By Jessie Yeung, Joshua Berlinger, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner, Emma Reynolds and Mike Hayes, CNN
From CNN's Shawn Nottingham
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the closure of many Iowa retail businesses, including book and clothing stores and restaurants and bars until April 7 at a news conference Thursday.
The new measures go into effect at 10 p.m. local time today. Reynolds also announced that nonessential medical procedures will also be suspended.
By the numbers: Iowa now has at least 179 cases of coronavirus, Reynolds said.
From CNN's Hollie Silverman
At least 673 new cases of novel coronavirus have been identified in the state of Illinois, state Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said during an afternoon press conference.
Of those new cases, 7 new deaths have been reported, Ezike said.
The state's total cases is now at least 2,538, including 26 deaths, Ezike said.
From CNN's Vasco Cotovio and Lindsay Isaac in London
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the government will invest approximately $255 million in new funding to support global efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
Johnson also called on international leaders to work together to speed up the vaccine development process.
“While our brilliant doctors and nurses fight coronavirus at home, this record British funding will help to find a vaccine for the entire world," Johnson said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the new funding will "ensure British scientists and researchers continue to lead the global fight" against the deadly virus.
Speaking after a virtual meeting of G20 leaders, Johnson called on world leaders to "step up" to help defeat the virus.
"The UK has led the way in responding to the economic impact of coronavirus...but without targeted and coordinated interventions from international governments, the virus could have far-reaching global implications," he added.
From CNN's Alison Kosik
Toyota is extending the closure of all its North American automobile and components plants until April 20.
Toyota North America said Thursday in a statement it will continue to suspend production due to "the ongoing pandemic and decline in vehicle demand." The company added that "service parts operations and finished vehicle centers will continue to operate to meet the needs of our customers."
This is the third shutdown extension for Toyota. Originally, Toyota said it would reopen facilities on April 6.
Some context: Chrysler also announced Thursday it would keep its North American operations closed until April 14. Ford recently announced it would reopen plants on April 6.
From CNN's Alicia Lee
With New York quickly becoming the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, health care workers in the state have been working nonstop.
Knowing that these heroes wouldn't have time to stop and grab a meal, one of New York's most famous couples — Bill and Hillary Clinton — stepped in to help.
On Wednesday evening, the Clintons sent over 400 pizzas to hospitals in Westchester County "as a small token of their appreciation for everything medical professionals are doing for their communities," according to Angel Ureña, spokesperson for President Clinton.
"Thank you for protecting our communities. From Bill and Hillary Clinton," a note sent with the pizzas read.
There were 80 pizzas delivered to St. John's Riverside Hospital alone.
"Thank you to the Clintons for pizza today at DOBBS FERRY ED! Leaders like you will get us through this. So much gratitude thank you thank you thank you," Angela Cirilli, the emergency medicine ultrasound director at St. John's Riverside Hospital, said in a tweet.
From CNN’s Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt
A doctor from South Florida who tested positive for coronavirus has died.
Dr. Alex Hsu, 67, died on Tuesday, according to the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office.
He had recently traveled to China and had complained of shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea and a cough, according to medical examiner's office records. Hsu was transferred to the ICU where he was placed on a ventilator.
Hsu’s positive result for Covid-19 was received Wednesday, documents from the medical examiner's office show.
From CNN's Sheena Jones
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has issued a stay-at-home order starting at midnight Friday. The order will last until May 4.
Nonessential businesses are also expected to close by the end of the day Friday, he said at a news conference Thursday.
Sununu acknowledged that it was an "incredibly big ask."
CORRECTION: This post has been updated to reflect the exact date the order will be lifted.
From CNN’s Paula Newton in Ottawa
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the US is requesting American troops be placed within 20 miles of the US-Canada border to help with border surveillance especially at irregular crossings. Trudeau indicated his government did not believe that was necessary at this time, but that talks were ongoing.
“Canada and the United States have the longest un-militarized border in the world and it is very much in both of our interests for it to remain that way. We have been in discussions with the United States on this,” Trudeau said during a news conference outside his Ottawa home where he remains in quarantine.
Later at a government news conference in Ottawa, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland revealed Canada had made its opposition known to many levels of the US government, including the Defense Department and US Homeland Security.
"Canada is strongly opposed to this US proposal and we've made that opposition very, very clear to our American counterparts,” she said. “We understand the concerns of our American neighbors and friends. What we have said is we really do not believe at all that there would be a public health justification for you to take this action.”
In blunt terms Freeland underscored that, in her opinion, this was not the way treat a trusted friend and military ally.
Some context: Canada borders 13 American states and before the Covid-19 crisis the two countries shared one of the most lucrative trading relationships in the world. Both countries jointly decided to close the border to nonessential traffic earlier this month. Essential commercial trade and traffic has continued with enhanced medical screening.
From CNN's Cristina Alesci
Hilton employees are bracing for the possibility of additional furloughs, two people familiar with the company’s plans said.
The company, which includes brands like Waldorf Astoria and Embassy Suites, has already begun furloughing employees at hotel properties it manages.
A new round of reductions, which is expected any day now, will hit the company’s corporate staff, according to two people familiar with the plans. It’s possible Hilton will find a way to avoid furloughs but it’s highly unlikely, said one of the people.
As members of the Trump administration continue to downplay Thursday's unemployment claims number, business and labor groups, as well as employees who are facing the reality of losing their jobs, are coming forward to talk about the hardships ahead.
Earlier Thursday, the flight attendants union criticized Treasury Secretary’s Steven Mnuchin's claim that the unemployment statistic is "not relevant."
By the numbers: Hilton has 60,000 direct employees in the US but that figure includes workers at Hilton owned and managed properties. It’s unclear how many corporate employees the company has.