Previous coronavirus daily briefing updates, March 15-17

Current daily briefings on the coronavirus can be found here. Scroll below to read previous reports, listed in eastern time.

March 17, 10 p.m.

Casinos in Las Vegas will be shuttered for weeks after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced the closure of nonessential businesses across the state during a press conference late Tuesday. Nevada is the latest state in the country to announce the closure of nonessential businesses, such as gyms, theaters and casinos.

“Today it’s clear additional steps must be taken immediately in order to slow the spread of this deadly virus in our state,” Sisolak said at Tuesday’s press conference. “We absolutely must take this step for every Nevadan’s health and safety. Please, please take this seriously."

March 17, 9:50 p.m.

National Parks from coast to coast are closing facilities, but remaining open, during the coronavirus pandemic. “Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, visitor centers, museums, hotels, restaurants, and shuttles are closed,” Yosemite National Park announced on Tuesday. While many services will be suspended, “Yosemite National Park remains open.”

Zion National Park, the fourth-most visited national park in the country, is taking similar measures. The shuttle bus service that takes visitors into Zion Canyon, home to the park's most popular hiking trails, has suspended service, but the trails themselves will remain open. “Visitors will be allowed to drive up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive until the limited parking in the main canyon has filled. Once parking is full, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive will be closed and open intermittently as parking spaces become available.”

March 17, 8:55 p.m.

Chicago’s Midway International Airport is limiting operations until further notice, which could have major impacts on air traffic in and out of the airport. This announcement came shortly after news broke that three workers at the airport’s air traffic control tower tested positive for COVID-19.

“We have been notified by the FAA that out of an abundance of caution, access to the air traffic control tower at Midway International Airport will be limited, and flight operations will shift to “one-in-one-out,” the airport stated. “Subsequently, the FAA has implemented a ground delay program, which applies to any flight bound for Midway that has now yet departed its point of origin. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airline for the most up-to-date flight information.”

March 17, 8:35 p.m.

A team of scientists more than 100 strong has identified 50 drugs that could be effective in treating COVID-19, according to The New York Times. Although most scientists are seeking drugs that attack the virus itself, SARS-CoV-2, the Quantitative Biosciences Institute Coronavirus Research Group, based at the University of California, San Francisco, is exploring a different approach. The researchers at this institute are looking for drugs that work to shield proteins in human cells that coronavirus needs to reproduce.

March 17, 7:40 p.m.

The death toll in the U.S. due to COVID-19 reached triple digits on Tuesday night, reaching 106, according to figures maintained by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Half of these fatalities have been reported in Washington where the death toll stands at 53. The total number of confirmed cases has also surpassed 6,300.

New York has become the new epicenter in the country with 1,706 confirmed cases, or 27% of all the cases confirmed across the country. Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the city on Tuesday as the number of cases rose, saying, "It is a frightening time on every level" but "we will get through this much time."

March 17, 7:23 p.m.

The weather is chilly in Vernon, Connecticut, this week, but the sign this man held up in these challenging times was nothing short of heartwarming. Unable to visit his wife’s nursing home on their 67th wedding anniversary, Bob stood outside of her window and showed her a sign that read "I've loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary.” Her response was equally as touching as she blew him kisses from her room. The Connecticut Department of Health directed a restriction on all visitors to nursing homes on March 9 to protect residents from COVID-19, with an exception for end-of-life care needs. Connecticut had 68 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday evening.

March 17, 6:40 p.m.

Coronavirus has spread to all 50 states across the United States after West Virginia confirmed its first cast of COVID-19. Until Tuesday, West Virginia was the only state in the country to have no cases of COVID-19. “Our health officials came to me and said ‘now we do have our first positive confirmed in the eastern panhandle’” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said during a press conference on Tuesday evening. “We knew it was coming, we prepared for this, and we shouldn’t panic.”

March 17, 5:40 p.m.

The Rollins Stones’ upcoming NO FILTER tour of North America has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement released Tuesday via the band’s social media. The 15-date tour was set to start in San Diego on May 8 and end in Atlanta on July 9. In the statement, the band sent a message to fans saying, “We are sorry to all the fans who were looking forward to it as we were, but the health and safety of everyone has to take priority.” Ticket holders were advised to hold onto their tickets and wait for more information.

March 17, 4:12 p.m.

