March 24 coronavirus news

At least 13 states and 13 municipalities in the US have ordered 144,522,931 people to stay home as a result of the pandemic, according to data compiled by CNN using US Census population estimates. 

That's about 44% of the US population.

At least three additional states and eight municipalities will have orders going into effect later this week. 

When all orders take effect 162,485,384 people will be affected by the orders — or 49% of the US population.  

The US Census Bureau estimates the population at 328,239,523. 

New York state is soaring in coronavirus case numbers, higher and faster than anywhere in America, with more than 25,000 cases and at least 210 deaths by Tuesday — and case totals are doubling every few days.

But in recent days, numbers in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida and Georgia are also spiking fast, according to CNN's state-by-state county of positive Covid-19 cases reported by state and local health departments.

Here's where things stand now:

Remember: To be sure, while these are notable recent spikes, the states with the consistently largest total number of cases are New York, Washington, and California. It’s just that in recent days, the rates of increase in Washington and California are not quite as high. Washington and California were also home to the nation’s earliest recorded outbreaks.

The Vatican has confirmed the first coronavirus infections in the city state.

The cases include one office staffer "and two museum employees,” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, the Vatican has decided not to suspend its activities, instead limiting staff numbers and "encouraging remote work as much as possible," according to their press office.

The owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils is apologizing for initiating a 20% pay cut for salaried employees of the teams and is now reversing the decision.

Josh Harris, one of the founders of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment group, says he got the employee pay-cut "wrong" — a move originally disclosed on Monday — and today is retracting it. 

Harris said in a statement today, "it’s clear that was the wrong decision...to our staff and fans, I apologize for getting this wrong." Harris continued by saying all employees will be paid their full salaries. 

There are at least 50,076 cases of the 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 646 people have died.

There have already been over 100 deaths reported today due to coronavirus, according to a tally by CNN.

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

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he still hopes to reach a Senate deal on a coronavirus stimulus plan today.

“I would just say we’re trying to finalize all the documents. Going through a lot of complicated issues and we’re making a lot of progress," he said as he went from one meeting to another moments ago.

“Again we’re trying to get a deal as quick as we get a deal. So, I hope it’s tonight. Absolutely. Still think we can get there," he said when asked if there would be a deal tonight. 

Where things stand now: Pressure has been intensifying for days on the Senate to pass a massive stimulus package to respond to the economic fallout of the coronavirus, but yesterday came and went without much action.

After four straight days of marathon negotiations, the Trump administration and senators again failed to secure an agreement on a roughly $2 trillion plan to provide a jolt to the economy and give aid to hard-hit workers and industries.

Leaders emerged from late-night meetings in the Capitol optimistic that a deal could be struck today.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he and his officials will "shift our posture," if necessary, when it comes to stricter border controls with the United States. 

“We are braced for a broad range of scenarios, we have put contingency plans for next steps depending on what trajectory the virus takes in Canada or indeed around the world," said Trudeau during his daily news conference outside his Ottawa home where he remains in quarantine.

Border states including Washington and New York have become Covid-19 hotspots and Canadian officials are becoming more concerned about community spread as hundreds of thousands of Canadians return to the country from the US and beyond.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says it has tested more than 120,000 Canadians to date and there’s an almost equal mix of travel-related and community spread cases across the country. Canada now has at least 2,500 cases of the virus, with cases spiking by at least 25% Tuesday alone. Canada has reported 25 deaths.

Fifty-one members of the New York City Fire Department have tested positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, according to department spokesperson Jim Long.

The members include firefighters, as well as emergency medical service personnel and other workers.

Long said five people have been hospitalized.

The French government will launch a new financial aid package in order to stem the spread of coronavirus to developing nations, with a particular focus on countries within Africa, France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday. 

"International cooperation and support must absolutely be given to the most vulnerable of the third-world countries, because they are going to need it very quickly," the Foreign Minister added, highlighting Africa as particular area of concern.