latin America. (Infobae in Spanish)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay
- Paraguay reports its first case of COVID-19. (Infobae in Spanish)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Politics and elections
- 2019 Afghan presidential election
- A spokesman for politician Abdullah Abdullah announces he will hold a parallel presidential inauguration ceremony next week after he declares himself the winner of the election. Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner. (Reuters)
March 8, 2020 (Sunday)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- The first COVID-19 death is confirmed in Canada. (CBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
- Women in Mexico march despite COVID-19 concerns and protests being cancelled in other parts of the world due to concerns over the spread of the disease. (NPR)
- Women protest femicides in all major cities in Mexico, despite raise of COVID-19 cases. (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in California, COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
- Connecticut confirms its first case of COVID-19 in Wilton, which is believed to have been contracted during a trip to California. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California, COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Albania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Chief of Staff of the Italian Army Salvatore Farina tests positive for COVID-19 and self-isolates, as well as President of Piedmont Alberto Cirio. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy
- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the quarantine lockdown, to cover all the region of Lombardy and 14 other northern provinces, affecting over a quarter of the national population. (BBC News)
- The number of virus-related deaths in Italy rise to 366, while the confirmed cases are 7,375. (Sky Tg24)
- Inmates at several prisons in Italy revolt with reports of riots at prisons in Modena, Foggia, Naples, Frosinone and Alessandria due to fears the coronavirus lockdowns will end visits from relatives. At least eight inmates, six in Modena, have died of overdose after assaulting the prison's pharmacy, while about 20 escaped in Foggia. (Open)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
- President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa self-isolates after a COVID-19 case is confirmed in a school he visited a few days ago. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- Three new COVID-19 cases are registered in Russia (one is in Kaliningrad Region, one is in Belgorod Region, one is in Moscow Region). All of them visited Italy within the past 14 days. (Sputnik)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Twenty-seven people have died from methanol poisoning in Iran after rumors that drinking alcohol can help cure the coronavirus infection, state news agency IRNA reported on Monday. (BOL News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
Politics and elections
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- California U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris endorses former Vice President Joe Biden in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (The New York Times)
- Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson endorses Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (The New York Times)
Law and crime
- Following the death of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla, who was killed by her boyfriend in February, women march against violence against women in Mexico's capital on International Women's Day, ahead of the 24-hour female strike scheduled for Monday. (Sputnik)
Sports
- 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final
- Australia wins the tournament, beating India by 85 runs, to win their fifth title. (BBC Sport)
March 9, 2020 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok survives an assassination attempt in Khartoum. No one has claimed responsibility. (Haaretz) (The Guardian)
- War in Afghanistan, Politics of Afghanistan
- Ashraf Ghani is sworn in as the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan amidst a rocket attack claimed by ISIL. Abdullah Abdullah proclaims himself as President as well. (AFP via Geo News)
- Libyan Civil War, Turkish military intervention in the Second Libyan Civil War, 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
- Nearly 40 Syrian mercenaries recruited by the Turkish Army have fled to Italy, raising the number of Syrian fighters who fled from Libya to Europe to nearly 200. (SOHR)
- International military intervention against ISIL
- Two United States troops are killed in a raid against ISIL in Iraq. (ABC)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Black Monday, 2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war
- Oil prices plummet after Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices over the weekend. (CNN)
- Before markets open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures posted a 1,300-point drop due to the coronavirus and a fall in the price of oil. The drop would be the most points the Dow has dropped in a single day. (NBC News) (NBC News)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 1,800 points on opening, 500 points lower than pre-market futures trading. (MSNBC)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom's largest retailer Tesco say they will be restricting the sale of essential food and household items in response to fears of mass panic buying. (BBC News) (Daily Mirror)
- The 2020 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) is canceled due to coronavirus fears. This is one of the first major sporting events in the United States to be canceled over the coronavirus. (Bleacher Report) (News AU)
- Black Monday, 2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 9,172, while the death toll rose to 463. (Corriere della Sera)
- COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy
- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the lockdown from Northern Italy to the whole country. (CNN)
- Riots continue at several prisons in Italy after family visitations were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Inmates took two prison guards hostage in Modena during an attempted escape, while inmates at San Vittore Prison in Milan overpowered guards and occupied the roof. Prisons in Pavia and Rebibbia are set on fire, allowing some prisoners to escape. (Business Insider)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- The Minister of Health of Cyprus confirms the first two cases in the island; one a health professional who visited United Kingdom and the other a 25-year-old man who had traveled from Italy. (Cyprus Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- The first two COVID-19 deaths are confirmed in Germany. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- The French Minister of Culture Franck Riester announces he is infected with COVID-19, as five members of the National Assembly join the 1,412 cases in the Republic. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- The President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso orders the suspension of classes "at all educational levels" between 11 March until 30 March, as the region reports more than 500 cases. (La Vanguardia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
- Ireland cancels all the Saint Patrick's Day parades. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- In order to combat the spread of coronavirus, Israel orders all arrivals from abroad, regardless of country, to self-quarantine. (Times of Israel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia suspends all schools, universities and other educational institutions until further notice in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Al Arabiya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- The infection rate is reduced, but South Korean president Moon Jae-in said it was "too early to be optimistic". (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Representative Paul Gosar self-quarantine themselves after having made contact at CPAC with a man confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19. (USA Today)
- U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz announces that he will quarantine for 14 days after making contact at the CPAC with a man who tested positive for COVID-19. (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships
- The Grand Princess cruise ship, with at least 21 people aboard who've tested positive for COVID-19, has docked at the Port of Oakland, California, to continue to the next step in the quarantining measures process. The ship was carrying more than 2,000 passengers, as well as 1,100 crew members. The Grand Princess had been idling about 10 miles (16 km) offshore since Thursday (March 5). Disembarking American passengers are being put under mandatory 14-day quarantine at military bases in California, Texas or Georgia. Foreign passengers are being sent to their home countries for the completion of the quarantine. (Fox News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- North Korea–South Korea relations
- North Korea fires three projectiles from the coast of Sondok into the sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit confirms a 2016 ruling that Led Zeppelin's 1971 song "Stairway to Heaven" was not unlawfully copied from Spirit's instrumental "Taurus", overturning the so-called inverse ratio rule test. (UPI)
March 10, 2020 (Tuesday)
Arts and culture
- The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, is postponed for the first time ever. The festival has been moved from April 2020 to October 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Los Angeles Times) (The New York Times)
Business and economy
- Black Monday
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announces a European 25 billion euro fund to face the coronavirus crisis. (Euronews)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Roberto Stella, the president of the medical guild in Varese, Lombardy, dies at the age of 67 after contracting the virus. (Ansa)
- President of the European Parliament David Sassoli self-isolates after visiting Italy. (Politico)
- COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy
- Italy enters the first day of the nationwide lockdown as the number of infected reaches 10,149. (BBC News)
- Riots continue for the third day in Italian prisons after family visitations were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Four more inmates died in the incidents, bringing the death toll to 12. The 22 inmates that escaped in Foggia, Apulia, are still wanted. (Il Fatto Quotidiano)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- The Cabinet of Japan passes a bill that allows Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus if necessary. (NHK)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping visits Wuhan, the epicentre and origin of the pandemic, after an unprecedented lockdown of the central city of 11 million people. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova
- Moldova bans all foreigners from entering the country via plane who have been to any country with confirmed cases of COVID-19. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Member of the Congress of Deputies and Madrid's city councilor Javier Ortega Smith becomes the first of Spain's high profile infected by the coronavirus. He participated in a political event on Sunday with 9000 people. The Board of the Congress suspends this week's plenary activity after the 52 lawmakers of Vox are called to stay at home. (La Vanguardia) (El Periódico)
- Community of La Rioja suspends all classes for two weeks. (el diario.es)
- The Ministry of Transports announces the cancellation of all flights between Spain and Italy. (El Mundo)
- Argentine saxophonist Marcelo Peralta has died in Madrid after contracting coronavirus. (Radio Mitre)
- UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity of Les Falles of Valencia are postponed for the fifth time in its history. (El Periódico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Iran reports 881 new confirmed cases and 54 more COVID-19 deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date, bringing the total to 8042 cases and 291 deaths. (TRT World)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic suspends all schools and bans all events hosting more than 100 people indefinitely in order to contain the virus, according to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- The first death in Morocco is reported, an 89-year-old woman with pre-existing health conditions. (Hespress)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
- Greek Minister of Health Vasilis Kikilias announces that the country's schools and universities will remain closed for two weeks. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- Denmark reports a sharp increase in COVID-19 patients, with 174 new cases in the past 24 hours, totaling 264 cases in the whole country. (BNO News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- Head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and former MEP Archduke Karl von Habsburg tests positive for COVID-19 becoming the first member of a royal family to test positive. (Salzburg24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland's Ministry of National Defence tweets that General Commander Jarosław Mika has tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Germany, and becomes NATO's highest-ranking member of armed forces infected. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay
- Paraguay suspends all school and university activities and large-scale public events for 15 days as a measure of control due to the coronavirus pandemic. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia
- Bolivia confirms its two first cases. (Brussels Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- Saint Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica closes to tourists between 10 March and 3 April after Italy lockdown (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reports their first case of COVID-19. (WCAU)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis declares a state of emergency after a total of 17 presumptive cases of COVID-19 are reported in the state. (KRDO)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont declares a civil preparedness and public health emergency in response to the coronavirus. (WTNH)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Law and crime
- The Canadian government presents a bill that would impose a nationwide ban on conversion therapy that would include minors. (BBC News)
Politics and elections
- 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia
- Vladimir Putin backs a constitutional amendment that would allow him to remain in power after 2024 and make a lifetime presidency possible. (NBC News)
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Voters in six U.S. states cast their ballots in the primary elections. Former Vice President Joe Biden wins the Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho primaries and is ahead in Washington (which has not finished tallying votes), while U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders wins North Dakota. (The New York Times) (CNN)
- Venezuelan protests (2014–present)
- Riot police repels Venezuela's opposition march downtown Caracas that aimed to regain control of the national legislature. (NBC News)
March 11, 2020 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process
- The Taliban rejects the government's conditional prisoner release order announced by President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban demand 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the government be released before intra-Afghan dialogue can be initiated. (Al Jazeera)
- 2020 Camp Taji attack
- A rocket attack on Camp Taji, Baghdad Governorate, housing coalition and Iraqi troops, kills two Americans and a British service member; 12 other people are injured. (BBC News)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aftermath of Black Monday
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 1,400 points and enters a bear market. (Fox News)
- The bond market falls, in the first time since the financial crisis of 2007–08 that the stock and bond markets moved in the same direction, indicating a massive sell-off of portfolios as investors seek cash. (The New York Times)
- The world's largest annual video game industry event E3 2020 is officially cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus. The highly anticipated event was scheduled to take place on June 9, ahead of major console launches for Microsoft and Sony. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- The World Health Organization officially declares the outbreak as a pandemic. (CBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 958 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 63 more deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. All Iranians are now warned to stay indoors. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cancels his annual speech marking the Iranian new year on March 20. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar
- Qatar announces 238 new cases of confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day. (Al Jazeera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- Belgium reports its first death resulting from COVID-19; a government statement said the patient was 90 years old. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen orders the closing of all education centers for two weeks. (Daily Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Hungary declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, closing all university campuses and banning large gatherings, while anyone from Italy, China, South Korea, and Iran will be refused entry into the country. Senior minister Gergely Gulyás says "These measures are unprecedented in the three decades since the fall of communism". (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
- Ireland reports its first death from COVID-19, an elderly woman with underlying health conditions at a hospital in Dublin. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The index case in Italy has been identified as a man from Germany who arrived in the country at the end of January. (Tgcom24)
- The death toll in Italy rises to 827, as nearly two-hundred more people were confirmed dead today, the largest daily increase in deaths since the outbreak began, while the number of confirmed cases rises to 12,462, according to Protezione Civile. (National Post)
- Juventus footballer Daniele Rugani has tested positive to coronavirus. (La Repubblica)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Second Vice President of the Congress of Deputies, former Speaker and former Minister Ana Pastor had tested positive for COVID-19 and becomes the highest-ranking official infected. (La Vanguardia)
- Spanish Ministry of Culture orders in Madrid the closing of all ministry dependent centers, including the museums of El Prado, Reina Sofía, Royal Palace, National Library and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. (El País)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
- Sweden reports its first death from COVID-19, a person in their 70s. (SVT Nyheter in Swedish)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
- Ukraine bans mass gatherings and closes all schools for three weeks in response to the global coronavirus outbreak. The government says some sporting events might still go ahead but without any spectators. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- British MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Health Ministry Nadine Dorries becomes the first UK MP to test positive for COVID-19. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Honduras
- COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reports their first case of COVID-19 in a female Vincentian who returned from the United Kingdom on March 7. (St. Lucia News Online)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- President Donald Trump gives a prime-time statement about the coronavirus during which he announces a 30-day ban on travel from European countries with the exception of the United Kingdom. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas
- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson confirms the state's first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Pine Bluff. (KATV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska
- Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declares a state of emergency in preparation for the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Alaska Government)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
- The University of Colorado Boulder's Conference on World Affairs and the Frozen Dead Guy Days event in Nederland are canceled due to coronavirus concerns. (Boulder Daily Camera) (KCNC-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware
- Delaware announces its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in New Castle County. (The State of Delaware News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- President Alberto Fernández issues an order saying that all people coming from hard-hit countries will have to self-quarantine for 14 days; failure to do so will be considered a crime. In addition, he analyses the possibility of banning all mass gatherings. (Infobae in Spanish)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia
- The Government declares the national emergency after reporting a third case and presidential election rallies suspended. (TeleSur TV) (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
Law and crime
- Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases
- American film producer Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 23 years in prison for two felony sex crimes. (The Hollywood Reporter) (The New York Times)
Science and technology
- 2020 in archosaur paleontology
- Oculudentavis khaungraae, the world's smallest dinosaur, is discovered by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (Newsweek)
- Discoveries of exoplanets
- Scientists discover WASP-76b, an exotic planet that has a 100% chance of having hot liquid iron. (NBC News)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- Spain's top association football division La Liga and France's Ligue 1 announce that all matches will be played behind closed doors until April 15 in response to the coronavirus. (BBC Sport)
- 2019–20 Scottish Premiership
- St Mirren F.C. asks fans who are suffering symptoms from influenza-like symptoms or COVID-19 to not attend their upcoming game against Heart of Midlothian F.C.. (BBC Sport)
- 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament
- The NCAA announces that all postseason tournaments in its winter season—not only the college basketball tournaments, but also its bowling, fencing, gymnastics, ice hockey, rifle, skiing, swimming & diving, track & field, and wrestling championships—will be held without fans in attendance. (The Washington Post)
- 2019–20 NBA season, Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season
- The NBA has announced that its 2019–20 season is on hiatus "until further notice" after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested a presumptive positive for COVID-19. (ESPN)
- The 2020 Japanese High School Baseball Invitational Tournament is cancelled in order to prevent players and related persons from having COVID-19. (Mainichi Shimbun)
March 12, 2020 (Thursday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Impact of the COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state), Impact of the COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state), Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American television
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema
Business and economy
- Black Thursday, economic impact of the COVID-19 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
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka
- India's first COVID-19 death is confirmed in Karnataka. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka
- COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
- Armenian Government orders the shut down of all schools until 23 March. (Armen Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces it is working on a vaccine. (Haaretz)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Norway
- Prime Minister Erna Solberg announces a national lockdown, closing schools, kindergartens, fitness centres, hair salons, sports and cultural events are suspended and restrictions applied to restaurants. (NRK)
- Norway reports its first death from COVID-19. (NRK)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, Education in Spain
- The closure of schools and universities extends to the entire country for two weeks affecting 9.5 million students. (El Mundo)
- 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 Came, 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)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, Education in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The number of confirmed cases in Italy climbs to 15,113, while the death toll rose to 1,016. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Luxembourg
- Minister of Health Paulette Lenert announces the closure of schools from 16 to 27 March and bans visits at hospitals and care homes. (RTL)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
- The Portuguese Government calls for the closure of all schools and night clubs. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The first case of COVID-19 is found in the Cayman Islands. (Loop Cayman)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba
- Cuba has confirmed its first three cases of COVID-19. (Miami Herald)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States surpasses one thousand cases of COVID-19. (CNN)
- COVID-19 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)
- United States Senators Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz announce that they will temporarily close their offices. (The Hill)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
- Washington Governor Jay Inslee closes all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties until April 24. (The News Tribune)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declares a state of emergency. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California, impact of the COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska
- Alaska confirms its first presumptive case of COVID-19, with the patient identified as a foreign national residing in Anchorage. (Alaska Government)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia
- Interim President of Bolivia Jeanine Áñez announces the suspension of all flights to Europe from March 14. (EFE)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Politics and elections
- COVID-19 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 COVID-19 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)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on baseball
- 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 Chinese Professional Baseball League season
- Chinese Professional Baseball League Commissioner John Wu announces that the opening game of the 2020 season will be postponed until 11 April. (FTV)
- 2020 Major League Baseball season
- 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay, 2020 Summer Olympics
- 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, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ice hockey
- The National Hockey League announces the suspension of its season. (NHL)
- 2020 Major League Soccer season, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football
- Major League Soccer announces it will suspend its season for thirty days. (ESPN)
- 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)