Global confirmed cases of COVID-19 spiked Monday more than any other day since the outbreak began, according to figures maintained by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Some 18,800 new cases worldwide were reported on Monday, eclipsing the previous high of 16,200 new cases on March 13. Prior to that, the most new cases recorded in a day was 15,100 on Feb. 13. The Johns Hopkins University stats show 2,500 cases were deemed recovered on Monday. All told, more than 80,000 patients have recovered from the illness.

March 17, 3:42 p.m.

“We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said at a Tuesday press conference at the White House that included members of the coronavirus task force. "Americans need cash now, and the president wants to get cash now. And I mean now -- in the next two weeks," Mnuchin said.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he would impose stricter nationwide guidelines to help control the fast spread of coronavirus, but also to address economic impacts. Of major concern is the economic wellbeing of Americans that have lost their jobs due to shutdowns of companies. Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah proposed giving American adults $1,000 each on Monday. Mnuchin declined to discuss amounts being considered when reporters pressed him, but Trump said, "We're going big."

March 17, 2:45 p.m.

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will still be held this July, despite the rising concerns for the spread of coronavirus. In a statement released by the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, acknowledged that the situation was unprecedented, but they are working to ensure the safety of everyone involved with the event. The IOC will continue to monitor the situation 24/7, according to the statement.

March 17, 2:26 p.m.

France is deploying 100,000 police officers to enforce a country-wide lockdown that President Emmanuel Macron ordered Monday. Macron said in an address to the nation that "people should stay at home unless it was to buy groceries, travel to work, exercise or for medical care," France 24 reported. The lockdown went into effect midday Tuesday and will last 15 days. France has reported 124 deaths due to the virus and more than 6,600 cases.

March 17, 2:05 p.m.

Medicare patients can now visit any doctor by phone or video conference at no additional cost, the White House said. President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and several other members of the government's coronavirus task force gathered in the White House's press room to discuss some of the latest measures being taken to help Americans during the outbreak. Among the key announcements was the decision to expand telehealth health services to medicare patients to include FaceTime and Skype, a decision President Trump called a "historic breakthrough." "We encourage everyone to maximize use of telehealth to limit exposure to the virus. It's been a very successful method of communication but never used on scale like we're going to use it," Trump said, adding that it will help keep hospitals from going over capacity.

March 17, 1:02 p.m.

All Apple retail stores are closed until further notice in the U.S., the company announced on Tuesday. The decision comes a day after the Trump administration said Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 people. Apple closed all of its retail stores in China earlier this year as the spread of the virus worsened. According to CNBC, all 42 stores in mainland China have since reopened.

March 17, 12:46 p.m.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered bars and nightclubs to close at 5 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed for the next 30 days. Restaurants are allowed to stay open, but were ordered to only fill to half capacity with tables being at least six feet apart. The governor also ordered all universities in the state to send students home for the remainder of the semester for remote learning.

March 17, 12:40 p.m.

"The numbers are daunting." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that the expected peak of COVID-19 cases in the state will occur in about 45 days.The state's healthcare system will likely need as many as 18,000-37,000 ICU beds and 55,000-110,000 hospital beds. ICU beds are different than regular hospital beds in that they have additional equipment, such as ventilators. There are currently only 53,000 hospital beds and 3,000 ICU beds in the state, according to Cuomo.

The governor also the state will open drive-thru coronavirus testing facilities in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Staten Island and Rockland County. The Nassau facility opened on Tuesday. The state opened it's first drive-thru site last week in the town of New Rochelle in Westchester County, one of the hardest-hit areas of the COVID-19 outbreak. Confirmed cases in New York surged to more than 1,300 on Tuesday.

March 17, 11:37 a.m.

R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" from 1987 has resurfaced on music charts this week after being featured in various 'end of the world' playlists on streaming services. The song has reached No. 27 on the iTunes top song list Tuesday morning. When first released in 1987, the song reached No. 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

March 17, 11:25 a.m.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with the 2020 election cycle. Ohio's primary election set for Tuesday was postponed at the last minute because of COVID-19 fears. The decision to call it off came despite a legal challenge from a judicial candidate in Wood County, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Elsewhere, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday that the state's April 28 primary would now be held June 2, The Baltimore Sun reported.

March 17, 10:55 a.m.

Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have been released from an Australian hospital after being diagnosed with the COVID-19 last week, their son Chet Hanks said in an Instagram post. The couple is now under self-isolation at a rented home in Australia. The Oscar-winner was filming an Elvis biopic in Queensland before becoming infected. The film has since been suspended.

March 17, 10:22 a.m.

