Coronavirus: South Korea reports 100 new coronavirus cases

Live updates for Tuesday, March 24, continue below:

South Korea reports 100 new coronavirus cases

Update 11:40 p.m. EDT March 24: South Korea reported 100 more cases of the new coronavirus over the past 24 hours, raising the country's total to 9,137.

The 100 additional cases were up from 76 reported a day earlier. But they still show a continued slowdown of virus cases in South Korea, compared with late last month when a daily jump of new cases once recorded more than 900.

The state-run Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that 34 of the 100 cases were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Jackson Browne tests positive for coronavirus

Update 10:50 p.m. EDT March 24: Jackson Browne told Rolling Stone that he has tested positive for coronavirus. Browne said that he does not know where he got the virus but suspects a recent trip to New York City.

NHL extending isolation period for players and staff

Update 8:30 p.m. EDT March 24: The NHL is extending its recommendation for players and staff to self-isolate and stay away from team facilities during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly on Tuesday confirmed the NHL has asked that players and staff extend their self-quarantine 10 days beyond the original March 27 timeline to April 6 — further pushing back the earliest team facilities can reopen.

The league over the past two days has held conference calls with its Board of Governors and general managers to inform them about and take questions regarding the current situation. Daly told The Associated Press by email the calls provided updates on various issues.

Governors reject Trump’s virus timeline

Update 7:10 p.m. EDT March 24: Governors across the nation rejected President Donald Trump's new accelerated timeline for reopening the U.S. economy, as they continued to impose more restrictions on travel and public life in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The dismissal of Trump’s mid-April timeframe for a national reopening came from Republicans and Democrats, from leaders struggling to manage hot spots of the outbreak and those still bracing for the worst. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the head of the National Governors Association and a Republican, called the messaging confusing since most leaders are still focused on enforcing the restrictions, not easing them. He accused the White House of running on a schedule made of some “imaginary clock.”

The pushback suggests Trump’s talk of an early reboot is unlikely to gain traction. In most cases, it’s state leaders — not the federal government — who are responsible for both imposing and lifting the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions intended to stop the contagion.

Leave NY recently? You should self-quarantine

Update 6 p.m. EDT March 24: White House officials urged people Tuesday who have left New York City amid the outbreak to self-quarantine for 14 days after their departure, owing to the widespread rate of infection in the metro area.

Health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction — staying home from work and isolating themselves — the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system, as it has in parts of Italy, leading to many more deaths. While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country, such as New York, experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread.

Dow has best day since 1933

Update 5 p.m. EDT March 24: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to its best day since 1933 as Congress and the White House neared a deal on Tuesday to inject nearly $2 trillion of aid into an economy ravaged by the coronavirus.

The Dow burst 11.4% higher, while the more closely followed S&P 500 index leapt 9.4% as a wave of buying around the world interrupted what has been a brutal month of nearly nonstop selling. Despite the gains, investors were far from saying markets have hit bottom. Rallies nearly as big as this have punctuated the last few weeks, and none lasted more than a day.

Both Democrats and Republicans said Tuesday they’re close to agreeing on a massive economic rescue package, which will include payments to U.S. households and aid for small businesses and the travel industry, among other things. A vote in the Senate could come later Tuesday or Wednesday.

Update 4:30 p.m. EDT March 24: Los Angeles County officials announced three new deaths Tuesday, including one person under the age of 18.

The other two individuals that died were between 50 and 70 years old.

Oklahoma governor issues ‘Safer at Home’ order, closes some non-essential businesses

Update 3:30 p.m. EDT March 24: Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma issued a "safer at home" order requiring people who are part of vulnerable populations to stay home except for "essential trips," KOCO reported Tuesday.

Stitt also ordered all non-essential business to close in counties where COVID-19 cases have been identified, according to KOCO.

Three people have died in Oklahoma of COVID-19, KOKI-TV reported, citing state health officials. Authorities have recorded 106 novel coronavirus cases in the state.

More than 50,000 COVID-19 cases reported in the US

Update 3:20 p.m. EDT March 24: The number of novel coronavirus cases reported in the United States rose past 50,000 on Tuesday, according to numbers compiled by John Hopkins University.