March 13, 2020 (Friday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- The Louvre museum in Paris closes until further notice. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- The Nepalese government suspends climbing of Mount Everest for tourists and halts visas for visitors until April 30. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Delta Air Lines says it will cancel all flights to Europe for the next 30 days. (Forbes)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Uzbekistan suspends flights to and from France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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 & World Report)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- Morocco closes its border with Spain. (La Vanguardia)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oman
- Oman suspends tourist visas, sporting events, and non-class student activities to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Gulf Business)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala
- Guatemala confirms its first case of COVID-19, is a Guatemalan who returned from Italy. (Prensa Libre)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- Michigan confirms it now has 25 cases of COVID-19, more than double than reported the previous day. (Michigan Radio)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont orders the closing of all schools for at least two weeks, beginning March 16. (WVIT)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware
- Delaware Governor John Carney orders the closing of all public schools in the state due to coronavirus concerns. (WBOC)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
- After Senator Vergil Chițac 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland
- Icelandic government orders the closure of all universities and secondary schools and ban public gathering of 100 or more people for four weeks. (Reuters)
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 COVID-19 pandemic in Greece, she suspends the protocol ceremony for the inauguration scheduled for Saturday 14 and no handshakes are allowed. (ABC News) (U.S. News & World Report)
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- 2020 Louisiana Democratic primary
- After 36 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Louisiana, Secretary of State 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)
- 2020 Louisiana Democratic primary
- United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement
- The USMCTA has passed the Canadian Senate after passing the third reading in the House of Commons earlier, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says. (Sputnik)
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 COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- 2020 Formula 1 season
March 14, 2020 (Saturday)
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)
- 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
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Apple Inc. says it will close all of 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)
- 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
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Jet2.com planes return to the United Kingdom after the airline cancelled flights to Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. (BBC News)
- 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)
- 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)
- María Begoña Gómez Fernández, spouse of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, tests positive for coronavirus. (El Confidencial) (Reuters)
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino
- The Government of the Republic of San Marino orders a nationwide quarantine until April 6. (San Marino RTV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- Abdelkader Aamara, Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics and Deputy tests positive for COVID-19. (Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
- 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- Budi Karya Sumadi, the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, tests positive for COVID-19. (Antara News)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 vaccine
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 COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- The Bath Half Marathon is expected to go as planned despite the coronavirus. (BBC News)
- 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei
- Wuhan Zall F.C. is expected to leave Spain and return to Wuhan, where the coronavirus was originated. (ESPN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, 2019–20 NBA season
- Detroit Pistons power forward Christian Wood reportedly tests positive for COVID-19. (WEYI-TV)
March 15, 2020 (Sunday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
- Fans attend the Vive Latino in Mexico City despite coronavirus concerns. (AP News)
Business and economy
- COVID-19 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
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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 an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Paris. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany closes its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
- Slovenia closes all schools indefintely and suspends public transport effective midnight as COVID-19 cases rise to 219. (Total Slovenia News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Liechtenstein
- The government announces a tightening of the measures: all the events with more than five people are banned, including religious services, entertainment and leisure businesses are suspended, in particular museums, libraries, sport facilities, casinos and the mountain railways. Restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs are also closed, although take-away service will be allowed. (Government of Liechtenstein)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
- The Ohio Department of Health reports it now has 37 cases of COVID-19 in the state. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- Turkey's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun reports 12 new confirmed cases, totalling 18. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
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 16, 2020 (Monday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema
- Actors Idris Elba and Kristofer Hivju reveal they have both tested positive for COVID-19. (Fox News) (Variety)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema
- Rock art in Iran
- An ancient petroglyph has been discovered in Central Iran. (Newsweek)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, 2020 stock market crash
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle begins testing a possible COVID-19 vaccine on 45 people. (KOMO-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland's Environment Minister Michał Woś tests positive for COVID-19. Other Cabinet ministers' workers self-isolate but later test negative. (Radio Poland)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland
- Greenland reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, in Nuuk. (Ekstra Bladet)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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 News)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
- Prime Minister Robert Abela announces the closing of all public locals but refuses to order a lockdown. (Times of Malta)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Monaco
- Head of the Monegasque government Serge Telle tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, 2020 Spain coronavirus lockdown
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- Israel’s Health Ministry approves experimental treatment for COVID-19. (Jerusalem Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- Benin, Liberia, Somalia and Tanzania report their first confirmed cases of COVID-19. (National Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan
- Sudan declares the emergency status. (Andalou Agency)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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 Migz Zubiri becomes one of the 142 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines after his test results return positive. (CNN Philippines)
- COVID-19 vaccine
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 News)
- The Constitutional Court of Russia approves amendments to the Constitution proposed by President Vladimir Putin. (The Moscow Times)
- Mass shootings in the United States
- 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 COVID-19 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 ahead in April despite the coronavirus, but with new changes. (Boston Herald) (NBC Sports)
- 2020 Major League Baseball season
March 17, 2020 (Tuesday)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 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
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- 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 News)
- 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
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Alabama
- 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
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Delaware
- 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 Ontario
- 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. (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 COVID-19 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 COVID-19 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 18, 2020 (Wednesday)
Arts and culture
- The Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which is due to be held in the Netherlands, is cancelled for the first time on the event's 64-year history due to the spread of COVID-19. (The Guardian)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion
- The Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issues a worldwide suspension of all "divine services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in churches that will remain open, until the end of March". (Ecupatria)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- List of events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The 2020 Glastonbury Festival, scheduled for June 24–28, is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 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)
- List of events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
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
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
- More than 850 million students are not attending school due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to UNESCO. (Al Arabiya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso
- Burkina Faso reports its first death from COVID-19, a 62-year-old diabetic woman. (Africanews)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- The United States and Canada suspend nonessential travel between the two countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. (CBC News) (CNN)
- COVID-19 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 COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York, COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
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 United States elections
- 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)
- 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois
- 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
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- COVID-19 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)
- 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo
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 COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2020 AFL season, COVID-19 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 AFL season, COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- 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 19, 2020 (Thursday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television
- Actor Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television
- The wreckage of the USS Stickleback is discovered off the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. (Live Science)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- 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
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, tests positive for COVID-19. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- In Italy, the military is deployed to the city of Bergamo, Lombardy, the Italian city worst hit by COVID-19, to collect and transport the bodies of dead residents to crematoriums in other cities, as Bergamo’s authorities say their facilities can no longer process the large number of fatalities. The city's mayor Giorgio Gori says the true number of dead could be much higher than what's been reported. (Sky News)
- The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Italy overtakes the number in China, as 3,405 are now confirmed dead due to the virus. (BBC News)
- Marcello Natali, a doctor from Italy known for exposing the country's chronic shortage of medical supplies, dies from the coronavirus. The Italian Federation of General Practitioners confirms his death. (New York Post)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- Nepalese government orders the suspension of all classes and the postponement of all academic examinations. (My Republica)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
- Fiji reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a male patient in Lautoka. (The New Zealand Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 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 COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
- COVID-19 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
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)
Law and crime
- 2020 Congressional insider trading scandal
