March 23 coronavirus news

By Julia Hollingsworth, James Griffiths, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Amy Woodyatt, CNN

Updated 9:46 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020
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1:23 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

Indiana governor issues stay-at-home order

Indiana Governor's Office
Indiana Governor's Office

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.

1:25 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

WHO expects decision on Tokyo 2020 Games "very soon"

From CNN’s Aleks Klosok in London

Jae C. Hong/AP
Jae C. Hong/AP

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.

“We have every confidence the Japanese government and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) would not proceed with any Games if it would be dangerous to athletes and spectators," Ryan said at a press briefing at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on Monday.

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.

1:24 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

Pentagon chief wants to setup military field hospitals in US cities this week

Pool
Pool

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. 

Watch more:

1:12 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

There have been 54 coronavirus deaths in the UK in the past 24 hours

From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London

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.

1:13 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

These are the 11 states under stay-at-home orders

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:

1:07 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

Boeing will suspend production in Washington state for 2 weeks

From CNN's Greg Wallace

Silas Stein/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images/FILE
Silas Stein/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images/FILE

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. 

12:47 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

First charter flight from Guatemala has departed with US citizens

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The first charter flight to repatriate US citizens has departed, according to the US Embassy in Guatemala.

“We are committed to helping Americans return home during #COVIDー19,” the embassy tweeted along with a video of the plane taking off.

Two flights are expected to leave from Guatemala City to the US Monday.

In an alert Sunday, the embassy said it did not know when civilian flights would resume in Guatemala following the government-coordinated charter flights, and urged travelers to continue to check the availability of commercial flights.

"Flight seats will be prioritized for U.S. citizens and their eligible family members (including those with identified health concerns), Legal Permanent Residents of the United States, and then others as seats may become available," the embassy said Sunday. “Since flights may occur on short notice and all flights will depart from La Aurora airport in Guatemala City, we urge eligible travelers who are currently outside of the Guatemala City metro area to begin preparations to move towards the capital."
12:49 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

World Health Organization: "The pandemic is accelerating"

A tv grab taken from the World Health Organization website shows WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivering a virtual news briefing at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Monday, March 23.
A tv grab taken from the World Health Organization website shows WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivering a virtual news briefing at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Monday, March 23. AFP/Getty Images

 

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the coronavirus “pandemic is accelerating,” in a tweet on Monday.

Tedros said there are more than 300,000 cases of coronavirus across the world.

“It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 and just four days for the third 100,000," he laid out.   

12:40 p.m. ET, March 23, 2020

There are more than 40,000 coronavirus cases in the US

From CNN's Amanda Watts

There are at least 40,069 cases of novel coronavirus in the United States, according to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems. At least 472 people have died.

The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.