The university reported 50,206 COVID-19 cases in America as of 3:20 p.m. Tuesday. In at least 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, 606 deaths have been reported thus far.

Eight states have reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases each: New York, New Jersey, Washington, California, Michigan, Illinois, Florida and Louisiana.

Coronavirus claims life of playwright Terrence McNally

Update 3 p.m. EDT March 24: Terrance McNally, regarded as one of America's greatest playwrights, has died of complications from the coronavirus. He was 81.

McNally’s prolific career included winning Tony Awards for the plays “Love! Valour! Compassion!” and “Master Class” and the musicals “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” In 2019, he was awarded with the special Tony award for lifetime achievement in the theatre.

McNally died Tuesday at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida, according to representative Matt Polk. McNally was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic inflammatory lung disease.

Holland America ship to dock in Florida amid COVID-19 outbreak

Update 2:45 p.m. EDT March 24: A Holland America cruise ship that was not allowed to dock in Chile will be able dock at a Florida port after dozens of passengers and crew came down with flu-like symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Tuesday, 42 people, including 13 guests and 29 crew members, were ill on the Zaandam, CNN reported.

The ship was originally supposed to disembark in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Yellowstone, Grand Teton national parks closed

Update 2:20 p.m. EDT March 24: Officials with the National Parks Service on Tuesday announced the closure of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The parks will be closed immediately until further notice, officials said.

The decision came at the request of health officials in Wyoming and Montana, according to NPS.

“The National Park Service listened to the concerns from our local partners and, based on current health guidance, temporarily closed the parks,” Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly and Grand Teton Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said Tuesday in a joint statement.

“We are committed to continued close coordination with our state and local partners as we progress through this closure period and are prepared when the timing is right to reopen as quickly and safely as possible.”

Trump aims to reopen US economy by Easter

Update 2:15 p.m. EDT March 24: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes to have the U.S. economy reopened by Easter, April 12, as the country reels from the economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

“I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter,” the president said during a Fox News virtual town hall meeting.

Health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction — staying home from work and isolating themselves — the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system, as it has in parts of Italy, leading to many more deaths. While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country, such as New York, experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread.

The U.S. is now more than a week into an unprecedented 15-day effort to encourage all Americans to drastically scale back their public activities.

743 more deaths reported in Italy

Update 1:55 p.m. EDT March 24: Health officials in Italy recorded 743 new COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, bringing the country's death toll from the 2019 novel coronavirus to 6,820.

The deaths are the most associated with COVID-19 in the world. The second-most deaths have been reported in China, where 3,276 people have died of the novel coronavirus, according to figures released Monday by the World Health Organization.

Italian officials said 63,927 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country. Globally, more than 407,000 cases were reported by Tuesday afternoon, according to numbers compiled by John Hopkins University.

Italy has an older population than China’s, but only has 60 million people to China’s 1.4 billion people. Medical experts say the new virus is killing people over 65 at a much higher rate than other age groups.

Bureau of Prisons announces 14-day mandatory quarantine for new inmates

Update 1:40 p.m. EDT March 24: The federal Bureau of Prisons is instituting a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all new inmates entering any of the 122 federal correctional facilities in the U.S. in response to coronavirus concerns.

The announcement comes as the number of confirmed cases continues to grow among inmates and staff members at Bureau of Prisons facilities. There are more than 175,000 inmates in the federal prison system.

Union officials have raised concerns about whether there are adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for officers and inmates to slow the spread of the virus.

The Bureau of Prisons says it is working with court officials, local and state correctional institutions and the U.S. Marshals Service to “mitigate the risk of exposure in pretrial detention and jail facilities” and ensure safe inmate transfers.

Trump rejects arguments for nationwide lockdown

Update 1:20 p.m. EDT March 24: President Donald Trump said Tuesday during a virtual town hall meeting that his main focus is reopening the U.S. economy and rejected arguments in favor of issuing a nationwide lockdown order as officials struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ve never closed down the country for a flu,” the president said during a Fox News town hall meeting Tuesday. He emphasized his belief that shutting the country down to business would do more harm than good.

“You’re going to lose people,” Trump said. “You’re going to have suicides by the thousands. You’re going to have all sorts of things happen. ... You can’t just come in and close the United States.”

Trump, Coronavirus Task Force participate in virtual town hall meeting

Update 1:15 p.m. EDT March 24: President Donald Trump and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force will appear Tuesday on Fox News for a virtual town hall meeting.

Harvard University president, wife test positive for coronavirus

Update 1:10 p.m. EDT March 24: Harvard University President Larry Bacow and his wife, Adele, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released Tuesday.

Bacow said he and his wife began coughing Sunday and experienced other symptoms of COVID-19, including fevers, chills and muscle aches. They were tested Monday and learned Tuesday that they were positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus.

“Neither of us knows how we contracted the virus, but the good news—if there is any to be had—is that far fewer people crossed our paths recently than is usually the case,” Bacow said.

“We began working from home and completely limiting our contact with others on March 14 in keeping with recommendations to adopt social distancing measures. In line with standard protocols, the Department of Public Health will be in touch with anyone with whom we have had close contact over the past fourteen days.”

Obama offers tips, encouragement amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Update 12:55 p.m. EDT March 24: Former President Barack Obama is using his platform on social media to speak about the coronavirus pandemic, offering tips and encouragement while refraining from criticizing his predecessor.

The former president, who has more than 114.5 million followers on Twitter, has been relatively quiet on many of the controversial issues that have bubbled up during President Donald Trump's administration, NBC News reported. However, Obama has become more engaged on social media since the coronavirus crisis, posting on Twitter and cross-posting to his Facebook account.

Coronavirus cases top 1,000, deaths surpass 30 in Georgia

Update 12:40 p.m. EDT March 24: The number of novel coronavirus cases confirmed in Georgia grew to 1,026 on Tuesday, up from the 800 case reported by health officials Monday night, WSB-TV reported.

Officials also recorded six more deaths, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 32 in the state.

Have the Olympic Games ever been canceled before?

Update 12:25 p.m. EDT March 24: Officials announced the unprecedented postponement Tuesday of the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the modern Olympics began in 1896, the Games have never been delayed. However, the quadrennial event has been canceled because of war.

First coronavirus death reported in Saudi Arabia

Update 12:20 p.m. EDT March 24: A spokesman for Saudi Arabia's health ministry announced the country's first known death from COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to The Guardian.

The person who died was identified as an Afghan national, the newspaper reported.

A total of 767 novel coronavirus cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia, according to numbers compiled by John Hopkins University.

87 new COVID-19 deaths reported in UK

Update 12:05 p.m. EDT March 24: Health officials in the United Kingdom announced 87 more deaths Tuesday connected to the 2019 novel coronavirus, bringing the country's death toll to 422.

Officials said 8,077 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country. Health officials have tested 90,436 people for the viral infection.

Greta Thunberg says it’s ‘extremely likely’ she had COVID-19

Update 11:50 a.m. EDT March 24: Swedish youth climate activist Greta Thunberg said in a post on social media Tuesday that "it's extremely likely" she had COVID-19.

She said she and her father, who traveled with her on a recent trip from Brussels, started to feel ill around March 14. She said she felt tired and had a sore throat, a cough and the shivers while her dad felt the same more intensely and with the addition of a fever.

"In Sweden you can not test yourself for COVID-19 unless you're in need of emergent medical treatment. Everyone feeling ill are told to stay at home and isolate themselves" Thunberg said Tuesday in a post on Instagram. "I have therefore not been tested for COVID-19, but it's extremely likely that I've had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances."

Thunberg said she has “basically recovered” from her illness but cautioned people to be vigilant.

“I almost didn’t feel ill. My last cold was much worse than this! Had it not been for someone else having the virus (simultaneously) I might not even have suspected anything,” she said.

“We who don’t belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others.Please keep that in mind, follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #StayAtHome to slow the spread of the virus.”

Florida health officials report 1,412 coronavirus cases

Update 11:45 a.m. EDT March 24: Health officials in Florida announced 185 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 1,412, WFTV reported.

Eighteen people have died of the 2019 novel coronavirus in Florida.

