March 23 coronavirus news

US stocks opened lower Monday and European markets stayed stuck in reverse even after the US Federal Reserve committed itself to creating an unlimited amount of money to prevent the world's largest economy from plunging into a deep recession.

The decision to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds was part of a much bigger package of extraordinary measures announced by the Fed, which also included a promise to launch a Main Street lending program.

US stocks were poised to open dramatically lower prior to the announcement from the central bank, which briefly lifted European stocks and oil prices. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq pulled back some of their losses, but still started the trading session in negative territory.

Global stock markets were hammered earlier on Monday after US lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a massive stimulus package meant to help Americans handle the coronavirus pandemic and as authorities around the world took ever more draconian measures to restrict movement and public gatherings.

Read the full story here.

As people across the globe worry about the well-being of health care workers and the ability of small businesses to survive during the coronavirus pandemic, one restaurant in the UK found a way to tackle both.

Crust Bros pizza in London has served up hundreds of pizzas to doctors, nurses and ambulance staff who are the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus. The best part? The pizzas are donated in part by customers hoping to keep the pizzeria open.

After the restaurant donated the first pizzas, Moore realized he could use the restaurant's social media following to reach out to the local community and donate even more. He invited customers to “Pay it Forward” to Britain’s National Health Service and donate a pizza themselves. 

"This afternoon we’re going to be delivering about 300 more pizzas,” said Moore on Sunday. “And today we’re going to have seven people working for the restaurant who otherwise wouldn’t. So this has enabled us to carry on.”

It’s a bittersweet final day for the restaurant — Crust Bros closed Sunday night, but Moore hopes to reopen in 12 weeks depending on announcements from the British government. 

India’s upper and lower houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die — which means “without day” or indefinitely — on Monday, as large parts of the country went into lockdown as part of the effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The second phase of the Budget Session began on March 2 and was due to continue until April 3.

States locked down: Twenty out of India’s total 28 states and nine union territories have now ordered a complete lockdown, with Kerala being the latest to announce restrictions.

Five states and union territories have issued a full lockdown only in certain districts, while three states/union territories have imposed partial restrictions to promote social distancing.

In states that have imposed a complete lockdown, only essential services will be operational. These include water, electricity, health services, fire services, groceries and municipal services.

As of Monday afternoon, India had 415 confirmed cases with 23 patients discharged and 7 deaths reported, according to Lav Agarwal, the country’s Junior Health Secretary.

Zimbabwean officials confirmed the country’s first novel coronavirus death on Monday. The 30-year-old victim has been identified as broadcast journalist Zororo Makamba.

"Today we recorded a death of COVID19. Zororo Makamba passed away midday today. According to his doctors were looking after him, (he) had other concurrent medical conditions which made him vulnerable. I wish to advise our nation not to panic because of this death as COVID19 is treatable if someone has all the precautionary measures in place," Minister of Health Obediah Moyo said.

Makamba tested positive for the virus on Saturday after returning to Harare from a trip to the US earlier in the month.

As of Monday morning, at least 157 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have died, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference.

More than 20,000 people across the state have tested positive, Cuomo said.

Germany has asked the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Olympic Games to 2021, a German National Olympic Committee spokesperson told CNN.

The spokesperson said the German committee's president, Alfons Hörmann, made the decision to call for a delay to the Games due to the global health situation and the absence of training possibilities for athletes.

Germany follows in the footsteps of several nations around the world who have already called for the Games to be postponed till 2021.

Canada and Australia are so far the only two nations to confirm that they will not sending athletes to Tokyo this year because of the risks associated with the virus.

The latest call for postponement comes after the head of the Japan Olympic Committee, Yasuhiro Yamashita, said on Monday postponing this summer’s Games should now be considered among the options.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state was "successful in getting more" respirator masks for health care workers.

Cuomo said, "today, we can get masks to anyone who needs them."

He added that he can't promise that next week or the week after he'll be able to make the same claim about mask availability.

He reiterated his call for President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act so that the federal government can help the state deal with the shortage of masks and other needed personal protective equipment for health care workers.

More than 20,000 people across the state of New York have tested positive for coronavirus, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a news conference Monday.

“In absolute terms, New York has by far the greatest need in the nation,” he said.

Here's a breakdown of the latest numbers in the state:

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is ordering people to stay home unless they are critical workers. The order goes in to effect at 12:01 a.m. local time tomorrow, according to a press release from her office. 

She signed a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order which lasts for the next three weeks. 

The order allows people to leave their homes for exercise, but Whitmer is now banning gatherings, public and private, “of any number of people occurring.” This does not apply to single households where people may already live together.