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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1:21 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

New Delhi and major Indian cities are going into lockdown until March 31

From CNN's Esha Mitra in New Delhi

A couple looks down from their balcony in Greater Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, India, on March 22.
A couple looks down from their balcony in Greater Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, India, on March 22. Altaf Qadri/AP

The Indian capital New Delhi is among 75 districts in the country that will go into lockdown until March 31 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The measures extend an initial 14-hour lockdown, which came into effect on Sunday. They also include major cities, such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata, which means millions of workers in the technology and financial sectors will be forced to work from home for the rest of the month.

Only essential services will be operational in these districts, according to the official Press Information Bureau of India. 

All shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, markets and places of worship will be closed, and interstate buses and metros will be suspended.

Several districts -- including the financial capital of Mumbai -- are now enforcing a pre-existing law that makes it a punishable offence for four or more people to gather.

Several states have gone into complete lockdown.

In the northern state of Punjab, the chief minister announced that except for essential services, the entire state will be under a lockdown until March 31. The state has confirmed more than 20 coronavirus cases, including one death.

The entire state of Uttarakhand -- which has only reported three confirmed cases -- announced a non-essential services lockdown until March 31.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet.

India has reported 341 infections and five deaths from the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.

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

The United Arab Emirates is closing all shopping malls and food markets for two weeks

A worker sorts produce at a market in Dubai on March 21.
A worker sorts produce at a market in Dubai on March 21. Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates is closing all commercial centers and shopping malls along with fish, meat and vegetable markets.

The new rule will come into force in 48 hours, and will be in place for two weeks -- but could be renewed, UAE authorities announced.

The UAE currently has at least 150 coronavirus cases.

12:56 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

More than 154 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean are out of school due to coronavirus

From CNN’s Hira Humayun in Atlanta

Students attend school in Havana, Cuba on March 16.
Students attend school in Havana, Cuba on March 16. Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images

More than 154 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean are temporarily out of school due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

That's about 95% of all kids who are enrolled.

Over the next few days and weeks, about 90% of early childhood centers, pre-primary, primary and secondary schools in the regions will be closed, according to the report.

And that percentage is quickly growing, UNICEF said. 

“This situation, which could last longer than initially planned, increases the risk of permanent drop out, especially for the most vulnerable children,” UNICEF’s statement reads.

According to Bernt Aasen, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, this is an "unprecedented educational crisis in the recent history of Latin America and the Caribbean."

"Never have so many schools been closed at the same time. The expansion of the coronavirus Covid-19 will leave most boys and girls out of school in the coming weeks.
"If school closure is further extended, there is a great risk that children fall behind in their learning and we fear that the most vulnerable students will never return to school. It is vital that they do not stop learning from home.”

Children in many countries around the world have also been told to stay home, potentially putting their education and psychological well-being at risk.

Read more about remote learning here.

12:43 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

A US Secret Service employee has tested positive for coronavirus

From CNN's Geneva Sands

A United States Secret Service employee has tested positive for coronavirus, the agency said in a statement. It said the employee, who is not being further identified, is currently in quarantine.

Here's what else the Secret Service said:

“The Secret Service has conducted a comprehensive contact trace assessment and determined that the employee has not had contact with any Secret Service employee or protectee for nearly three weeks,” the agency said. 
“The Secret Service is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, its protectees, and the public. Accordingly, the agency continues to follow all guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and continues to communicate those updates to the workforce.” 
12:34 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

Senate delays procedural vote on massive coronavirus stimulus bill

From CNN's Ted Barrett and Kristin Wilson

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attends a meeting to discuss a potential economic bill in response to the coronavirus in Washington on March 20.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attends a meeting to discuss a potential economic bill in response to the coronavirus in Washington on March 20. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

A key Senate vote related to a massive economic stimulus plan in response to the coronavirus pandemic is being pushed back about three hours as Democrats and Republicans jockey for advantage in the talks over the bill. 

This is because Democrats are blocking the GOP’s ability to come into session before noon, which is something that requires the Democrats’ consent and is usually given without question. 

In this case, Democrats don’t want to be forced to take the procedural vote Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wanted to take at 9:45 a.m. E.T. They want the talks on the stimulus bill to continue without that deadline, which they have called artificial. 

McConnell blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s move as reckless.

He warned the stock markets will now be open for three hours before they can get some certainty that a stimulus bill will pass the Senate. 

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who had several meetings with Schumer throughout Sunday as the various sides try to hammer out an agreement, is expected back on Capitol Hill Monday morning. 

Then the Senate will come in at noon. There could be leader remarks from McConnell and Schumer. Around 1 p.m. E.T., the Senate will then cast votes on three procedural motions, the third of which is the one in question.

