Coronavirus live updates: Jared Leto comes back from a 12-day silent retreat and is shocked by the coronapocalypse

March 17

• 5:37pm: With concerts and movie premieres being canceled due to coronavirus, it’s no surprised the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards followed suit. On Tuesday, March 17, Telemundo and Billboard officially announced that the award show would be postponed.
• 5:29pm: Four Brooklyn Nets players have tested positive for the coronavirus. While the team did not mention the names of the affected players, they did reveal one is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 The NBA already suspended the season last Wednesday.
• 5:21pm: Actor Jared Leto revealed he was in a 12-day meditation retreat and was unaware about the coronavirus outbreak. The star was self-isolating without a phone or communication and emerged days later to the news of the pandemic.
• 3:03pm: Major retailers continue to close amid coronavirus outbreak. Nordstrom and Sephora announced they will be closing all retail stores while their websites will remain open for shopping. The beauty retailer will be offering free shipping through Friday, April 3 with the code FREESHIP.
• 2:53pm: Contestants on the German version of the reality show Big Brother are unaware about the global pandemic. The cast is currently isolated and will be informed about the coronavirus on Tuesday night in a live TV special.
• 2:33pm: Al Roker gives the weather report from his kitchen after a staffer for the third hour of the morning show tested positive.

• 11:34am: Need a break from the news? Here are the funny coronavirus memes that are keeping us entertained while social distancing and some wellness products that will help you keep calm and carry on.
• 10:01am: More celebrities report testing positive. Following news of Tom Hanks – who, along with wife Rita Wilson, were released from the hospital on Monday – and Idris Elba catching the virus, more stars are finding out they, too, have coronavirus. Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju, 41, who played Tormund on the HBO series, is self-isolating with his family at his Norway home after testing positive, and says he’s “in good health” with only mild symptoms. Frozen 2 star Rachel Matthews, also learned she has COVID-19. The 26-year-old was tested after she was exposed to someone who was positive. Pasión de Gavilanes actress Danna Garcia, also revealed she has coronavirus. “I'm doing well, I'm isolated. I'm avoiding contact with people,” she said on social media.
• 9:41am: Even celebrity kids are reacting to the outbreak.  Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter North West built a cardboard house to keep her family safe.

March 16

• 8:05pm: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donate $1million to needy families. The L.A.-born actress and Canadian native pledged to give $500,000 each to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada.

• 7:30pm: Jennifer Lopez shares her self-quarantine tips. The star also joins her twins Max and Emme in revealing the perks of ‘working from home’
• 3:45pm: Fashion’s Oscars, the Met Gala has been postponed indefinitely. According to Vogue, the news was announced that this year’s highly-anticipated event with co-chairs Emma Stone, Meryl Streep,  Lin-Manuel Miranda , Louis Vuitton artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière and Anna Wintour will not be taking place on May 4.
• 2:35pm: Idris Elba tests positive despite having no symptoms. The  Thor actor revealed on Twitter that he has contracted COVID-19 and has been isolated since he “found out about my possible exposure to the virus.” The British star urged his followers to stay home and be pragmatic. Just last week he was with Sophie Trudeau, who also has the virus.

•  2:30pm: Canada puts travel ban in place. It was announced Monday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be closing borders to non-Canadian nationals or residents. He also urged those citizens abroad to come home before while it is still possible. White House News Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor also revealed US citizens are still allowed to travel into Canada and are exempt from new travel ban Canada is imposing because "the level of integration of our two countries is quite particular" and the US and Canada have been "collaborating very closely."
•  1:21pm: Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for fans: stay home.  Like many of us, the star is hunkering down en casa with his pets – although in Arnie’s case those pets are a miniature pony and a donkey, who joined him to co-star in the social media PSA he posted on Monday. In the clip, the 72-year-old action man encouraged everyone to “listen to the experts, ignore the morons” – and explained to Lulu the donkey and Whiskey the pony they’d all be self-isolating for a while.

• 11:16am: Jennifer Garner’s little boy Samuel has inspired her to reach out to kids whose schools have been canceled. After her 7-year-old son was disappointed his school performance of Frozen had been called off – he was going to play a troll – the actress launched the hashtag #heyjenlookatme, encouraging aspiring performers to post their talents on social media. “The show must go on, people!!!” Jen wrote on Instagram. “Break out your oboes, belt out your torch song, run in place⁠—I don't care. Show us what you've been working on and we will show it to the world. Use #heyjenlookatme, because I want to see.”
• 10:22am: Argentina-born Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and husband King Willem-Alexander release a statement to boost spirits as the virus takes hold. The royal couple thanked the doctors and nurses on the front lines, adding: “We are thinking about all of the patients and caregivers and everyone in our kingdom who are working under high pressure. Entrepreneurs and freelancers who are worried about their businesses, teachers looking for alternative teaching methods, drivers who are doing what is needed. It is wonderful that there are so many people pulling together... Thank you.”