- According to an article published by the ProPublica, Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Dianne Feinstein of California sold their stocks before the stock market crash. (Fox News) (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 COVID-19 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)
March 20, 2020 (Friday)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Japanese car manufacturer Nissan suspends production indefinitely at its major Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK plant in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, over the coronavirus pandemic. (Evening Chronicle)
- The British government announces a stimulus plan to counter the socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, which includes the government paying a portion of citizens' wages. (Bloomberg News)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States moves Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 due to the spread of the coronavirus. (CNN)
- United Airlines announces it will cancel 95 percent of its international flights starting next month. (USA Today)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- Argentina begins a mandatory national quarantine until March 31, restricting people to their homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. People will only be allowed to leave their homes to shop for basic goods, like food and medicine, according to President Alberto Fernández. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay
- The first death from COVID-19 is reported in Paraguay, a 69-year-old man who had been hospitalized in intensive care, while the total of those infected rises to 18. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- NHS England increases the United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll to 184. The patients who died were aged between 50 and 99 and had underlying health conditions. (Sky News) (ITV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland declares a 'state of epidemic' amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces at a press conference late on Friday. Two-week suspension of schools, introduced earlier this month, would be extended until after the Easter holidays. The government announces that fines for anyone breaking coronavirus quarantine increase from the current PLN 5,000 up to PLN 30,000 (EUR 6,600, USD 7,050). (Politico Europe)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland
- The first death from COVID-19 is confirmed in Iceland. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- Papua New Guinea reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19, a male patient from Spain currently being isolated in Lae. The country will also close its borders. (Papua New Guinea Today) (Radio New Zealand)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China reports zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for a second consecutive day. (The Hill)
- The World Health Organization says China reporting zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for two days in a row should "give the world hope." (SBS World News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
- The Sri Lankan government imposes a nationwide curfew to contain COVID-19. Mosques across the nation are closed. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- Israel reports its first death from COVID-19, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor with pre-existing health conditions. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Times of Israel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education says the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 1,433, and confirms 1,237 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 19,644 and 1,433 deaths. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- Disinfection begins in La Trinidad, the capital of the Philippines province Benguet, in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Sun.Star)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates announces its first two deaths from COVID-19. (The New York Times)
- Dubai Municipality begins an 11-day sterilization campaign in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Gulf News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- In a special TV address, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announces the suspension of all international flights until 31 March and internal long-distance public bus routes, while orders the closure of all non-essential public and private office until 3 April. (Reuters)
- The Supreme Court stops all non-urgent legal proceedings at all levels across the country. The National Assembly also suspends its activity indefinitely. (The Himalayan Times) (My Republica)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba
- In an effort to further prevent the spread of COVID-19, Cuba announces a ban on tourism and most air travel, starting Tuesday. This restriction does not apply to citizens and residents. (Miami Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
- Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all Illinoisans except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (WMAQ-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all New Yorkers except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issues a statewide stay-at-home order for all Connecticuters except for essential errands such as grocery shopping or for medical services. (United Press International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- A fourth death from COVID-19 is reported in Michigan, a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions in Oakland County. (MLive)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona
- Arizona records its first death from COVID-19, a Maricopa County man in his 50s with underlying health conditions. (KPNX)
- The Donald Trump administration announces it will limit nonessential travel between the United States and Mexico. (CNN)
- The Washington Post reports that U.S. intelligence agencies repeatedly warned President Trump about the threats posed by COVID-19 in January and February, but administration officials say they "just couldn't get him to do anything about it." (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar
- Madagascar confirms its first cases of COVID-19. (National Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
Law and crime
- Capital punishment in India
- India executes four men convicted of the 2012 Delhi gang rape. (Reuters)
- Cannabis in Ghana
- The parliament of Ghana votes to legalize the medical and industrial use of cannabis. (GhanaWeb)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2020 Summer Olympics
- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach says that canceling the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic "is not on the agenda," but says it is too early to make a decision. (The New York Times)
- 2020 Summer Olympics
March 21, 2020 (Saturday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee
- The Grand Ole Opry broadcasts from an empty venue for the first time since 1925. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Economy of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China resumes construction of its infrastructure to help ease the economic impact of COVID-19. (The Star)
- Economy of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine
- The World Health Organization says at least 20 vaccines for COVID-19 are in development around the world and that clinical trials are underway. (The Times of Israel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China reports zero domestic cases of COVID-19 for a third consecutive day. (South China Morning Post)
- China sends masks and medical experts abroad to aid countries affected by COVID-19. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in East Timor
- East Timor confirms its first case of COVID-19. (New Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
- Fiji confirms its second case of COVID-19. (FBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius
- COVID-19 pandemic in Angola
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda
- Uganda reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The patient is a 36-year-old Ugandan male who recently arrived in the country on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Dubai. (National Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Italy says an additional 793 people have died from COVID-19 in the country, bringing the death toll to 4,825. It is the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. (New York Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
- Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare reports the country's first death from COVID-19. (Yle)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (country)
- Georgia declares a nationwide state of emergency due to COVID-19, effective until April 21. (Civil Georgia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports an additional 324 COVID-19 deaths, the country's largest one-day increase. The country's death toll stands at 1,326, with 24,926 cases, the second highest in Europe. (The Independent)
- Spain announces it is closing hotels in the country for the sake of converting them into hospitals, as local medical facilities are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. A military hospital will also be constructed in the capital Madrid. (Lailasnews) (Reuters)
- Lorenzo Sanz, the former president of Real Madrid CF, dies after testing positive for COVID-19. (Evening Standard)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The British government orders all pubs, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, gyms and other social hubs to close down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- The United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care confirms 53 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to 233. All those who died had underlying health conditions and the oldest patient was 94-years-old, according to NHS England. (ITV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Albania
- Albania's government deploys troops to enforce a 40-hour nationwide curfew. Prime Minister Edi Rama says Albanians "will stay inside after 13:00", and that police and the armed forces "will use force against whoever breaks the law, including pensioners, and will use water canons and tear gas if need be." (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France reports 112 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to 562. There are 1,525 people in severe condition with the virus, half of which are people under the age of 60. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- Turkey's Ministry of the Interior imposes a curfew for people over the age of 65 and the chronically ill. (Daily Sabah)
- Turkey's Ministry of Health reports that the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 21, with 947 confirmed cases. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
- Chile's Ministry of Health reports its country's first COVID-19 death in an 83-year woman from Renca, Santiago. The country has more than 500 confirmed cases, the second-largest number in South America after Brazil. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
- COVID-19 vaccine
International relations
- North Korea–South Korea relations, North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- Yonhap News Agency reports that North Korea has fired two projectiles from Pyongan Province into the Sea of Japan. (Reuters) (BBC News)
- North Korea–United States relations
- North Korea says that U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to express his willingness to work with him on dealing with COVID-19. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
- Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence test negative for COVID-19. (CNBC)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- Football player Wu Lei, a Chinese national based in Spain, tests positive for COVID-19. He says he is recovering from the virus. (Reuters)
March 22, 2020 (Sunday)
Arts and culture
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- Pope Francis, in a call for a worldwide prayer, announces he will hold a special service to pray for the end of the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- Dubai-based airline Emirates announces that it will be suspending all passenger flights effective March 25 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but will continue to operate cargo flights for essential goods. (Associated Press)
- Economy of the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The U.S. Senate votes down a coronavirus relief stimulus bill. (CNBC)
- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to set up a second vote on a coronavirus relief stimulus bill for Monday. (The Hill)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Disasters and accidents
- 2020 Zagreb earthquake
- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hits Zagreb, Croatia. Seventeen people are injured; one passes away. The earthquake is Zagreb's largest since 1880. (RT) (BBC News) (Bloomberg News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- India observes a 14-hour nationwide self-imposed Janata Curfew amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Economic Times)
- India suspends the entry of international flights due to the coronavirus. (NDTV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Palestinian territories
- The Palestinian National Authority confirms the first cases of COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip. Both patients are Palestinian men in their 30s who recently returned from Egypt. They are being held in quarantine in the border town of Rafah. (Haaretz)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health reports its first death from COVID-19, a 40-year-old man in Balkh Province. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan orders companies in Tashkent to do remote working and makes protective masks as an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, 2020 Hubei lockdowns