The 146th Kentucky Derby set for May 2 has been postponed and rescheduled for Sept. 5, race officials announced Tuesday. The derby, held annually on the first weekend of May at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, is considered the "longest continually held sporting event in America" with the first race taking place in 1875. It normally draws a crowd of more than 155,000 and throughout its history has been postponed just once -- in 1945 when the U.S. government issued a temporary nationwide ban on racing, according to The Courier Journal.

March 17, 10 a.m.

New research conducted by scientists from the National Institutes of Health, Princeton University and UCLA suggests that the new coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours and on some surfaces for two to three days. "Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of HCoV-19 is plausible, as the virus can remain viable in aerosols for multiple hours and on surfaces up to days," researchers wrote in the study's abstract.

March 17, 9:54 a.m.

Similar to San Francisco, more than 8 million residents of New York City may soon find themselves under a shelter in place mandate, according to the city's mayor Bill de Blasio. "We're absolutely considering that," de Blasio said in a Tuesday morning interview to CNN.  On Monday, the mayor signed an executive order that gives the city the power to enforce new rules requiring all restaurants, bars and cafes to shift to delivery and take-out only as well as close all movie theaters, small theaters, nightclubs and commercial gyms. The city's schools were also ordered to close through April 20, but remote learning will begin Monday, March 23.

March 17, 7:41 a.m.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced on Monday that city residents will be legally prohibited from leaving their homes until at least April 7. The new restrictions are notably tighter than any other city and will require all non-essential businesses to close.

According to the city-issued Public Health Order, the only acceptable reasons to leave ones home are for basic needs, such as visiting a doctor, buying groceries or obtaining medicine.

March 17, 6:19 a.m.

Here are the latest updated numbers from Johns Hopkins University:

• Total confirmed cases: 182,986

• Total deaths: 7,155

• Total recovered: 79,433

March 16, 9:55 p.m.

With the entire U.S. seemingly lurching toward total lockdown because of the COVID-19 outbreak, it's wise to know what types of symptoms to look out for in yourself and loved ones. The CDC says people can begin exhibiting the following symptoms anywhere from 2 days to 14 days after exposure:  
• Cough
• Fever
• Trouble breathing 
• Pneumonia

March 16, 9:15 p.m.

Google sister company Verily, a health technology firm, launched a COVID-19 screening site. At its rollout, the site, known as Project Baseline, allows California residents in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, outside of San Francisco, to complete an online form that will determine if a person is eligible for COVID-19 testing. President Trump said Friday that the site would be rolled out nationwide, but Google announced over the weekend it was "planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time."

March 16, 8:35 p.m.

Can you go for a swim during the COVID-19 outbreak? SARS-CoV-2 is inactivated by the levels of chlorine used in swimming pools, making it safe to go swimming during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Public Health England and The Pool Water Treatment and Advisory Group. However, social distancing should still be practiced among swimmers using a pool, according to officials. To sanitize pools and ensure that they are safe for the public, they recommend monthly bacteriological tests of pool water along with disinfecting objects and surfaces around the pool that may be touched often.

March 16, 7:18 p.m.

NASCAR has postponed all race events through early May, tentatively resuming the season at Martinsville, Virginia, on the weekend of May 9. “The health and safety of our fans, industry and the communities in which we race is our most important priority, so in accordance with recent CDC guidance, NASCAR is currently postponing all race events through May 3rd,” NASCAR said in a statement on Monday evening. “We intend to hold all 36 races this season, with future rescheduling soon to be determined as we continue to monitor this situation closely with public health officials and medical experts.“

March 16, 6:45 p.m.

Clinical trials for an investigational COVID-19 vaccine began on Monday, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The Phase 1 trial began in Seattle at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI). 43-year-old Jennifer Haller was the first to receive a vaccine, which is called mRNA-1273. The clinical study will evaluate dosages for safety and immune responses of 45 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 over an approximately 6-week period. The adults involved in the study will receive $100 for each clinic visit.  

“Finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID-19] is an urgent public health priority,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “This Phase 1 study, launched in record speed, is an important first step toward achieving that goal.”  

If research goes well, a vaccine would not be ready for public use for another 12 to 18 months, Fauci told The Associated Press.

March 16, 5:52 p.m.

There are now over 150 cases of coronavirus in Florida after 19 new cases were confirmed by Florida health officials. To help prevent this number from increasing any further, several beaches have been closed in the Sunshine State. The cities of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale have already closed all of its public beaches. Clearwater Beach, one of the most visited beaches in Florida, remains opened until emergency officials request them to close.

