; and (2) a tortious act or acts, including acts intended to deliberately conceal or distort the existence or nature of COVID–19, of the foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, regardless where the tortious act or acts of the foreign state occurred. (b) Exclusive jurisdiction (1) Original jurisdiction The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all actions in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under this section. (2) Appellate jurisdiction The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall have exclusive jurisdiction of an appeal from a final decision of an action under this section. (c) Stay of actions pending foreign state negotiations (1) Intervention The Attorney General may intervene in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under this section for the purpose of seeking a stay of the civil action, in whole or in part. (2) Stay (A) In general A court of the United States shall stay a proceeding under this section against a foreign state or any official, employee, or agent of the foreign state, if the Secretary of State certifies that the United States is engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant, or any other defendant, with respect to the resolution of a claim against such a defendant. (B) Duration (i) In general A stay under this section may be granted for not more than 180 days. (ii) Extension (I) In general The Attorney General may petition the court for an extension of the stay for additional 180-day periods. (II) Recertification A court may grant an