- China reports only one domestic case of COVID-19 but reports 45 imported cases. (CNN-News 18)
- The Civil Aviation Administration of China says that flights to Beijing will be diverted to 12 Chinese airports for screening amid the coronavirus pandemic. (China Daily)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
- Iraq issues a lockdown until March 28 in an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Al Arabiya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- Turkey's Ministry of Health reports that the country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 30, with a total of 1,236 confirmed cases. (Hürriyet Daily News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
- The government announces the war-torn country's first confirmed case of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez tells the Congress of Deputies the country will to extend its state of alarm, implemented due to the coronavirus, for an additional 15 days. (CNN) (El País)
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports 394 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 28,572 with 1,720 deaths. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says "the worst is yet to come". (Reuters)
- Tenor Plácido Domingo announces he has tested positive for COVID-19. (Daily Mirror)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 95-year-old man from the capital city of Prague. (Radio Prague International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
- Romania reports the country's first death from COVID-19, a 67-year-old man from the town of Filiași. (Romania-Insider)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- French Health Minister Olivier Véran confirms the first death of a doctor treating COVID-19 patients. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis orders a nationwide lockdown starting March 23. (Greek Reporter)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
- Andorra reports its first death from COVID-19. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel self-isolates after being in contact with a doctor infected with COVID-19. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
- Riots break out at several prisons in Colombia over COVID-19 fears. Residents report explosions and gunfire inside La Modelo prison in the capital Bogotá. Inmates release a statement demanding the government allow vulnerable prisoners to be granted house arrest. (Colombia Reports)
- Colombian Justice Minister Margarita Cabello Blanco says 23 prisoners are dead and 83 others are injured following an attempted "mass criminal escape" at La Modelo prison and other detention centers. Two guards are also in critical condition. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- Former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein tests positive for COVID-19. He is put in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility. (The Daily Beast)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio, COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana
- Louisiana declares a lockdown due to the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issues a stay-at-home order. Grocery stores, pharmacies and manufacturing industries deemed "essential" will remain open. (Cleveland)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland
- Ocean City, Maryland announces that their beaches will be closed to slow down the spread of coronavirus. (The Indianapolis Star)
- U.S. Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul tests positive for COVID-19. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee self-quarantine for 14-days despite not testing. (Politico) (The Hill)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the country is shutting down non-essential services effective midday Monday for pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and places of worship, while restaurants and cafes will have to switch to takeaway only. The number of cases in Australia has risen to 1,315. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- Italy–Russia relations, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The Russian military sends medical help and disinfection tools to Italy to battle the coronavirus. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Guinean legislative election, 2020 Guinean constitutional referendum
- Despite violent protests, boycotts from the political opposition and fears about potential coronavirus infections, legislative elections are held in Guinea next to a controversial referendum. (Al Jazeera)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- The 2020 AFL season has been postponed to May 31 after South Australia and Western Australia close their borders to all non-essential travelers, and both New South Wales and Victoria engage a total lockdown. (News.com.au)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Fans attend the Olympic flame despite the coronavirus. (Republic TV)
- After ruling out cancelling the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee considers postponing the Olympics to 2021. They set a deadline to decide within the next four weeks. (USA Today)
- The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee announce that they will not be sending athletes to the Summer Games in 2020. (CBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
March 23, 2020 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Boko Haram insurgency
- March 2020 Chad and Nigeria massacres
- Boko Haram jihadists kill 92 soldiers at an army base in Chad. (RTÉ News and Current Affairs)
- Boko Haram kills 70 troops in an ambush in Borno, northeastern Nigeria. (Reuters)
- March 2020 Chad and Nigeria massacres
- Islamist insurgency in Mozambique
- Islamist militants seize the port town of Mocímboa da Praia in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique after capturing the town's military base in an overnight attack. Residents say militants have blocked all exits in the town. The armed forces and police launch a counter-offensive. (BBC News)
- Syrian civil war
- The Syrian Air Defense Force says that it intercepted a drone near Khmeimim Air Base. (Reuters)
Arts and culture
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- About 500 cinemas reopen in China. (Deadline Hollywood)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Italian actress and former beauty pageant winner Lucia Bosè dies aged 89 from pneumonia complicated by COVID-19. (Billboard)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Fast food restaurant chain McDonald's closes all of its restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland citing the safety of its employees and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Guardian)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States Senate votes down for a second time a stimulus relief package. (WDAF-TV) (CNBC) (The Washington Post)
- The Federal Reserve Bank announces the commitment to buy any amount of government-backed securities needed to keep interest rates down. Among other measures being developed to support the real economy, it will also establish a special purpose vehicle allowing it to buy investment-grade corporate bonds directly. (Reuters)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- Vanuatu puts the island of Aneityum under "temporary lockdown" after a cruise ship with a reportedly infected passenger on board visited the island. (Radio New Zealand)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- New Zealand enters alert level 3 after the investigation into two assumed community-spread cases do not find any links to travel. All schools and public venues are closed. The country will enter alert level 4 on 26 March at midnight local time. (Stuff)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
- Fiji confirms its third case of COVID-19. (FBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports 4,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases, rising to 33,000 infected and 2,182 dead. (NBC News)
- The Spanish Army has found elderly people abandoned and dead inside retirement homes, according to Defence Minister Margarita Robles. A criminal investigation has been launched. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The British Army begins Operation Rescript, to assist the UK's efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. (The Independent)
- The United Kingdom is placed in lockdown. The new measures close all non-essential stores and ban gatherings of more than two people. (The Guardian)
- Downing Street says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is the "designated survivor" to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson if he became "incapacitated" due to COVID-19. The clarification comes after the issue was raised by MP Peter Bone. (The Independent)
- The British government announces that ExCeL London will be turned into a 4000-bed hospital to open next week, staffed primarily by military medics. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
- The Dutch Health Ministry reports 545 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 34 more deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 4,749 and 213 deaths. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
- Malta's government announces that citizens who test positive for COVID-19 and disobey self-isolation rules will be fined 10,000 euros. (Times of Malta)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- President Nicos Anastasiades announces the order of a nationwide lockdown between 24 March and 13 April. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- The government announces that a lockdown of Tashkent will begin on March 24. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar
- Myanmar reports the country's first confirmed cases of COVID-19, the patients are a 36-year-old who had travelled back from the United States and a 26-year-old returning from the United Kingdom. Panic buying is reported in the country's largest city, Yangon. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- Dubai closes all restaurants, cafes and food locals for two weeks. (Alarabiya in English)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
- President Kais Saied orders the army to deploy in the streets to enforce a lockdown in response to the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
- President Cyril Ramaphosa announces a 21-day nationwide lockdown effective from March 26, to contain the coronavirus, as the number of confirmed cases rises to 402. Soldiers will be deployed to help police enforce the lockdown. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that Canada will spend $192M to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. (Global News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
- COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto
- Mayor of Toronto John Tory declares a state of emergency for the city of Toronto. (CFTO-DT)
- Premier Doug Ford announces that non-essential businesses in Ontario are to be shut down for at least two weeks. (National Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto
- COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
- Premier François Legault announces that non-essential businesses in Quebec are to be shut down for three weeks. (National Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii
- Norwegian Jewel arrives at Honolulu after cutting its trip short due to COVID-19 and mechanical problems. No positive cases were confirmed among the passengers and crew members. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts
- Governor Charlie Baker orders all businesses and organizations not providing essential services to close until April 7, effective at noon on Tuesday. Baker states that he is not issuing a stay-at-home order, saying it "doesn't make sense from a public health point of view", but has directed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue a stay-at-home advisory, limiting public gatherings to 10 people or less. (WBUR-FM)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issues a stay-at-home order for all Michiganders except for essential services. (Fox News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
- New York is expected to be the first state to test the treatment of coronavirus with blood from recovered patients. (NBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
International relations
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- United Arab Emirates–United States relations
- The United States Marine Corps and the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces hold military exercises amid tensions with Iran. (ABC News)
Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana
- Eight people are arrested at a market in Ashaiman for violating restrictions while disinfection on the market began. (GhanaWeb)
- The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is expected to plead guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter in the Camp Fire. (NBC News)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prisons
- Rapper-turned-informant 6ix9ine requests an early prison release over fears of COVID-19. (The Daily Beast)
- Capital punishment in the United States, Capital punishment in Colorado
- Colorado abolishes the death penalty and commutes sentences of death row inmates. (The New York Times)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Bernie Sanders wins the Democrats Abroad primary. (The Hill)
Science and technology
- The ancestor, Ikaria wariootia, of all animals with a bilateral body plan is discovered as a fossil in rocks of South Australia. (Geology Page) (The Guardian)
March 24, 2020 (Tuesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Terrorism in the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri
- FBI agents shoot dead an armed man during an arrest operation in Belton, Missouri, U.S. The man was suspected of plotting a bombing attack, with far-right motivations, at a Kansas City hospital believed to be treating COVID-19 patients. (ABC News) (CNN)