March 16, 5:40 p.m.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced state-wide closures of nonessential businesses for the next two weeks. This includes businesses such as gyms, hair salons, casinos, concert venues and theaters. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and medical facilities will remain open. Bars and restaurants are also being told to close, but can continue with carry out and delivery services.

"This isn't a decision I take lightly at all,” Wolf said during a press conference on Monday afternoon. "It's one that I'm making because medical experts believe it is the only way we can prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed."

March 16, 5 p.m.

Idris Elba, a 47-year-old British actor, has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced on Monday. "I didn’t have any symptoms. I got tested because I had realized I got exposed to someone who had also tested positive," Elba said in a video posted on Twitter.

The entertainment industry as a whole has been widely affected by the spread of COVID-19 due to social distancing practices and theater closings. NBCUniversal announced on Monday that theatrical movies from Universal Pictures will be made available immediately on-demand during the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

March 16, 4:25 p.m.

All residents of San Francisco are being told to stay at home except for essential needs beginning at midnight on Tuesday, March 17 and continuing until April 7. “We know these measures will significantly disrupt people’s day to day lives, but they are absolutely necessary,” said Mayor London Breed in a press release “This is going to be a defining moment for our City and we all have a responsibility to do our part to protect our neighbors and slow the spread of this virus by staying at home unless it is absolutely essential to go outside.”

“All travel, including but not limited to walking, biking, driving, or taking public transit is prohibited, except to perform Essential Activities, operate Essential Businesses, or to maintain Essential Government Functions,” the press release stated. “Individuals may go on a walk, get exercise, or take a pet outside to go to the bathroom, as long as at least six feet of social distancing is maintained.”

March 16, 3:45 p.m.

President Trump said that the worst out of the coronavirus outbreak could last until July or August during a press conference on Monday afternoon. Trump's coronavirus task force also recommended that people avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more people and eating and drinking at bars and restaurants. This announcement came shortly after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. climbed over 4,000.

March 16, 3:05 p.m.

The Major League Baseball season will be delayed further and the earliest play could start would be in mid-May. According to a statement on the league's website, Commissioner Rob Manfred held a conference call with all 30 MLB teams on Monday to inform them of the decision. 

"Following last night’s newly updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, the opening of the 2020 regular season will be pushed back in accordance with that guidance. The clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins. We will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts, and urge all baseball fans to follow suit," the statement read.

March 16, 2:40 p.m.

Canada is closing its border to non-citizens and non-permanent residents, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday. The only exception to this is for some U.S. citizens, air crews, diplomats, and immediate family members. "If you are abroad, it is time for you to come home," Trudeau said on Monday afternoon. He also told Canadians to stay at home if possible. Trudeau has been in isolation since last Thursday after his wife tested positive for COVID-19, but he has not experienced any symptoms.

March 16, 1:51 p.m.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced anexecutive action to close all movie theaters, bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, and gyms until March 31. Previously, California Gov. Gavin Newsom had said that restaurants will remain open with half occupancy, but Garcetti mandated that they will only be open for takeout and delivery. “That’s just smart,” Garcetti told CNN regarding the restaurant changes. “For a lot of folks worried about a school district closing down too early or these things, when it feels wrong is exactly the right moment.”

March 16, 1:23 p.m.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the state is banning public gatherings of more than 25 people beginning Tuesday and extending through March 30. The governor also ordered all restaurants closed for dine-in service, limiting them to delivery and takeout only. Raimondo stopped short of postponing the state's April 28 primary election, according to WJAR-TV.

March 16, 12:44 p.m.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered the closure of all schools set to begin on Wednesday, March 18. He also banned gatherings of more than 50 people and issued the closure of all casinos, racetracks, theaters and gyms. An 8 p.m. curfew will be in place for all non-essential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses.

In an extreme measure to curb the spread of coronavirus on Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on President Trump to deploy the Army Corps of Engineers to build emergency medical facilities to treat COVID-19 patients.   “It’s only a matter of time before our state’s ICU beds fill up,” Cuomo tweeted. “The federal gov’t must act."

March 16, 12:14 p.m.

Drone footage over major roadways in Italy helped depict the reality of a country facing a nationwide lockdown. Videos and photos of residents singing from windows, playing catch across buildings and living amid the shutdown have gone viral in recent days, showing the rest of the world what some of the worst circumstances truly look like.