• 9:58am: Coronavirus hits the Las Vegas strip. Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts have announced they are shutting down for at least two weeks. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore hotel guests are being asked to check out by Tuesday at noon, with guests holding future reservations being told to cancel. MGM resorts, meanwhile, will shut down operations as well on Tuesday, and will not be taking reservations for any arrivals scheduled earlier than May 1.

• 8:19am: 3rd Hour of Today show staffer has coronavirus.  Craig Melvin and Al Roker are taking Monday, March 16 off from the show as a precautionary measure after a staff member tested positive. Today host Savannah Guthrie explained: “Both are fine right now, they feel good, but caution is the order of the day.”
• 7:17am: Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko, who starred in Quantum of Solace, tests positive for coronavirus. Announcing the news on Instagram, the actress wrote: “Locked up at home after having tested positive for Coronavirus,” Olga wrote. “I’ve actually been ill for almost a week now. Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms. Take care of yourself and do take this seriously!”

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• 1:10am: New York City and Los Angeles, as well as Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington State, close bars and restaurants. The temporary measure, which does not affect takeout or home delivery, will last for at least 15 days and is aimed at reducing coronavirus spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more, including weddings and concerts, be held in the US in at least the next eight weeks.

March 15

• 4:18pm: Givenchy, Guerlain and Dior will be using their factories to produce hand sanitizer. Luxury conglomerate LMVH, which owns all three brands, announced the extraordinary measure as France battles to contain the spread of coronavirus.
• 10:01am: There are now more than 152,000 coronavirus cases globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• 9:57am: Coronavirus leads to creative measures. For example, this fitness trainer, who  hosted workouts from a rooftop  as people followed along from their balconies in quarantined Spain.

March 14

• 4:37pm: The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners and the state's Board of Nursing will begin issuing temporary licenses to out-of-state medical professionals during the coronavirus outbreak in an effort to combat the impact, according to a news release from Gov. Henry McMaster.
• 3:01pm: President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence said some domestic travel restrictions are under consideration in the U.S.
• 12:34pm: President Trump announced at a press conference that he took a coronavirus test Friday night. Results are unknown at this time.
• 12pm: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida will temporarily close March 16.
• 11:52am: Switzerland bans public gatherings of 100+ people.
• 10:59am: Orlando Bloom to the U.S. from the Czech Republic after production on season 2 of his show Carnaval Row was halted due to the coronavirus outbreak. “I feel very grateful to have arrived safely home to my family,” he said. “Be safe and wash your hands!”
• 10:01am: Heidi Klum tried to get tested for coronavirus after suffering from a fever but no tests were available.

March 13:

• 5:27pm: President Donald Trump announces he will “mostly likely” be tested for coronavirus.
• 5:24pm: Six African countries — Kenya, Guinea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Gabon and Ghana — confirm coronavirus infections within the past 24 hours.
• 5:22pm: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announces first COVID-19 case within state.
• 5:19pm: NY Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daughter placed in “precautionary quarantine” over possible COIVD-19 contact.
• 3:30pm: President Donald Trump declares National Emergency over coronavirus.
• 3:18pm: Australia's home affairs minister who met Ivanka Trump last week tests positive for coronavirus.
• 1:44pm: Singer Tini Stoessel postpones March 12 concert to September 19.
• 1:31pm: Ellen DeGeneres announces she will be taping her show with no audience.
• 12:38pm: Louisiana is the first state to postpone its 2020 primary election. 
• 12:36pm: Venezuela confirms first two cases of coronavirus.
• 12:35pm: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tests positive for COVID-19 after event with President Jair Bolsonaro. 
• 12:16pm: Boston Marathon and Augusta National are postponing their respective events due to COVID-19 concerns.
• 11:48am: Former Florida senator Rick Scott “self-quarantines” after meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s aides during recent trip to Florida.
• 11:30am:  President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil tests positive for coronavirus.
• 11:07am: King Felipe and Queen Leticia test negative for COVID-19. Queen Leticia is being quarantined. Former NBA player Charles Barkley is self-quarantining as he awaits results of his test.
• 11:04am: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tests positive for coronavirus. Orlando Bloom returning to US to self-quarantine.
• 11:01am: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces $1 billion emergency fund for COVID-19. Walt Disney World, in Orlando, FL, announces official closure.
• 9:34am: Clarence House announces that Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla  have canceled their upcoming spring Royal Tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan.
• 8:53am: Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas halt production of their new film, Official Competition, in Spain. Producers of the film, which has been shooting around Madrid, cite “the implementation of safety measures and responsibility towards our filming crew.” The country has been one of the hardest hit by the virus, reporting 120 deaths y 4,200 infected.

