March 25 coronavirus news

The 74th Annual Tony Awards, scheduled to take place on June 7, will be moved to a new date amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, according to a statement from the show's production company.

The event, which honors the year's best theater and Broadway productions, was set to take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which, as of Wednesday, has more than 17,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

A new date for the show has not been set but the decision will be made "in coordination" with broadcast partner CBS, according to the statement.

"We will announce new dates and additional information once Broadway opens again," the statement added. "We are looking forward to celebrating Broadway and our industry when it is safe to do so."

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has issued a "stay home" order for the state.

Citing confirmed community transmission in the state, Little said that the order is in effect immediately and initially extends for 21 days.

People in the state can still leave home to obtain essential services, but the governor has closed all non-essential businesses and directed restaurants to only delivery or take out options.

Little has also activated elements of the Idaho National Guard to "assist civil authorities and local jurisdictions" with executing the state's coronavirus response.

Little did not specify any specific mission or role for the national guard but did say they are preparing to "stand up a joint task force, if requested." The size and mission could vary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a potential "complete lockdown" if coronavirus continued to spread throughout the country.

"In two weeks, we are liable to find ourselves with thousands of patients, many of whom will be in danger of death," Netanyahu said in a statement Wednesday night, shortly after Israel imposed a new set of more stringent restrictions.

Netanyahu said such a decision would be made within a few days and authorities were working on legal and logistical preparations.

As of Wednesday night, there were five confirmed deaths from coronavirus in Israel and 2,369 cases.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced the first fatality from coronavirus in the West Bank.

In a statement, a PA government spokesperson said the woman was in her sixties and from the village of Biddu, to the west of Ramallah.

The PA reports 62 cases of coronavirus in the West Bank and two in Gaza.

Tennessee has reported 117 new cases today alone, bringing the state total to 784 cases, according to the Department of Health. 

The state has reported three deaths.

The famous Four Seasons hotel says it will offer housing to medical staff "free of charge" as they help respond to the coronavirus pandemic in New York City.

New York City agencies including the Office of Emergency Management and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are also helping health care workers and recently discharged Covid-19 patients get hotel rooms, so they don’t have to go home and potentially expose their families to the highly contagious virus.

OEM spokesperson Omar Bourne said that both individual hotels and hotel associations have given “a tremendous outpouring of support and offers to help.”

CNN has asked the agencies if the individuals are expected to pay for the rooms or if they are covered with public funding.

Minnesota's 5.6 million residents will shelter in place starting at midnight on Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference today. 

He asked residents to stay at home for two weeks and limit their movement outside to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Residents can still leave their homes for groceries and exercise, Walz said. 

The order lasts until April 10. 

During that period, the state plans to convert stadiums and arenas into hospitals, and stock up on supplies, the governor said. State officials also hope to alleviate capacity on its intensive care unit.

Walz said he hopes to "strike a proper balance" and make sure "our economy can function" while protecting the most vulnerable and slowing the rate of infection. 

"We can get ahead of it," Walz said.

The first homeless New Yorker has died because of Covid-19, Isaac McGinn, spokesman for NYC’s Department of Social Services, tells CNN

"Our hearts go out to the individual’s friends and family," McGinn said.

Here's the full statement:

The judicial branch would receive some additional funding in the economic stimulus bill. 

The Supreme Court of the United States, for example, is provided an additional $500,000 for salaries and expenses "to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally."

There is also a similar provision, of $6 million, for salaries and expenses to be used by federal courts of appeals, district courts and other judicial services. 

The bill also provides that emergency conditions apply to allow for the use of videoconferencing and telephone conferencing for certain federal criminal proceedings, including felony pleas and sentencing.

There is discretion left to the chief judge or other senior judges about whether to use such remote conferencing "cannot be conducted in person without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety."