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Over 1.5 billion people across the globe—more than one-fifth of the world's population—have been ordered or urged to stay home amid a deadly novel coronavirus pandemic.
Journalists take images of the illuminated Olympic Rings monument at Odaiba Marine Park as the Rainbow Bridge is illuminated in rainbow colors to mark half a year before the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Jan.
24, 2020. The International Olympic Committee on announced that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, on March 24, 2020. 24, 2020. The International Olympic Committee on announced that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, on March 24, 2020.that the upcoming Tokyo Olympics"will be held by the summer of 2021," the prime minister's office announced Tuesday. "I proposed to postpone for about a year and president Bach responded with 100% agreement," Abe told reporters in Tokyo, referring to Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee. The Olympics were originally slated to kick off in Tokyo on July 24, but there has been mounting pressure for organizers to postpone or cancel them due to the coronavirus pandemic. The International Olympic Committee’s executive board on Sunday said it would assess the worldwide situation over the next four weeks and make a decision that could include the scenario of postponing the Games. The board, however, emphasized that it has no current plans to outright cancel the 2020 Summer Olympics as such a scenario"would not solve any of the problems or help anybody."Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who recently dropped out of the 2020 presidential race, said her husband, John Bessler, remains hospitalized and on oxygen support after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. "The reason he was hospitalized is he had pneumonia. He was coughing up blood and his oxygen levels were dangerously low, so he's been there for a few days now," Klobuchar told ABC News in an interview Tuesday on"Good Morning America." "He got a test last Wednesday and we didn't get the results until yesterday," she added."That's the story of a lot of people, and I think one of the things I want to say is a lot of Americans have this and worse going on, and one of the hardest things about this disease is you can't go and visit your loved one. As much as I love being on your show, I would rather be there with him right now and I can't do that." Sen. Amy Klobuchar takes the stage with her husband John Bessler as a Democratic president candidate during a primary night event at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire, on Feb. 11, 2020. Klobuchar announced on March 24, 2020, that her husband has been hospitalized after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Sen. Amy Klobuchar takes the stage with her husband John Bessler as a Democratic president candidate during a primary night event at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire, on Feb. 11, 2020. Klobuchar announced on March 24, 2020, that her husband has been hospitalized after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.Klobuchar said her husband, who is 52, has no preexisting conditions and was"very healthy" prior to falling ill with the virus." "We don't know how he got it and no one around us got it," she added."As far as we know, he didn't infect anyone else." Klobuchar's said her husband began feeling sick with what felt like a cold about 12 days ago and immediately quarantined himself inside their apartment. Bessler stayed put until he started coughing up blood and was hospitalized, she said. Klobuchar said she hasn't been tested because she had not come into contact with her husband in the last 14 days and hasn't shown any symptoms. "Why would I get a test when other people who are getting sick aren't getting tests? That's how I approached it, I'm going to be treated like everyone else," she said."I think that's what everyone has to do right now."ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos pressed FEMA administrator Pete Gaynor Tuesday on why the Defense Production Act is not being used for masks, ventilators and other protective equipment. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week invoking the 1950 wartime law, which requires private companies to prioritize any product orders from the federal government over others. But the government has apparently yet to make any orders for medical supplies, such as personal protective equipment. "We just want to be careful that we don't do anything to put it out of balance and counter some other positive efforts that we see," Gaynor told Stephanopoulos on"Good Morning America." An ambulance sits outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2020, as the Senate continues negotiations on an economic relief package in response to the coronavirus pandemic. An ambulance sits outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2020, as the Senate continues negotiations on an economic relief package in response to the coronavirus pandemic."We will use it, I have no doubt about it," Gaynor added."But right now we're focused on getting those critical items to those states most in need. What I say to all governors out there, if you find a source, go buy it. FEMA will reimburse you." Stephanopoulos argued that governors are actually calling on the federal government to use the Defense Production Act now because states are competing with each other for supplies. Gaynor said they are"ready to take action on all of that" but are also"trying to keep the system in balance." "We don't want the federal government scooping up everything," Gaynor added."We want to make sure that there's enough capacity that governors and mayors around the country can order on their own, so it's a delicate balance." Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor appears on "Good Morning America," March 24, 2020. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor appears on "Good Morning America," March 24, 2020."What the governors are saying is that the federal government should scoop it up and distribute it to the states," Stephanopoulos responded,"and by forcing them to compete with each other, it's driving the price and hurting their ability to get what they need." "We're trying to identify sources around the globe. If it's in China, we're ready to fly it back to the United States today," Gaynor said."Again, we're focused on making sure that those governors that are most critical in need, no matter where it comes from, the federal government or another source directly, we are enabling that today."Local police stand guard outside an ice rink, which will be used as a morgue, during the coronavirus disease outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 24, 2020. Local police stand guard outside an ice rink, which will be used as a morgue, during the coronavirus disease outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 24, 2020.Spain's health ministry on Tuesday reported 514 deaths from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The country's death toll from the COVID-19 virus is now at 2,696. Spain has the third-highest number of recorded deaths in the outbreak, followingWith nearly 40,000 diagnosed cases, Spain is behind the United States and Italy in the highest national total outside China.6:14 a.m.: US Senate on the cusp of a stimulus deal U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said they are"very close" to an agreement on a massive stimulus package to save the national economy from the detrimental impact of the coronavirus pandemic. After emerging from a series of late-night meetings on Capitol Hill, Mnuchin and Schumer told reporters around midnight that they hope to come to a final agreement on the nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package by Tuesday morning. "We expect to have an agreement tomorrow morning," Schumer said."We still have a few little differences, but neither one of us expect it will get in the way of a final agreement. Secretary Mnuchin called the president and he told them we were very, very close to the agreement."U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin walks to a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during negotiations on a coronavirus economic relief package on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 23, 2020. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin walks to a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during negotiations on a coronavirus economic relief package on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 23, 2020.Mnuchin told reporters he had spoken with President Donald Trump a number of times, updating him on the progress. "Today we’ve been working incredibly hard, both sides have been working around the clock," Mnuchin said."There are still documents that are going to be reviewed tonight and turned around, there's still a couple of open issues, but I think we're very hopeful that this can be closed out tomorrow."Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced Tuesday that his cabinet has agreed to declare a state of emergency to implement stricter measures to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. The one-month state of emergency, which takes effect Thursday, will give Thailand's government enforcement powers that otherwise wouldn't be available. There were just under 900 diagnosed cases of the virus in the Southeast Asian country as of Tuesday afternoon local time.Martti Ahtisaari, a Nobel laureate and former Finnish president, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The office of Finland's current president, Saul Niinisto, said in a press release Tuesday that Ahtisaari, 82, was diagnosed with the virus on Monday and that he was"doing well under the circumstances." His wife also tested positive just three days earlier. Ahtisaari, a United Nations diplomat and mediator who was awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve international conflicts, served as Finland's head of state for one six-year term from 1994 until 2000.A woman wears a mask in Honolulu, Hawaii, as state officials announce more restrictions in response to a pandemic of the novel coronavirus, March 23, 2020. A woman wears a mask in Honolulu, Hawaii, as state officials announce more restrictions in response to a pandemic of the novel coronavirus, March 23, 2020.Hawaii residents will soon join the millions of other Americans who are being ordered to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation on Monday night, ordering the entire state to stay at home and work from home, starting Wednesday after midnight and lasting through the end of April. Essential workers are exempt. "The threat of COVID-19 is unprecedented and requires aggressive action," Ige said in a statement."I have been in discussions with our county mayors who are developing their own plans to meet the unique needs of their counties. We also agree that a statewide order is necessary for cohesion and consistency." Residents can leave their homes for various needs, including to seek health care, purchase food, take care of the elderly, minors and those with disabilities, and to exercise outdoors. Those who do not comply with the order could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or a jail sentence of up to one year behind bars, or both. At least 21 U.S. states have implemented or announced statewide closures of non-essential businesses.In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency on March 23, 2020, workers disinfect a subway train in preparation for the restoration of public transport in the city of Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. China's health ministry says Wuhan has now gone several consecutive days without a new infection, showing the effectiveness of draconian travel restrictions that are slowly being relaxed around the country. In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency on March 23, 2020, workers disinfect a subway train in preparation for the restoration of public transport in the city of Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. China's health ministry says Wuhan has now gone several consecutive days without a new infection, showing the effectiveness of draconian travel restrictions that are slowly being relaxed around the country.Chinese authorities plan to lift the draconian travel restrictions imposed on the city of Wuhan next month. The city, in China's central Hubei province, was placed under lockdown on Jan. 23 as thousands of residents became infected with the novel coronavirus before it spread to other parts of the world. The Hubei provincial government announced Tuesday that those control measures will be lifted on April 8 and cleared residents will finally be allowed to leave the city. Those who wish to enter the city will also need clearance, according to a statement from the provincial government. Officials have already begun to slowly relax some of the strict measures put in place in Wuhan. Road checkpoints are being removed and some private vehicles have returned to the streets. The city's subway system remains shut down but has begun trial runs as workers disinfect the subway trains and stations in preparation for the restoration of public transport. After several consecutive days without any local transmission of the virus, Wuhan reported one new case of confirmed infection on Monday, according to China's National Health Commission. ABC News' Aicha El Hammar, Joshua Hoyos, Mina Kaji, Aaron Katersky, Trish Turner and Karson Yiu contributed to this report.
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