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• 8:16am: We wish everyone a safe and feliz Friday! Remember to wash your hands! If you need a reminder, Gloria Gaynor has launched the I Will Survive hand-washing challenge to the tune of her 1978 disco classic:

• 7:49am: Chayanne has announced he's postponing his Desde El Alma tour, which was scheduled with stops in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Spain.

March 12:

• 11:15pm: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who were both diagnosed with COVID-19, gave a health update on social media. The couple are taking it “one-day-at-a-time”.

• 10:51pm: Canadian First Lady Sophie Gregoire has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating, as is her husband, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “She will remain in isolation for the time being,” read a statement. “She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild.”
• 5:52pm: The Tribeca Film Festival has been postponed. In a statement, the film fest’s CEO Jane Rosenthal explained: “We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 19th Tribeca Film Festival (April 15-26) based on the announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that events of 500 people or more are banned due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of the public while also supporting our friends, filmmakers and storytellers who look to Tribeca as a platform to showcase their work to audiences. We will be back to you shortly with our plans.”
• 5:29pm: Matthew Broderick’s sister Janet Broderick has tested positive and is in ICU. Janet, who is a pastor at a Beverly Hills church, wrote on the church website: “I am through the worst of this and very very much on the mend."

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• 5:15pm:  Disneyland in CA is closing as of Friday because of coronavirus. This is only the fourth time in history the park has fully been suspended.
• 4:46pm: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony has been officially postponed. Democratic debate moved from Arizona to Washington DC. The James Beard Awards (Oscars of the culinary industry) are postponed.
• 4:34pm: Los Angeles-based talk shows with live audiences to suspend live tapings.
• 4:32pm: MLB suspending spring training. MLS suspending soccer season indefinitely. ATP Tour suspends play for six weeks.
• 4:30pm: NCAA cancels men and women’s championships. NHL suspending entire hockey season due to COVID-19 concerns.
• 4:29pm: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-quarantining as his wife shows “mild flu-like symptoms.”
• 4:19pm: Princess and Viking cruises to give refunds and credits to passengers with booked voyages after halting all cruise travels.
• 3:50pm: Starbucks to consider restricting business to drive-thru and mobile app access only.

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• 3:48pm: President Donald Trump announces domestic travel ban to areas of the US hardest hit by COVID-19.
• 3:29pm: Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for COVID-19 after several of his deputies tested positive days after meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida.
• 3:13pm: Paramount delays release of A Quiet Place 2 indefinitely. The film was scheduled to hit the big screen internationally on March 18.
• 3:05pm:  Fast & Furious pushes release date to 2021. The film will open globally in April 2021 and in the US on April 2.
• 2:59pm: Donovan Mitchell becomes the second basketball player to test positive after his Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert also tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
• 2:57pm:  Riverdale halts production after crew member tests positive for COVID-19.

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• 2:37pm:  Jorge Ramos has backed out as moderator for Sunday night’s Democratic debate due to possible coronavirus exposure.
•  2:08pm:  New York Governor Cuomo announces ‘almost immediate’ closing of Broadway.
•  1:44pm:  The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art has announced it will temporarily close to visitors.

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•  Jorge Ramos possibly exposed to coronavirus . The reporter is said to be symptomless and in good health, but has decided to step doing from his moderating duties at the March 15 Democratic Debate hosted by CNN.
•  Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI are being tested  . The Royal Palace confirmed that Spanish royals were exposed to a politician who tested positive.
• First royal diagnosed with Coronavirus  : The disease has infected a European royal. Karl von Habsburg, the Archduke of Austria, has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is now being quarantined.
• Cristiano Ronaldo put in quarantine  : The Portuguese soccer star is remaining at his Madeira home after his Juventus teammate, Daniele Rugani, tested positive for coronavirus.
• Monaco’s Rose Ball, hosted by Prince Albert and Princess Caroline, has been canceled  . It’s the first time in 50 years the charity gala will not be held.

March 11:

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• 10:11pm:   Tom Hanks confirms he and wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for COVID-19  . The beloved actor and his spouse are in Australia, where he is shooting a movie.
• 9:46pm:  The NBA announces that the pro basketball season is officially suspended after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19 just before tip-off at the Utah vs Oklahoma City game.

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• Coronavirus wreaks havoc on royalty:  5 new developments on how the bug is impacting  Queen Elizabeth , Spanish Princesses Leonor and Sofia and more
• Naomi Campbell takes protection next level : The supermodel wore a hazmat suit to travel, and we can’t exactly blame her
• Hand soaps that will keep you moisturized:  WASH YOUR HANDS is the first rule of helping protect yourself and others. Here are some hand soaps that will are gentle on your skin.