Scott Neuman

The prime minister confirmed Monday that he would issue the declaration that allows governors of hard-hit prefectures to issue stay-at-home directives.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that reported cases had doubled in some countries "as the economic and social pressures and fear have grown."

The leaders spoke after a virtual G-20 meeting. President Trump called it a "very good conversation," and China state TV said Xi Jinping offered to help the U.S. respond to the spread of the virus.

At midnight Thursday, security forces began enforcing the order against all but essential movement. Meanwhile, the health ministry reported two COVID-19 deaths among nearly 1,000 confirmed cases.

The detainees range in age from 31 to 56 years of age and have medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease and obesity — making them particularly vulnerable to the disease.

Whole pallets of personal protective equipment have reportedly been stolen from hospitals, and some health care workers have even become targets of violence, a nurses' union says.

Robert Levinson, who went missing while on an unauthorized mission for the CIA, is thought to have died in Iranian custody, his family says.

"We want to organize the best Games possible," IOC President Thomas Bach said, adding that "this postponement will require sacrifices and compromises from all parties."

Gov. Andy Beshear said he was angry about the case of one young adult who contracted the illness after attending a party designed to flout social distancing guidelines.

The deal means Congress could be close to passing a deal, and it comes after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Republicans and Democrats had closed the gap on their differences.

The secretary of state's announcement follows meetings in Kabul with Afghanistan's rivals to the presidency, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. Pompeo said another $1 billion could be cut next year.

The tougher restrictions were announced after criticism from officials, including Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, following scenes over the weekend of friends and family thronging an airport parking lot.

The couple ingested a form of chloroquine, a chemical that has been touted in recent days by President Trump as a possible "game changer" against COVID-19.

A month after an outbreak at a nursing home in Seattle, testing at a facility in Bellingham reveals that 24 residents and six of the facility's staff members have become infected with the virus.

After a positive coronavirus test for Sen. Rand Paul, Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, who said they had recent contact with Paul but showed no symptoms, voluntarily self-quarantine.

The three passengers and one crew member were aboard the Ruby Princess, which arrived from New Zealand. The ship was carrying 2,700 passengers and 1,100 crew members.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that he is working with his Mexican counterpart "on travel restrictions that balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of #COVID19."

The directive is the widest-ranging so far of any state grappling with the growing COVID-19 epidemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he is confident that Californians will comply.

The Fed will receive $10 billion from the Treasury Department to cover potential losses in loans made to eligible financial institutions, to backstop the money market mutual fund industry.

The milestone for a country that saw 14,000 new cases in a single day last month was tempered by the new cases imported from abroad — 34 in mainland China and another 25 in Hong Kong.