COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Mitch McConnell announces that the United States Senate will not have recess to work on a bill to contain the coronavirus.
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert announces the closure of schools from 16 to 27 March and bans visits at hospitals and care homes.
Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela calls for the closing of all educational centers for one week from March 13.
Interim President of Bolivia Jeanine Áñez announces the suspension of all flights to Europe from March 14.
Delaware Governor John Carney declares a state of emergency and recommends the cancellation of all non-essential public gatherings of over 100 people.
The University of Colorado Boulder confirms its first presumptive case of COVID-19, identified as an employee who worked in the dining center.
Alaska confirms its first presumptive case of COVID-19, with the patient identified as a foreign national residing in Anchorage.
Five more presumptive cases of COVID-19 are reported in Arkansas, prompting Governor Asa Hutchinson to order school closings in four counties.
After five cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine orders all K–12 schools to close from March 16–April 5.
After 12 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer orders all K–12 schools in the state to close from March 16–April 5 as well as banning gatherings of over 250 people.
California Governor Gavin Newsom bans gatherings of more than 250 people. The ban puts several television shows filmed in the Los Angeles metropolitan area with live audiences on hiatus.
United States Senators Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz announce that they will temporarily close their offices.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee closes all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties until April 24.
After 10 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Washington, D.C., the U.S. government closes the White House, the Capitol building, and the U.S. Supreme Court Building to visitors until the end of the month.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire self-isolate after she shows flu-like symptoms. They are both tested for the COVID-19, with Sophie later testing positive.
President Rodrigo Duterte announces "community quarantine" in Metro Manila, Philippines, implementing travel restrictions to and from the metropolitan area.
Slovakia orders the closure of all its borders to non-residents, while closing all international airports and schools to prevent the spread of the virus.
Ireland suspends all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until March 29 in response to the coronavirus, while indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled until further notice, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The Vilnius City Municipality announces that from March 13 until the end of the Easter holidays all educational facilities in the city will remain closed to contain the spread of the virus.
The closure of schools and universities extends to the entire country for two weeks affecting 9.5 million students.
Spanish Minister of Territorial Policy and Civil Service Carolina Darias and Santiago Abascal, Deputy and leader of the third political force Vox, had tested positive in the disease.
The Catalan government orders the confinement of the city of Igualada and the towns of Vilanova del Camí, Òdena and Santa Margarida de Montbui after Igualada Hospital became a contagion focus. This first measure in Spain will affect 70,000 people during 14 days.
Irene Montero, Minister of Equality and Deputy, tested positive for coronavirus. Her domestic partner, Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Pablo Iglesias, self-isolates and all the government undergo tests. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also undergo tests after the Queen was in contact with Montero on March 6.
Spain's Ministry of Health reports 828 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 36 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to 84.
Greek authorities reports its first death, a 66-year-old pilgrim who visited Israel and Egypt last month.
Poland suspends all schools and universities, closes all theatres, operas, cinemas and museums for two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mass events are also banned, and the Polish Football Association announces that the two friendly matches scheduled later this month with Finland and Ukraine will be played behind closed doors.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg announces a national lockdown, closing schools, kindergartens, fitness centres, hair salons, sports and cultural events are suspended and restrictions applied to restaurants.
OMV OMV, the giant Austrian oil and gas concern, is selling $2.3 billion in assets to buy a majority interest in Borealis AG, which will make it a major player in the production of polymers.
Black Thursday Spain's IBEX 35 falls 14%, its worst drop in history in a single day. The UK FTSE falls by 11%, the German DAX and French CAC 40 by 12% and Italy's MIB by 17%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls by 10%, the largest one-day percentage drop since Black Monday in 1987.
All three major United States trading indexes fall 7% during early trading, leading to a 15-minute trading halt. They all closed over 9% down.
COVID-19 pandemic It is announced that all Broadway theatres will go dark until the week of April 13, by order of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The ban also affects several television shows which film with live audiences in New York City.
Actor Tom Hanks reports that he and his wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after visiting Australia where he was filming "Elvis".