That said, if they actually cut a bipartisan deal before these votes are scheduled, they will likely toss these procedural votes aside and move directly to the bill.  

What the bill aims to deliver: The emergency economic aid proposal could be worth over $2 trillion, according to Larry Kudlow, a top economic adviser to President Donald Trump. It would include direct payments to Americans under a certain income threshold, $200 billion in loans to airlines and distressed industry sectors and $300 billion in forgivable bridge loans for small businesses.

The proposal, a draft of which was obtained by CNN, underscores the scale of the economic crisis facing individuals and businesses across the country amid the accelerating pandemic and bolsters health care resources, student loans and aid, business tax provisions and temporary authority.

Read more about the bill here:

12:30 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

First inmate in California state prison system tests positive for coronavirus

An inmate in California has tested positive for coronavirus, making them the first Covid-19 patient within the state's prison system.

The patient -- who is an inmate at California State Prison, Los Angeles County -- is in stable condition and is being treated on site, according to a news release from the California Department of Corrections. 

He has been in isolation since March 19, after telling staff he wasn't feeling well. He was tested the next day, and received his positive test result on March 22.

Movement has been restricted at the institution while authorities investigate his contacts, and those deemed at-risk will be quarantined.

California's outbreak: California is one of the worst affected states in the US, with at least 1,468 confirmed cases and 32 deaths. California is also one of eight states to issue a stay at home order.

Issues in prisons: Other countries have struggled to deal with the coronavirus outbreak and prisons. At least 23 inmates are dead, and 87 injured following nationwide prison riots in Colombia prompted by coronavirus infection fears. At least 11 prisoners died in coronavirus-related riots in Italian prisons. In Iran, 85,000 prisoners were temporarily sent home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

12:20 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

Top infectious disease expert on Trump: “I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down”

From CNN Health’s Arman Azad

Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Donald Trump attend a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on March 21, in Washington.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Donald Trump attend a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on March 21, in Washington. Patrick Semansky/AP

America's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has described the challenges of working with the Trump administration during the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked how he responds to falsehoods from the President during news conferences, Fauci said, “I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down."

“OK, he said it. Let's try and get it corrected for the next time,” Fauci said, according to an interview published by the journal Science.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has advised six presidents and has played a central role in the White House’s coronavirus task force.

“I’m sort of exhausted,” Fauci said in the interview. “But other than that, I'm good. I mean, I'm not, to my knowledge, coronavirus infected. To my knowledge, I haven't been fired.”

Fauci said he and the President “disagree on some things.” But he described Trump as responsive, saying: “He goes his own way. He has his own style. But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say.”

Virus timeline: Fauci was asked about some of Trump’s comments, including his assertion that China should have told US officials about the coronavirus three months sooner. That would have been around September, and there is no evidence Chinese officials were aware of the virus at that time.

“It just doesn’t comport with facts,” said Jon Cohen, the interviewer.

“I know, but what do you want me to do?” Fauci replied. “I mean, seriously Jon, let’s get real. What do you want me to do?”

Terminology: Fauci also said he had never used the term “China virus.” Asked if he ever would, Fauci responded, “No.”

12:10 a.m. ET, March 23, 2020

A private airline company has been allowed to repatriate US citizens stuck in Haiti

From CNN’s Hira Humayun in Atlanta

The Haitian government has granted permission to private airline company Eastern Airlines to fly United States citizens out of Haiti, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Haiti on Sunday.

Passengers will have to book the direct charter commercial flights themselves, the statement read.

“The US Embassy in Haiti is working closely with the State Department Repatriation Task Force to assist U.S. citizens who wish to depart Haiti, while observing the Haitian Government’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19,” it said.

What's going on in Haiti: On Thursday, Haitian President Jovenel Moise announced that Haiti is in full lockdown after announcing the country’s first two coronavirus cases.

One of the infected people is a 60-year-old Belgian man who traveled to Haiti from Europe recently. He runs an orphanage in Haiti. The other is a French citizen.

11:57 p.m. ET, March 22, 2020

Tom Hanks says he's feeling better, two weeks after first coronavirus symptoms

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on February 9, in Hollywood, California.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on February 9, in Hollywood, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Actor Tom Hanks says he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, are feeling better after testing positive for coronavirus.

In a tweet, Hanks posted an update, and offered some advice on what sheltering in place means.

"Sheltering in place works like this: You don’t give it to anyone -- you don’t get it from anyone," he said.

Earlier this month, Hanks said he and his wife were traveling in Australia when they were tested after exhibiting symptoms like tiredness, body aches, chills and "slight fevers."

Warner Bros. confirmed the actor was in Australia doing pre-production work on a film about singer Elvis Presley.