25,665 COVID-19 cases reported in New York

Update 11:35 a.m. EDT March 24: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said 4,790 new cases of coronavirus have been reported, bringing the state's total number of cases to 25,665.

The numbers include 3,234 cases which led to hospitalizations. Cuomo said Tuesday that 756 patients were in intensive care units with the viral infection.

In New York state, 91,270 people have been tested for the 2019 novel coronavirus.

7th COVID-19 death reported in Pennsylvania

Update 11:25 a.m. EDT March 24: Officials in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday announced a second novel coronavirus death in the county, marking at least the seventh COVID-19 death in the state, according to WPXI.

Rate of new infections doubling every 3 days in New York, governor says

Update 11:15 a.m. EDT March 24: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said Tuesday that officials have seen an increase in the state's rate of infection.

“(The) rate of new infections is doubling about every three days,” Cuomo said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “That is a dramatic increase.”

He warned that despite efforts by health officials, “We’re not slowing it, and it is accelerating on its own."

India’s prime minister announces nationwide lockdown

Update 11:10 a.m. EDT March 24: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that the country will go into lockdown beginning at midnight to stymie the spread of COVID-19, Reuters reported.

In a televised address, Modi said the lockdown would last for at least 21 days.

“There will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” Modi said, according to Reuters.

Health officials in the country, which has a population over 1.3 billion, have reported 519 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths, according to numbers compiled by John Hopkins University.

Federal officials giving $100 million to health centers nationwide

Update 11:05 a.m. EDT March 24: U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar on Tuesday announced that $100 million will be awarded to more than 1,300 health centers nationwide amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The new grants we’re releasing today are a rapid injection of resources secured by President (Donald) Trump from Congress in the supplemental funding bill, building on the strong investments (the Department of Health and Human Services) has made in health centers over the years,” Azar said Tuesday in a news release

2020 Paralympics pushed to 2021

Update 11 a.m. EDT March 24: Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, said postponing the Olympics and Paralympics to 2021 presented "the only logical option."

The Paralympics are governed by the same contract as the Tokyo Olympics.

Parsons said “by taking this decision now, everyone involved in the Paralympic Movement, including all Para athletes, can fully focus on their own health and well-being and staying safe during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

Ford, GM take steps to start making ventilators, respirators

Update 10:50 a.m. EDT March 24: Ford is partnering with 3M and GE Healthcare to make respirators and ventilators as need for the medical equipment grows due to the coronavirus pandemic, CNN reported.

Ford and 3M will be making a powered air-purifying respirator, or PAPR, as well as making the company’s current respirator.

At the same time, Ford has partnered with GE Healthcare to make ventilators. But details have not been released as to how that will happen.

McConnell says senators ‘are very close’ to reaching stimulus deal

Update 10:40 a.m. EDT March 24: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that lawmakers "are very close" to reaching a deal over the coronavirus stimulus bill.

“We are close to a bill that takes our bold Republican framework, integrates further ideas from both parties and delivers huge progress on each of the four core priorities I laid out a week ago,” McConnell said during remarks Tuesday morning on the Senate floor. "If we act today what Americans will remember and what history will record is that the Senate did the right thing – that we came together.”

Detroit police dispatcher dies of COVID-19, reports say

Update 10:30 a.m. EDT March 24: A Detroit police dispatcher has died after being diagnosed with the 2019 novel coronavirus, according to multiple reports.

WXYZ identified the patient as a 38-year-old civilian dispatcher. Citing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, the Detroit Metro Times reported that as of Monday, nine Detroit police officers have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting more than 280 officers to quarantine.

63 more coronavirus deaths, 811 new cases reported in the Netherlands

Update 10:05 a.m. EDT March 24: Health officials in the Netherlands said Tuesday that 811 new novel coronavirus cases have been reported, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 5,560.

Officials with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport said 63 people have died of COVID-19 since numbers were last released Monday, bringing the number of coronavirus deaths in the Netherlands to 276. The patients who had fatal coronavirus cases ranged in age from 55 to 97 years old, according to authorities.

“The actual number of COVID-19 infections is higher than the number of reports in this update,” health official noted Tuesday. “This is because not everyone suspected of a COVID-19 infection is tested. The cases reported here are mainly patients who are so sick that they are admitted to hospital, and healthcare providers.”