In the video, captured on Sunday, only a handful of cars are seen traversing the A4 motorway, a section that features four lanes in each direction and sprawling bypasses. With nearly 25,000 cases and over 1,800 deaths, Italy has been the second-most devastated country in the world outside of China.

March 16, 10:36 a.m.

Olga Kurylenko, the leading actress who starred in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace as Camille Montes, announced in an Instagram post that she tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. She told her followers that she has dealt with fever and fatigue as her main symptoms in the past week.

Kurylenko joins other Hollywood stars such as actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, an actress and singer herself. Hanks and Wilson were diagnosed and have since been quarantined in Australia.

March 16, 10:04 a.m.

New cases of COVID-19 have fallen dramatically in mainland China. Chinese health officials said only 16 new cases of the illness were discovered on Sunday, and on Saturday only 20 new cases were reported, according to Channel News Asia. And of the 16 new cases, 12 were infections that came from people who had been traveling. Just four were a result of community spread, and those all occurred in Wuhan, the epicenter of China's outbreak. The reduction in cases comes after the WHO on Friday declared Europe the new center of the outbreak. The weather in Wuhan has been warmer in recent days, with high temperatures reaching the mid- to upper-60s, above average for this time of year.

The AccuWeather forecast calls for the warm and sunny trend in Wuhan to continue this week, with highs reaching the mid-70s. Some infectious disease experts have said both warmer temperatures and increased sunlight could help slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The amount of sunlight is increasing every day in the Northern Hemisphere with the vernal equinox set to arrive this Thursday.

March 16, 7:14 a.m.

The National Security Council (NSC) is urging United States citizens to fight against misinformation. In a Monday morning tweet, the NSC said rumors of a nationwide quarantine or lockdown are "fake" and added that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will be the only source to post the latest guidelines.

March 16, 6:37 a.m.

Here's a look at the latest figures from around the world according to stats kept by Johns Hopkins University:

• Total confirmed cases: 169,387

• Total deaths: 6,513

• Total recovered: 77,257

March 15, 8:07 p.m.

The CDC issued new guidance Sunday advising against events and gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks throughout the entire country. Health officials at the agency suggest events be made virtual when possible and only be carried out in person if organizers are able to follow the guidelines required to protect vulnerable people, practice social distancing and hand hygiene.

March 15, 7:45 p.m.

At least nine states announced the temporary closure of public schools or transition to remote learning on Sunday. This includes: 

• Arizona

• Montana

• New York

• Connecticut

• Nevada

• Vermont

• Arkansas

• New Hampshire

• Minnesota

March 15, 6:45 p.m.

New York has surpassed Washington as the state with the highest amount of confirmed cases of the coronavirus. As of Sunday, New York state tallies 729 cases and Washington state tallies 642.

March 15, 5:25 p.m.

On Sunday, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates down to a target range of 0% to .25% as a result of the growing coronavirus pandemic.

"The effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook. In light of these developments, the Committee decided to lower the target range," the Fed said in a statement.

This target range is expected to last until "the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals."

March 15, 5:15 p.m.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday that schools in Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk and New York City would close with childcare available for essential workers and food programs.

Schools in New York City will close early this week, and the city government must have a plan for childcare and food in place within 24 hours, according to Cuomo.

Schools in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester will close Monday.

March 15, 4:48 p.m.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued an executive order on Sunday to adjust the unemployment laws in the state for the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced the state would be waiving the waiting week to collect unemployment so that those eligible could receive unemployment in their first week.

“We are broadening current state policy to clarify that individuals that are quarantined by a health professional or by their employer are considered to be unemployed and will not be subject to requirements to actively seek work during the period of emergency,” DeWine said.

March 15, 3:40 p.m.

Two more cruise ships have had passengers tested positive for COVID-19, CNN reported. Royal Caribbean’s Silver Shadow and Silver Explorer ships are currently docked at international ports, and have asked their passengers to remain in their cabins in isolation while they determine the next steps with health officials.

March 15, 3:24 p.m.

National health authorities in Italy told The Associated Press on Saturday that they recorded 3,497 new COVID-19 cases in Italy within 24 hours – the biggest day-to-day jump in numbers and a nearly 20% increase from the day before. Italy's death toll jumped by 175 within those 24 hours.

The bulk of these cases occurred in Lombardy in the northern region of the country. Next to China and Iran, Italy has been one of the nations hardest hit by COVID-19. By Sunday, their total number of cases was now at 24,747, including those who have recovered.

Italy announced 368 new deaths in the last 24 hours on Sunday. The death toll in the country stands at 1,809 as of Sunday, according to Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli.