Arts and culture
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- The Badaling section of the Great Wall of China reopens to visitors. (CNN)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
- After the Summer Olympics is postponed, the Tokyo station's Olympic countdown clock displaying the number of days until the Games (a local tourist attraction) is switched to show the current date and time. (The Japan Times)
Disasters and accidents
- Mozambique people smuggling disaster
- 64 Ethiopian illegal immigrants are found dead and 14 alive inside a cargo container on a lorry in Tete Province, Mozambique, apparently having died of asphyxiation. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- Premier Li Keqiang says that the spread of the epidemic has been basically blocked and the outbreak controlled within China. (State Council Information Office)
- 2020 Hubei lockdowns, COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei
- China is expected to end lockdowns on most of the Hubei province. Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, is expected to reopen on April 8. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India, Indian local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Complete lockdowns are announced in 30 states and union territories of India in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. (The Times of India)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- Nepal enters in a total and nationwide lockdown for a week. (Kathmandu Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia reports the country's first death from COVID-19, as the total number of cases rises to 767. The patient was an Afghan expatriate. (Gulf News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- New Zealand reports 40 new cases of coronavirus. (Stuff NZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Australia announces a nationwide lockdown, outlawing all travel interstate and overseas, and closing the nation's borders. Schools remain open in some locations. (News.com.au)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports 514 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date. (BBC News)
- The Palacio de Hielo ice rink in Madrid begins to be used as a morgue as the city's funeral homes are not able to hold all COVID-19 victims. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- Cameroonian musician and songwriter Manu Dibango dies from COVID-19 in Paris, France. (BBC News)
- France reports 2,444 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 240 more deaths, bringing the country's total to 22,300 cases and over 1000 deaths. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- The government introduces new measures over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the country: a ban on gatherings of more than two people, from the current 50. However, the number of people allowed to take part in religious services, including funerals, is limited to five. The new restrictions are to last until at least 11 April. (BBC News)
- Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tells at a news conference on Tuesday that the presidential election, scheduled for 10 May, will not be affected by the coronavirus pandemic and will go ahead as planned. (TVN24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- Roman Curia confirms three more cases, raising to four. (Il Messaggero)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
- Despite a week-long lockdown, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) reports its first case of coronavirus. (CNN Chile)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
- Egypt declares a two-week nationwide curfew between 7pm and 6am to prevent the spread of the virus. Those who break the curfew will be fined up to 4,000 pounds or be jailed, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Libya
- The National Centre for Disease Control reports Libya's first confirmed case of COVID-19, a patient at a hospital in Tripoli. The World Health Organization has warned that the virus could cause Libya's already struggling health system to collapse. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California reaches 2,226, with 42 deaths. (Los Angeles Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says FEMA will send 4,000 ventilators to New York in the next 48 hours. The state now has at least 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (Washington Examiner)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan confirms nine members of the Detroit Police Department have tested positive for COVID-19, with one death, a 38-year-old male dispatcher. An additional 233 officers have been quarantined since Sunday. (MLive.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
- Playwright Terrence McNally dies from complications of COVID-19 in Florida. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- A man in the Chinese province of Yunnan dies after testing positive for hantavirus. (Newsweek)
International relations
- South Korea–United States relations, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- South Korea President Moon Jae-in says that President Donald Trump asked the country to send medical equipment to the United States to help fight the coronavirus. (Reuters)
Science and technology
- Chinese space program
- China launches three military surveillance satellites on a Long March 2C rocket. (Space.com)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
- The 2020 Summer Olympics has been postponed for the first time in the modern Olympic Games history to 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
March 25, 2020 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Afghanistan
- Kabul gurdwara attack
- Gunmen kill 25 worshippers at a gurdwara in Kabul, Afghanistan. ISIL claims responsibility. (Reuters)
- Kabul gurdwara attack
- Libyan Civil War
- 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
- Forces loyal to the GNA assault the Okba Ibn Nafa Air Base, west of Tripoli, while the Libyan National Army captures several towns near the Berber city of Zuwarah, including Zaltan, Jumayl and Ras Ajdir. (Reuters)
- 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
Arts and culture
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
- Egypt begins disinfection on the Giza pyramid complex as an effort to contain COVID-19. (Reuters)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China announces that The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar, Inception, and Interstellar will be re-released in theaters following the end of their lockdowns as a hope to revive their cinemas. (CNET)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States Senate and the Trump administration reaches a $2 trillion stimulus package deal following talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The bill passes, and is expected to go to the United States House of Representatives. (The Washington Post) (CNBC)
Disasters and accidents
- 2020 Kuril Islands earthquake
- A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands town Severo-Kurilsk in Russia's Far East. (Newsweek)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- India goes under a nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Palestinian territories
- Palestine reports its first death from COVID-19 in the West Bank, the patient was a woman in her 60s. (The New Arab)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States has its deadliest COVID-19 day to date, with 223 related deaths. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
- New York City records 81 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the city's death toll to 280. Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned that more than half of all New Yorkers could become infected. (New York Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- New Zealand declares a national state of emergency as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rise to 205. (New Zealand Herald)
- Solomon Islands declare state of emergency due to COVID-19. (RNZ)
- Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi announces that people will be fined for breaking the new restrictions of movement due COVID-19. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirms that Steven Dick, a 37-year-old diplomat to their mission in Budapest, has died from COVID-19. (Yahoo News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain surpasses China in the number of COVID-19-related deaths and becomes the country with the second-most deaths, after an increase of 738 in a single day. (Independent)
- First Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo tests positive for COVID-19. She was admitted to hospital on Sunday and becomes the third member of the Spanish government to be diagnosed with the virus. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Charles, Prince of Wales tests positive for COVID-19 while Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall tests negative; both now self-isolate due to the health classifications. (BBC News)
- The first death from COVID-19 is confirmed in the Channel Islands, an elderly patient at a hospital in Jersey. (ITV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- President Emmanuel Macron announces the launch of military Operation Résilience and investments in their health system in an attempt to fight COVID-19. (France 24) (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mali, COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau
- The first COVID-19 cases are confirmed in Mali and Guinea-Bissau. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mali, COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- President Rodrigo Duterte signs a law granting him special temporary powers to direct the operations of private hospitals and take over public transportation. (NPR)
- Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia–Turkey relations
- Turkey indicts 20 Saudis for the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. (The New York Times)
- Transportation in Dubai, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- Dubai lifts their ban on trucks weighing 2.5 tonnes as an effort to contain COVID-19. (Gulf News)
- Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara is arrested by security forces on charges of murdering advertising mogul Sergiy Starytsky. (Deutsche Welle)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Russian constitutional referendum, COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- President Vladimir Putin postpones a referendum on constitutional changes that could extend his time in office for two more six-year terms because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Putin's current term runs through 2024. (BBC News)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
- The Ohio Senate passes a coronavirus relief bill, which includes extending mail-in voting for the Ohio primary by April 28. (Cleveland.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo, Government of Kosovo
- A motion of no confidence filed by junior coalition partner Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) against Prime Minister Albin Kurti passes with 82—32 votes, toppling the Kurti cabinet. Vetëvendosje now has 15 days to nominate a new Prime Minister. (Deutsche Welle) (The New York Times via The Indian Express) (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
March 26, 2020 (Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Kabul gurdwara attack
- A bomb explodes near a Sikh crematorium in Kabul, wounding a child and disrupting funerals for 25 people bombed and shot the day prior. (Times of India)
- Mali War
- Malian opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé and six others are taken hostage by jihadists in the northern Tombouctou Region. Cissé's bodyguard was killed and two others injured in the ambush. (Reuters)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The death toll from COVID-19 in the U.S. reaches 1,200. The total number of cases in the country is 83,097. The U.S. has surpassed China in number of active cases, making it the country with the most cases in the world. (Worldometer)
- U.S. state and local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis issues a stay-at-home order until April 11. (Chicago Suntimes)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu issues a stay-at-home order until May 4. (WMUR)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa
- Samoa begins a national lockdown announced by the Prime Minister. Those who do not comply with the lockdown's requirements will be fined. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- The Congress of Deputies approves extending the Alarm Status until 12 April. (El País)
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports 655 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to over 4,000. (Reuters)
- Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is to be used to store medical materials. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The Department of Health and Social Care reports 103 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the death toll in the United Kingdom to 578 and 11,658 confirmed cases. (BBC News)
- An 84-year-old inmate at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire has become the first UK prisoner to die from COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Justice. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
- The Republic of Ireland reports 255 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 10 more deaths, doubling the country's death toll to 19. The median age of the 19 patients who have died is 79 years old. (Metro)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France reports 365 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's total to 1,696. French health authorities say 3,375 people with the virus remain in serious condition requiring life support. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia
- Ministry of Health confirms the first death in the country from COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China announces that travel will be suspended to the country as imported cases increase. (Newsweek)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates is expected to impose night curfew to tackle COVID-19 as the country begins a nationwide disinfection campaign. (Middle East Eye)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan is to release 10,000 prisoners over the age of 55 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Those released will not include members of the Taliban and ISIL. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nicaragua
- COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
- Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reports the country's first death from COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
- Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde pardons more than 4,000 prisoners in an attempt to prevent coronavirus spread. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
International relations
- Iran–United States relations, Iraq–United States relations
- The United States Treasury Secretary imposes fresh sanctions on Iran, blacklisting 20 Iran- and Iraq-linked companies and individuals. (Reuters)
- 2020 G20 Riyadh summit
- World leaders convene virtually to coordinate a response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (ABC News)
- United States–Venezuela relations
- The United States Justice Department announces charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for drug trafficking, offering up to a $15 million award for his arrest. (CBS News) (Reuters)
Law and crime
- Christchurch mosque shootings
- Brenton Tarrant pleads guilty to murdering 51 people and attempting to murder 40 as well as a terrorism charge in relation to two mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019. (BBC News)
- A Texas man is arrested for making death threats to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats on Facebook. (New York Times)
Science and technology
- The United States Space Force launches its first satellite into space aboard an Atlas V rocket. (CBS News)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2020 WNBA draft
- The WNBA draft will go as planned on April 17, but will be a virtual event due to the coronavirus. (Reuters)
- The 2020 Indianapolis 500 will be delayed until August 23, marking the first time in history that the event will not be held in May. (Indianapolis Star)
- The Candidates Tournament 2020 is suspended after seven of 14 matches, following Russia's closure of international air traffic. (chess24.com)
- 2020 WNBA draft
March 27, 2020 (Friday)
Arts and culture
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema
- Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China's Film Bureau closes cinemas that had re-opened after the epidemic's first wave, without giving a reason. (The Guardian)
- Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion
- Pope Francis delivers a special Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty Saint Peter's Square, praying for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and offering a plenary indulgence to repentant sinners before San Marcello al Corso's miraculous crucifix, which was moved from its original church in Rome two days ago. (Vatican News) (Aleteia)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The House of Representatives passes a $2 trillion stimulus relief bill as an effort to save the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump signs the bill. (CBS News) (Business Insider)
Disasters and accidents
- 2020 New York City Subway fire
- One person is killed and 16 people are injured, four with life-threatening injuries, after a New York City Subway caught fire near the Central Park North–110th Street station in Harlem. The fire has been treated as suspicious. (NBC News)
- Mount Merapi erupts in Indonesia, sending ash of 5 kilometers in the air. (Manila Times)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan reports the first death from COVID-19, a 72-year-old woman with underlying health conditions in the city of Namangan. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
- In Iran, 300 people die and 1,000 people become ill after drinking methanol to save themselves from COVID-19. (Star Tribune)
- Olympic silver medalist Ehsan Haddadi tests positive for COVID-19. (ISNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- The Philippines passes a legislation granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte as part of its measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic as confirmed cases rise to 707. (Voice of America)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
- South Africa reports its first two deaths from COVID-19, both occurring at hospitals in Western Cape province. The government also announces a 21-day lockdown as cases surpass 1,000. (Gulf News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The number of people who tested positive in Italy jumps to 86,498, while the death toll rose to 9,134. Italy is the country with the highest death toll in the world and second for number of cases. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19. He will self-isolate at 10 Downing Street. (BBC News)
- Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock tests positive for COVID-19. (The Guardian)
- The Department of Health and Social Care reports 185 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the death toll in the United Kingdom to 769. (Sky News)
- Scientists in Oxford are expected to recruit 510 adults without COVID-19 to test a COVID-19 vaccine. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, Healthcare in Scotland
- Hospitals in Scotland are expected to get testing kits from South Korea as an effort to increase testing for COVID-19. (BBC News)
- A temporary mortuary is being built at Birmingham Airport, with capacity to hold up to 12,000 bodies as the virus spreads in the region. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- President Vladimir Putin orders that the week between 28 March and 5 April will be a nationwide paid holiday and declares the closing of all restaurants and shops during this week. (The Moscow Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announces a two-week national lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- Cyprus' government is set to release 50 prisoners in order to contain the spread of the virus in the island. (Cyprus Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that eight hospitals will be built as the number of cases in New York surge. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- The USNS Mercy, which has 1,000 beds, arrives in Los Angeles to offer assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. (Los Angeles Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga
- Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa announces that the country would be under a lock-down between 29 March and 5 April. (RNZ)
- Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Fox Business fires its primetime host Trish Regan after she claimed the coronavirus is a Democratic Party ploy to impeach President Donald Trump. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- China–United States relations, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Chinese leader Xi Jinping offers advice to United States President Donald Trump on how to contain the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
- North Macedonia–NATO relations
- North Macedonia becomes the 30th member of NATO after over a year of negotiations. (Defense News)
- Syria–United Arab Emirates relations
- Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discusses the COVID-19 pandemic on phone. (Reuters)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2019–20 NBA season
- The Utah Jazz announces that Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are cleared of coronavirus after becoming the first National Basketball Association players to test positive on March 11. (CBS News)
- 2019–20 NBA season
March 28, 2020 (Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- In a televised address, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi offers to release five Saudi prisoners of war in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian activists convicted by Saudi Arabia earlier this month. (Al Jazeera)
- Several ballistic missiles fired from Yemen are intercepted over the Saudi capital Riyadh, and the southern city of Jizan. (Al Jazeera)
Business and economy
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- 2020 Hubei lockdowns
- Wuhan, where the coronavirus pandemic first started, starts lifting its two-month lockdown by restarting some metro services and reopening borders to returning residents, though outbound traffic is still restricted until April 8. (Reuters)
- 2020 Hubei lockdowns
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana
- Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo announces a two-week partial lockdown on 27th March 2020 for Greater Accra and Kumasi, beginning on 30th March 2020. He also announced the establishment of a special fund to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
- A 39-year-old doctor dies after he secretly underwent self-treatment for COVID-19. He was hospitalized on March 26 in grave condition. The doctor had been in contact with Uzbekistan's "patient zero". (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China reports 45 cases of COVID-19, with all but 1 involving oversea travelling. (Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates reports 63 new cases of COVID-19. The country extends a curfew and disinfections to April 5. (Gulf News)
- Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed announces that a mobile drive through testing site has opened. (Al Arabiya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India plans to turn some railway coaches, which have been idled under the country's stay-at-home order, into isolation wards for patients with coronavirus. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The Department of Health and Social Care reports 260 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the United Kingdom's death toll to 1,019 with 17,089 confirmed cases. The patients included in the new figures were aged between 33 and 100 years old, with the majority being in England. (BBC News)
- The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham and Manchester Central Convention Complex are to be converted into NHS Nightingale Hospitals. (ITV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain's Ministry of Health reports 832 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the country's death toll to 5,690, as confimed cases rise to 72,248. (Reuters)
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces the cessation of all non-essential activity, leading the country to total lockdown during two weeks. (Politico)
- Authorities in Madrid decide to stop using a Chinese rapid COVID-19 test kit, developed by Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology, after research suggested it was not accurate enough with a rate of less than 30%. (NewsAu)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- Russia announces that all borders will be closed effective March 30 to counter the spread of COVID-19. The new measure will not apply to Russian diplomats or drivers of freight trucks, among others. (Reuters)
- In Kabardino-Balkaria, registry offices ask newlyweds to confine the number of guests at the wedding ceremony to 10 people or to postpone the wedding since four cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in the republic. (Vestnik Kavkaza)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirms that 728 people died from coronavirus in New York. (CBS News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- President Donald Trump approves Michigan's request for emergency declaration. (Politico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that the country will deny flights to people who show symptoms of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Justin Trudeau, says that she has recovered from coronavirus after testing positive on March 13. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay
- Former Minister of National Defence Rodolfo González Rissotto becomes the first confirmed death from COVID-19 in Uruguay. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia
- The Minister of Health reports the first death from COVID-19 in the country. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
International relations
Politics and elections
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- 2020 New York Democratic primary
- New York postpones its primary from April 28 until June 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBS News)
- 2020 New York Democratic primary
March 29, 2020 (Sunday)
Business and economy
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- China resumes domestic flights to the Hubei province. Wuhan is expected to resume flights on April 8. (Financial Express)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- Nepal Airlines will allow rescue flights to take stranded tourists back to their countries, but only if embassies requested it. (Nepali Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, transportation in Dubai
- The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority announces that the Dubai Tram and Dubai Metro will be suspended until April 5 as sterilization continues in Dubai. (Gulf News)
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
- The 2020 North American International Auto Show, originally scheduled from June 9–20 in Detroit, has been cancelled due to the designation of the TCF Center as a temporary hospital. (Click On Detroit)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
Disasters and accidents