The Dutch government tightened its coronavirus measures Monday night, including banning all gatherings, events and meetings until June 1 and urging people to stay home. It is giving local mayors beefed-up powers to enforce the restrictions.

Can you get COVID-19 more than once?

Update 10 a.m. EDT March 24: As doctors continue to test and study the 2019 novel coronavirus, WFTV in Orlando, Florida, wanted to know if someone can get COVID-19 after they've tested positive and recovered once from the virus.

"The jury is out on this one," Dr. Candice Jones said. "We just have to wait and see, and it may differ depending on the severity of your illness."

Jones said there is a debate among some coronavirus researchers who say the immune system works so that we develop some level of immunity after we get an infection.

Amazon suspends accounts accused of price gouging

Update 9:35 a.m. EDT March 24: Amazon has shut down 3,900 accounts the online retail giant said were charging too much for products.

Officially the company said the accounts had been "violating our fair pricing policies," also known as price gouging, USA Today reported.

Tokyo Olympics officially postponed to 2021

Update 9 a.m. EDT March 24: The Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021.

The International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The IOC says the games will be held “not later than summer 2021” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

2020 Olympics delayed

Update 8:30 a.m. EDT March 24: The 2020 Olympics, which were scheduled to take place in Japan over the summer, has been postponed for one year due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple reports.

Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said Tuesday that he reached an agreement with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach to postpone the Olympics for one year, The Guardian and CNN reported.

Olympic committees for Canada and Australia said in recent days that they would not send athletes to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo due to the risk posed by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus cases top 390,000 worldwide

Update 8:15 a.m. EDT March 24: Newly updated numbers compiled by John Hopkins University shows a rise in cases reported in Spain and Germany, bringing the total number of cases worldwide to 392,331.

In Spain, 36,673 COVID-19 cases and 2,696 deaths have been reported, according to the latest figures. In Germany, 30,150 cases have been reported along with 130 deaths.

Global coronavirus deaths near 17K, worldwide cases top 387K

Update 7:25 a.m. EDT March 24: The global death toll attributed to the novel coronavirus approached 17,000 early Tuesday, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

In the three months since the virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, it has infected at least 387,382 people worldwide and claimed at least 16,767 lives.

• Italy has confirmed 63,927 cases, resulting in 6,077 deaths.

• The United States has reported 46,450 confirmed cases, resulting in 542 deaths.

• Spain has confirmed 35,212 infections, resulting in 2,318 deaths.

• Germany has reported 30,081 cases, resulting in 130 deaths.

• Iran has recorded 24,811 cases, resulting in 1,934 deaths.

• France has confirmed 20,149 infections, resulting in 860 deaths.

• Switzerland has confirmed 9,117 cases, resulting in 122 deaths.

• South Korea has recorded 9,037 cases, resulting in 120 deaths.

• The United Kingdom has reported 6,733 cases, resulting in 335 deaths.

• The Netherlands has confirmed 4,767 cases, resulting in 213 deaths.

Self-proclaimed virus spreader arrested in Germany for licking subway ticket machine, handrails

Update 7:12 a.m. EDT March 24: Authorities in Munich have arrested a German man who posted a video online last week that appears to show him licking the handrail of an escalator and a subway ticket machine, The Washington Post reported.

The man, 33, reportedly told police he wanted to spread the novel coronavirus, but it was not immediately clear if he has tested positive for the virus that has caused a global pandemic, the Post reported.

Read more here.

Thailand declares state of emergency, cites 14-fold coronavirus infection increase in 1 month

Update 7:01 a.m. EDT March 24: In a bid to allow the government greater enforcement powers to combat the novel coronavirus, Thailand declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.

According to The Associated Press, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's cabinet agreed to the monthlong measure after the nation experienced a 14-fold spike in confirmed cases during the month of March.

Prior to March 1, Thailand had reported only 42 confirmed cases, but that figure had increased to more than 800 by Tuesday.

Read more here.

Spain converts ice rink into temporary morgue to handle coronavirus volume

Update 6:33 a.m. EDT March 24: Spain's regional government announced Monday a Madrid ice rink has been repurposed as a temporary morgue to handle the bodies of COVID-19 victims, CNN reported.

