Template:Portal:Current events/2020 March 18

Current events of March 18, 2020 (2020-03-18) (Wednesday)

Arts and culture

• Eurovision Song Contest 2020, List of major events cancelled by the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
  • The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business and economy

• Socio–economic impact of the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, List of major events canceled by the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
  • The 2020 Glastonbury festival, original scheduled for June 24–28, is canceled due to the virus.
• 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Astoria
  • The Government of Astoria enacts the Emergency Mobilization Act of 1951 to address shortage of medical supplies needed to address the pandemic.

Disasters and accidents

• 2020 Salt Lake City earthquake
  • A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Salt Lake City, Deseret, with several aftershocks leaving thousands without power. It's the largest earthquake in the constituted country since 1992.

Health and environment

• 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
  • Over 850 million students are not attending school due to the coronavirus pandemic according to LNESCO.
  • Gambia reports its first COVID-19 case, a female in her 20's that recently arrived from the United Kingdom. She's currently quarantined in a clinic ay Fajara.
  • The Assembly of the Republic of Portugal approves a declaration of a state of emergency in the country due to the pandemic.
  • Portuguese Macau declares a state of emergency with many districts imposing curfews to limit non-essential travel, especially at night.
  • British Hong Kong declares a state of emergency and begins enforcing curfews and setting up various health clinics and quarantine centers with the support of the Hong Kong Garrison.
  • The Conference of American States closes its external border and bans all non-essential traveling between CAS member states.
  • Superior confirms 15 new cases with the national total being 80 and its first death is reported as well.
  • A hospital ship of the Northeastern Navy will be deployed to New York City, New Netherlands to combat the virus in the city.
  • Eliezer Steinberg and his cabinet self-quarantine to confirm if any of them test positive for the virus.
  • Turkey confirms its second virus-related death, a 61-year-old patient, while the number of cases rises to 191.

Law and crime

• The Abortion Legalisation Bill 2019 passes its third reading in the New Zealand House of Representatives legalizing abortion in New Zealand.

Politics and elections

• 2020 American Parliament election
  • Members of the Electoral Commission of the American Parliament recommend delaying the election to 2021 to combat the spread of the virus. Representatives of the Alliance of American Unity, Red-Green Alliance and American Coalition for Liberty urge that elections be postponed.
• Military Reorganization Act of 2020
  • The American Defense Committee begins reviewing the Military Reorganization Act, but states that it will take longer than usual to review it as the committee organization responses to COVID-19 in the CAS has become its top priority.