- An IAI Westwind jet, chartered by the Philippine government for a medical evacuation flight to Haneda Airport in Japan, crashes upon takeoff at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. All eight people onboard are killed. (RT)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- New Zealand's Ministry of Health reports its first death from COVID-19, a woman in her 70s. (Newstalk ZB)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
- Thirty-nine health workers from Cuba arrive in Andorra, as the country's confirmed cases and death toll per capita becomes one of the highest in the world. (Diari d'Andorra)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo extends the stay-at-home order for non-essential workers to April 15. (Business Insider)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
International relations
- North Korea–South Korea relations, Japan–North Korea relations, North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles into the ocean, the latest in an unprecedented flurry of launches. Both South Korea and Japan condemn the launching. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2020 Malian parliamentary election
- After having been postponed several times, parliamentary elections are being held in war-torn Mali. The election is overshadowed by the recent kidnapping of the leading opposition politician Soumaïla Cissé and the first reported COVID-19 death in the country. (DW)
March 30, 2020 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- Coalition warplanes carry out an air raid on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, bombing the Presidential Palace compound, a military school and airbase adjacent to Sanaa International Airport. The Houthi-run Almasirah TV channel says 70 horses were killed in the raid on the school. (Middle East Monitor)
- Somali Civil War, Somali Civil War (2009–present)
- Abdisalan Hassan, governor of the Nugal region, is killed in a suicide bombing. Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. (Al Jazeera)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- USA Rugby files for chapter 11 bankruptcy citing "insurmountable financial constraints" amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, 2020 Hubei lockdowns
- Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopens its stores and shopping centers. (USA Today)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
- Premier Doug Ford extends the province's state of emergency for another two weeks. (CTV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
- COVID-19 pandemic in Panama
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- U.S. state and local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
- The USNS Comfort arrives in New York City to relieve the area's hospitals of non-coronavirus patients. (The Hill)
- The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York City, will be converted into a temporary 350-bed field hospital to treat overflow patients from other hospitals in New York. (Wall Street Journal)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
- COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia, COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issue stay-at-home orders. Virginia's stay-at-home order will remain in effect until June 10. (Washington Post)
- U.S. state and local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Japanese comedian Ken Shimura dies from pneumonia several days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. (The Japan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his cabinet members self-quarantine after an aide tests positive for COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
- The government reports the country's first death from COVID-19. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
- Malaysia begins a nationwide disinfection to help curb the spread of COVID-19. (Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Fernando Simón, Director of the Center for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies of the Spanish Ministry of Health, becomes the second member of the Technical Committee to test positive for COVID-19. (RTVE)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says that the country will lift lockdowns after Easter if COVID-19 cases and death numbers remain stable. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The Department of Health and Social Care reports 180 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the United Kingdom's death toll to 1,415. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France reports 418 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the country's death toll to 3,024 and 44,550 cases. (Metro)
- Former President of the People's Republic of the Congo Joachim Yhombi-Opango dies from COVID-19 at a hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He is the first state leader (former or current) to have died from COVID-19. (Le Figaro)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana
- Botswana reports their first confimed cases of COVID-19. Health Minister Lemogang Kwape says the three patients are currently in quarantine and had recently travelled to Britain and Thailand. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Libya
- The Government of National Accord (GNA) frees 466 prisoners from jails in Tripoli to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The GNA also announces an extended curfew from 2pm to 7am in the areas it controls. (Al Jazeera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
Law and crime
- The Singer Laren museum says that the Vincent van Gogh painting The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen was stolen in a raid. (AP News)
Politics and elections
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics; COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Parliament votes 137 to 53 in favor of passing legislation to create a state of emergency without a time limit, grant Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the ability to rule by decree, suspend the parliament with no elections, and establish prison sentences for spreading fake news and leaving quarantine. (DW)
Sports
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- After getting postponed a week before, the 2020 Summer Olympics has been rescheduled to July 23, 2021, while the 2020 Summer Paralympics is now taking place for August 24, 2021. (The Guardian)
March 31, 2020 (Tuesday)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
- Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum says that Dubai will provide financial assistance to Emirates Airlines. (Financial Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Disasters and accidents
- Eighteen firefighters and their guide are killed by a forest fire in Liangshan, Sichuan, China. (BBC News)
- 2020 Central Idaho earthquake
- A 6.5 magnitude earthquake happens 72 km (45 mi) west of Challis, Idaho, United States. It is the strongest earthquake in the state since 1983. (USGS)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- The government of the Solomon Islands orders all schools closed to combat COVID-19. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar
- Myanmar reports the country's first death from COVID-19 as confirmed cases rise to 14. The patient was a 69-year-old man with cancer in Yangon. (The Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The Department of Health and Social Care reports 393 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll in the country to date, bringing the country's death toll to 1,789 and 25,150 cases. (The Independent)
- A 13-year-old boy dies at the King's College Hospital, becoming the UK's youngest victim from the virus to date. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- The total number of cases in New York rises to over 75,000. The state's death toll reaches 1,550. (New York Post)
- Rep. Max Rose is expected to be deployed with the National Guard to New York as an effort to contain the coronavirus. (Politico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guam
- United States Navy Captain Brett Crozier requests urgent help from The Pentagon following an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, which is currently docked in Guam. Crozier has recommended quarantining almost the entire crew of 4,000. (BBC News)
- The United States surpasses China in the number of deaths linked to COVID-19, as the death toll rises to 3,416, according to Johns Hopkins University. (The Denver Channel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York
- COVID-19 pandemic in El Salvador
- El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele confirms the country's first death from COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi
- Burundi reports the country's first cases of COVID-19. The patients are two Burundians, aged 56 and 42, who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring Rwanda. (Andolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone
- In a televised address, Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio confirms the country's first case of COVID-19, a 37-year-old man who had recently travelled back from France. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal
- Former President of French association football club Olympique de Marseille, Pape Diouf, dies from COVID-19 in Senegal, becoming the country's first fatality from the virus. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
- Prominent scientist and HIV/AIDS researcher Gita Ramjee dies from COVID-19 in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
International relations
- United States–Venezuela relations, Venezuelan presidential crisis
- In a policy shift, the United States proposes a "Democratic Transition Framework" which includes that both disputed Presidents, Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó, step aside from the office. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan
- Turkmenistan's government bans the usage of the word "coronavirus" in all public settings and also bans the use of face masks. The government maintains there are no cases in the country. (NPR)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan
Politics and elections
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin
- The Wisconsin primary is expected to go as planned for April 7 despite coronavirus concerns. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam dies of a heart attack in Paris, France. (Reuters)
Science and technology
- The World Meteorological Organization will not retire any names from the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, retired names from that season, as well as the upcoming 2020 season, will be announced jointly during next year's annual spring meeting. (Weather)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2019–20 Chinese Basketball Association season, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- The Chinese Basketball Association delays the restart of its season due to the coronavirus pandemic. (ABC News)
- 2019–20 Chinese Basketball Association season, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 |
- March
- 19: Vanuatu, Parliament
- 22: Abkhazia, President
- 22: Guinea, National Assembly, Referendum
- 29: Mali, National Assembly (1st)
- United States: Michael Avenatti, Harvey Weinstein
- Armenia: Serzh Sargsyan
- Cambodia: Kem Sokha
- Guatemala: Otto Pérez Molina, Roxana Baldetti, Juan Carlos Monzón and others
- Greece: Nikolaos Michaloliakos
- Israel: Faina Kirschenbaum, Benjamin Netanyahu
- Malaysia: Najib Razak
- Malta: Murder of Daphne Caruana
- Philippines: Leila de Lima, Maria Ressa, Marcos vs. Robredo electoral protest
- South Africa: Jacob Zuma
- Spain: Bárcenas affair, Catalan police leadership
- United Kingdom: Alex Salmond
- United States: Fat Leonard scandal, Varsity Blues scandal, Raid on the North Korean embassy in Madrid, 6ix9ine
- International: The Gambia v. Myanmar
- Guatemala: Álvaro Colom, Manuel Baldizón, Juan Alberto Fuentes
- Japan: Carlos Ghosn
- United States: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Elizabeth Holmes, Meng Wanzhou, R. Kelly, Golden State Killer, Nikolas Cruz
- Zimbabwe: Ignatius Chombo
- Association football
- Women's association football
- American football
- Basketball
- Golf
- Ice hockey
- Rugby sevens
- Rugby union
- Other sports seasons
More details – current sports events
- 30: Joe Ashton
- 30: Manolis Glezos
- 30: James T. Goodrich
- 29: Philip Warren Anderson
- 29: Joe Diffie
- 29: Krzysztof Penderecki
- 29: Ken Shimura
- 28: Rodolfo González Rissotto
- 28: Thomas Schäfer
- 27: Joseph Lowery
- 26: Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Parma
- 26: Bill Martin
- 26: Curly Neal
- 25: Liesbeth List
- 25: Nimmi
- 24: Manu Dibango
- 24: Stuart Gordon
- 24: Terrence McNally
- 24: Bill Rieflin
- 24: Albert Uderzo
- 23: Lucia Bosè
- 22: Carmen de Mairena
- 22: Eric Weissberg
- 22: Jürg Zeltner
- 21: Sol Kerzner
- 21: Lorenzo Sanz
- 20: Kenny Rogers
- 18: Claude Bennett
- 18: Catherine Hamlin
- 18: Alfred Worden
- 17: Roger Mayweather
- 17: Lyle Waggoner
- 17: Betty Williams
- 16: Stuart Whitman
- 15: Roy Hudd
- 14: Genesis P-Orridge
- 12: Michel Roux
- 11: Burkhard Hirsch
- 10: Ruth Born
- 9: Richard K. Guy
- 9: John Bathersby
- 8: Max von Sydow
- 7: Fatemeh Rahbar
- 6: Bélgica Castro
- 6: Henri Richard
- 6: McCoy Tyner
- 5: Jeanette Fitzsimons
- 5: Hossein Sheikholeslam
- 4: Amo Houghton
- 4: Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
- 4: Rosalind P. Walter
- 3: Bobbie Battista
- 3: Stanisław Kania
- 2: Henry N. Cobb
- 2: James Lipton
- 1: Ernesto Cardenal
- 1: Jack Welch
- Algeria, Libya and Tunisia
- Cameroon
- Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Libya
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Peru
- Afghanistan
- China
- India
- India and Pakistan
- Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
- Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Georgia
- Russia
- Ukraine
2020 events and developments by topic
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Works and introductions categories
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