Spain’s Emergency Military Unit has already begun delivering some bodies to the Ice Palace in Madrid’s Hortaleza neighborhood.

According to a statement sent to CNN, the Madrid city government's funeral service announced Monday it will stop collecting the bodies of those who die from coronavirus as they are "without sufficient protective material."

The regional government called the move a “temporary and extraordinary measure” taken to “lessen the pain of the families of the victims and the situation that’s being recorded in Madrid’s hospitals.”

Spain has now recorded 35,212 novel coronavirus infections, resulting in 2,316 deaths.

Hawaii reports its first coronavirus-related death

Update 5:31 a.m. EDT March 24: Officials in Hawaii has confirmed the state's first death related to the novel coronavirus.

According to the Hawaii Department of Health, “indirect travel-related exposure” is most likely to blame for the fatality, which occurred on Friday.

“All of Hawai‘i expresses condolences to the family of the person who died and shares in grieving their loss. Everyone is encouraged to take care of themselves and their loved ones during these difficult times," the department said in a statement.

Hawaii has confirmed a total of 77 infections to date.

NRA slashes salaries, staff as coronavirus crisis diverts donations

Update 5:06 a.m. EDT March 24: The National Rifle Association announced deep cuts to salaries and personnel on Monday as the coronavirus pandemic undercuts donations, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Specifically, the organization announced a 20 percent reduction in salaries and said it would lay off an unspecified number of staff.

The NRA said in a statement that the virus outbreak had resulted in the cancelation of the nonprofit group's annual meeting next month, "and caused a major disruption to our fundraising activities," including Friends of the NRA fundraisers, the Journal reported.

Read more here.

Amazon rolls out paid time off for all part-time employees amid coronavirus order crunch

Update 4:50 a.m. EDT March 24: In response to pressure from warehouse workers' 2019 calls for change, Amazon.com Inc. has started offering paid time off to all part-time hourly employees throughout its U.S. logistics network, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Despite employees' organizational efforts in Sacramento, Chicago, New York and other high-profile metropolises, the global coronavirus pandemic appears to have been the impetus for the immediate rule change as online orders continue mounting from homebound consumers, the Journal reported.

Coronavirus cases spike worldwide as pandemic tightens grip

Update 3:52 a.m. EDT March 24: A Monday tweet from a World Health Organization official sugar coated nothing.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, shared the novel coronavirus’ shockingly high infection rate and reminded anyone monitoring the global pandemic that each of these figures reported represents an actual human being.

With more than 382,000 cases confirmed worldwide – resulting in more than 16,500 fatalities to date – the infection rates in nearly one dozen countries soared during the past 24 hours. CNN offered the following roundup:

• United States: More than 100 coronavirus-related deaths – bringing the nationwide total to at least 540 – reported in a single day for the first time since the outbreak began. Of the more than 46,000 known U.S. cases, 21,689 reside in New York.

• Canada: On Monday, new cases spiked by nearly one third, bringing the nationwide total to at least 2,000 confirmed cases and 23 deaths. The largest provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have seen the largest spikes in infection activity.

• Brazil: According the South American country's ministry of health, nearly 400 new cases were diagnosed Monday, alone, bringing the nationwide total to 1,891.

• Italy: There were 601 new coronavirus-related deaths confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 6,077 amid 63,927 cases nationwide.

• Singapore: There were 54 new coronavirus diagnoses reported on Monday, marking the city-state's largest one-day spike and bringing the nationwide total to 509 infections.

• United Kingdom: At least 54 people have died in the United Kingdom from coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 335 amid 6,700 total cases.

• Spain: The health ministry confirmed the country's total infections increased by 4,517 between Sunday and Monday, bringing the nationwide total to 33,089. A total of 2,182 people have died, including 462 during the same 24-hour period.

• Iran: The country confirmed 1,411 new cases on Monday, bringing the nationwide total to 23,049 infections, resulting in 1,812 deaths to date.

