With stay at home restrictions impacting not only the majority of the United States, but many countries around the world, the US has stopped issuing passports, unless in a "life-or-death emergency,'' in an effort to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

CNN reports that in a statement on its website, the State Department asked Americans to avoid international travel due to the impact of coronavirus. It went on to explain that it will only offer passports to customers with a qualified emergency.

Examples of emergencies include travel due to serious illnesses, injuries or deaths in the immediate family, it said. Applicants must require travel outside the US within three days, and will have to submit "proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional."

Applications received on or before March 19 will get processed, the agency said.

The virus has devastated communities around the world, infecting more than 1 million people and killing over 53,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

As the hardest-hit country, the U.S. has more than 245,500 virus cases and at least 6,000 deaths. Top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has said the whole country should be under a stay-at-home order.

Thus far, 40 states have issued stay-at-home orders urging Americans not to leave the house.