March 23 coronavirus news

The chief state judge in New Jersey ordered the release of hundreds of inmates in county jails by Tuesday “based on the dangers posed by coronavirus disease 19.”

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court issued the order on Monday after consulting with the state attorney general, County Prosecutors Association, Public Defenders Office and the ACLU of New Jersey.

The ACLU of New Jersey estimates up to 1,000 people may be released under the order.

“The reduction of county jail populations, under appropriate conditions, is in the public interest to mitigate risks imposed by Covid-19,” the judge wrote.

Inmates who are detained for probation violations, municipal court convictions, disorderly persons offense, and for fourth-degree or petty crimes, will be released beginning Tuesday, according to the order.

An inmates release can be appealed if there are questions about public safety. The judge said no inmates who have tested positive for the virus will be released until the judge determines a plan to isolate the individual. 

“This is truly a landmark agreement, and one that should be held up for all states dealing with the current public health crisis,” said Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ website.

The Archbishop said that he is experiencing mild symptoms and is self quarantining.

“I will use this quiet time for additional prayer and sacrifice for all those seriously affected by the virus. I pray to get well soon and continue ministry,” the Archbishop said in the statement. 

Italy has confirmed 601 new coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 6,077. 

This is the second day that has seen a small decrease in cases and deaths.

Another 4,789 new cases have been diagnosed, bringing the total number of cases to 63,927. 

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has issued a stay-at-home order, which goes into effect just before midnight Tuesday and lasts until April 6.

The order calls for all Indiana residents to stay home unless they're doing an essential activity such as getting food or medical supplies.

Like other states that have issued these orders, some workers deemed essential like grocery store and gas station employees and medical professionals are exempt from the order.

A decision will be made “very soon” on the future of this summer’s Tokyo Games, according to Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's health emergencies program.

Ryan added that the future of the Games was under “very, very close observation at the moment” and that the WHO was contributing to deliberations with all relevant parties involved. 

The IOC said on Sunday it has given itself a deadline of four weeks to make a decision on the Games. It stated that cancellation is “not on the agenda,” and added that postponement and a “scaled-down" Games are options under consideration.

A number of nations’ Olympic committees have already called for the postponement of the Games until 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.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the military is looking into deploying field hospitals and personnel this week to areas in need like Seattle and New York City.

"We are looking at hospitals and equipment and medical professionals, and my aim is to get them out this week," he said. 

Esper said he is waiting on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to validate this deployment. "We'll be moving out this week," he said. 

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At least 54 people have died in the UK from coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

There were 46 deaths in England, four in Scotland and four in Wales, according to National Health Service England, the Scottish government and Public Health Wales.

There have been at least 335 deaths in the country so far.

At least 11 US states have issued stay-at-home orders as the country tries to stop the spread of coronavirus.

A handful of individual cities have also issued similar orders.

The specifics of the orders vary from place to place, but in general stay-at-home orders encourage most people to stay home as much as possible.

Here's a look at the states and currently under these orders:

Boeing announced today it will suspend production at its facilities in Washington state for two weeks beginning Wednesday.  

The area is home to about half of Boeing’s employees and several production facilities.  

It said employees who can work remotely would do so and others would be paid for 10 working days.