Consumers self-isolating from coronavirus boost e-payment demand

Update 2:42 a.m. EDT March 24: Homebound shoppers across the globe are fueling a worldwide surge in demand for digital payment services, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Stay-at-home orders have forced consumers to rethink their sources for meeting basic needs and fighting boredom – from groceries and prescription drugs to online movies and audiobooks – amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. In turn, many e-payment providers are calling upon contingency plans typically reserved for seasonal bursts of online shopping, such as Black Friday.

In Italy, alone, e-commerce transactions have swelled 81 percent since the close of February, the Journal reported citing McKinsey & Co.

Read more here.

China’s Hubei province to lift coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday

Update 2:29 a.m. EDT March 24: Authorities in the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic are slated to lift nearly all lockdown restrictions on Wednesday, CNN reported.

China's Hubei province has been widely regarded as ground zero for the global pandemic. Lockdown restrictions are expected to continue in the city of Wuhan, the provincial capital, however, until at least April 8, the network reported.

To date, Hubei has confirmed 67,801 coronavirus cases, resulting in 3,160 deaths; however, the province has recorded only one new infection during the past six days.

However, the rate of new infections has been brought down significantly -- the province has only reported one new infection in the past six days.

State-by-state breakdown of 42,663 US coronavirus cases, 541 deaths

Update 12:50 a.m. EDT March 24: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 46,000 across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands late Monday night.

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, there are at least 46,371 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in a total of at least 541 deaths.

Of the confirmed deaths, 157 have occurred in New York, 110 in Washington state and 34 in Louisiana.

In terms of diagnosed cases, New York remains the hardest hit with nearly 21,000 confirmed cases – more than seven times any other state – followed by New Jersey with 2,844 and Washington with 2,221.

Five other states have now reported at least 1,000 novel coronavirus cases, including:

• California: 1,733

• Michigan: 1,328

• Illinois: 1,285

• Florida: 1,237

• Louisiana: 1,172

The figures include 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship and 49 repatriated citizens. The repatriations include 46 sickened aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and three others retrieved from the outbreak’s epicenter in Wuhan, China.

The state-by-state breakdown – including presumptive cases – of the 42,597 cases detected on U.S. soil is as follows:

• Alabama: 196

• Alaska: 22

• Arizona: 235, including 2 deaths

• Arkansas: 197

• California: 1,733, including 32 deaths

• Colorado: 591, including 6 deaths

• Connecticut: 415, including 10 deaths

• Delaware: 87

• District of Columbia: 116, including 2 deaths

• Florida: 1,237, including 18 deaths

• Georgia: 800, including 26 deaths

• Guam: 27, including 1 death

• Hawaii: 77

• Idaho: 50

• Illinois: 1,285, including 12 deaths

• Indiana: 259, including 7 deaths

• Iowa: 105

• Kansas: 82, including 2 deaths

• Kentucky: 124, including four deaths

• Louisiana: 1,172, including 34 deaths

• Maine: 107

• Maryland: 288, including 3 deaths

• Massachusetts: 777, including 9 deaths

• Michigan: 1,328, including 15 deaths

• Minnesota: 235, including 1 death

• Mississippi: 249, including 1 death

• Missouri: 183, including 3 deaths

• Montana: 45

• Nebraska: 50

• Nevada: 245, including 4 deaths

• New Hampshire: 101, including 1 death

• New Jersey: 2,844, including 27 deaths

• New Mexico: 83

• New York: 20,875, including 157 deaths

• North Carolina: 297

• North Dakota: 30

• Ohio: 442, including 6 deaths

• Oklahoma: 81, including 2 deaths

• Oregon: 191, including 5 deaths

• Pennsylvania: 644, including 6 deaths

• Puerto Rico: 31, including 2 deaths

• Rhode Island: 106

• South Carolina: 298, including 5 deaths

• South Dakota: 28, including 1 death

• Tennessee: 615, including 2 deaths

• Texas: 352, including 8 deaths

• U.S. Virgin Islands: 17

• Utah: 257, including 1 death

• Vermont: 75, including 5 deaths

• Virginia: 254, including 6 deaths

• Washington: 2,221, including 110 deaths

• West Virginia: 16

• Wisconsin: 416, including 5 deaths

• Wyoming: 26

The Associated Press contributed to this report.