March 15, 2:59 p.m.

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced Sunday at a press conference that Germany will begin to initiate border controls at borders of surrounding countries. This list includes France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. According to Seehofer, there will be exceptions for cross-border work commuters and cargo transports.

March 15, 2:17 p.m.

The top landlords in New York City have pledged to halt evictions for three months in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The pledge was made on Friday and excludes criminal or negligent behavior that puts other residents at risk. Landlords representing more that 150,000 rental units signed the pledge, according to the New York Post.

March 15, 1:54 p.m.

Chef José Andrés, the most famous chef in Washington, D.C. according to The Washingtonian, will be closing his restaurants on Sunday amid the COVID-19 crisis. On March 17, Andrés will transform a few of his 20-plus restaurants into community kitchens that offer lunches to go. The community kitchens are part of his emergency relief organization called World Central Kitchen.

March 15, 1:45 p.m.

The third coronavirus-related death was reported in the state of New York. A 79-year-old woman who had “multiple major underlying health issues” died, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

“New York is the state with the most number of cases,” Cuomo said. As a result, all non-essential State employees in Rockland, Westchester, New York City, and Long Island are asked to stay home and work from home starting Monday, which represents about 50% of workforce in these counties.

March 15, 1:36 p.m.

Miami Beach is taking proactive measures against the spread of COVID-19. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and City Manager Jimmy Morales have enacted a 5 p.m. curfew for the city's most popular beaches in order to curb the spread of the virus through college students on spring break, the New York Post reported. Police will enforce the curfew. In addition, they have banned restaurants and nightclubs in the city from holding more than 250 people at a time.

March 15, 1:23 p.m.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is enforcing all businesses that sell liquor to have less than half of their regular maximum capacity and requiring any establishments that sell liquor to have a maximum capacity of 100 people to reduce the amount of St. Patrick's Day festivities amid the outbreak, according to CNN.

March 15, 11:55 a.m.

"In cold environments, there is longer virus survival than warm ones." Those are the words of Hong Kong University pathology professor John Nicholls, who has been studying a lab-grown copy of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. Nicholls told AccuWeather exclusively that his team's latest research shows the virus is "highly sensitive to high temperature."

Not all experts in the infectious disease community believe warm weather will slow the spread of COVID-19, however. Some prominent doctors have voiced skepticism in recent days. And Nicholls cautioned that there's more at play than the weather. "Once the virus leaves the body, human factors are more unpredictable," he said.

March 15, 11:11 a.m.

Nike joins a long list of retailers closing their stores, which includes Patagonia, Apple, Urban Outfitters and more. Nike also plans to close other stores in other parts of the world.

March 15, 10:35 a.m.

American immunologist Dr. Fauci was asked by ABC if the U.S. could impose domestic travel restrictions and he said it has been discussed.

“I don’t see that right now in the immediate future but remember, we are very open-minded about whatever it takes to preserve the health of the American public,” Dr. Fauci said. 

March 15, 10:15 a.m.

American Airlines announced the company plans to cut 75% of its international flights from the U.S. starting Monday through May 6, the airline said in a statement. 

An American Airlines flight was delayed for eight hours after a passenger joked he had coronavirus. The plane turned around about two hours into the flight and returned to Toronto where the passenger was arrested. 

March 15, 9:40 a.m.

Following the coronavirus lockdown in Italy, satellite imagery shows pollution has dramatically decreased in that area. Scientists also recorded a reduction in pollution in China, which is believed to be a result of reduced travel during the coronavirus outbreak. 

March 15, 8:30 a.m.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games flame handover will take place in an empty Athens stadium, Greece's Olympic Committee said.

"Following the orders of the Greek State in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic and for the protection of public health no accreditation cards issued will be valid," the country's Olympic Committee said.

March 15, 7:00 a.m.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. neared 3,000 and New York and Washington saw cases swell to more than 600. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced the state's second death, a 65-year-old man who suffered from underlying health issues, from COVID-19 late Saturday and said two state lawmakers had tested positive. Here's a look at the latest figures from real-time stats kept by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

• Total confirmed cases: 156,400

• Total deaths: 5,833

• Total recovered: 73,968

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from March 12-14.

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from March 10-11.

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from March 7-9.

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from March 5-6.

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from March 2-4.

Click here for previous briefings on the coronavirus from Feb. 27 to March 1

Additional reporting by Lauren Fox and Maria Antonieta Valery Gil.

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