Federal Reserve policymakers at their March 15 meeting indicated that not only did they consider it important to use all their rate power now, but also that they intend to keep rates anchored at the bottom for the foreseeable future, according to minutes released Wednesday.

The minutes reflected central bankers concerned about the impact the coronavirus was having on the economy.

"All participants viewed the near-term U.S. economic outlook as having deteriorated sharply in recent weeks and as having become profoundly uncertain," the minutes said.

The meeting, held remotely on a Sunday afternoon, resulted in the committee taking down its policy rate to where it was during the financial crisis. All but one member voted in favor, with Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester offering dissent.

"In their discussion of monetary policy for this meeting, members noted that the coronavirus outbreak had harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States, and that global financial conditions had also been significantly affected," the minutes said.

"Members judged that the effects of the coronavirus would weigh on economic activity in the near term and would pose risks to the economic outlook. In light of these developments, almost all members agreed to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to 1/4 percent," the summary continued.

The decision also included a nod to the "forward guidance" the Fed uses to indicate the future path of policy. Market participants had been looking for whether the meeting summary would show an intent to keep the fed funds rate at its lowest level.

"With regard to monetary policy beyond this meeting, these participants judged that it would be appropriate to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent until policymakers were confident that the economy had weathered recent events and was on track to achieve the Committee's maximum employment and price stability goals," the minutes said.