In a March 16 email guidance, the U.S. Department of State called on J-1 academic exchange program sponsors to suspend the programs of any exchange visitor who had not yet entered the U.S. This suspension is to last at least 60 days. This follows on the same guidance given to private sector exchanges, as well as the government's own sponsored exchanges.
In response, the ISS will be suspending the issuance of DS-2019s for all J-1 programs until further notice.