The COVID-19 pandemic – 100 steps

The COVID-19 pandemic – 100 steps

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019 and continued through much of 2020 and beyond, involved a complex series of events, symptoms, and government responses. Here’s a detailed list of 100 significant steps, spanning from the early stages of the outbreak to the ongoing effects:

Early Stages and Outbreak (2019)

1. Dec 2019 – Early reports of a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan, China.
2. Dec 31, 2019 – China alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) about the unknown pneumonia cases.
3. Jan 1, 2020 – Wuhan seafood market, where early cases were linked, closed for disinfection.
4. Jan 7, 2020 – Chinese authorities identify a new coronavirus strain, later named SARS-CoV-2.
5. Jan 11, 2020 – China reports the first death from the virus, a 61-year-old man in Wuhan.
6. Jan 13, 2020 – The first confirmed case outside China, in Thailand.
7. Jan 20, 2020 – First case confirmed in the United States (Washington state).
8. Jan 21, 2020 – China reports more than 200 cases and a growing number of deaths.
9. Jan 23, 2020 – Wuhan placed under lockdown as the virus spreads across China.
10. Jan 24, 2020 – Chinese New Year celebrations are canceled in many areas to control the spread.
11. Jan 26, 2020 – The virus spreads to multiple countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
12. Jan 30, 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
13. Jan 31, 2020 – First U.S. death confirmed in Washington state, a man in his 50s.
14. Feb 1, 2020 – WHO warns the world is not prepared for the rapid spread of the virus.
15. Feb 2, 2020 – First death outside China, in the Philippines.
16. Feb 3, 2020 – China quarantines over 60 million people in Hubei province.
17. Feb 4, 2020 – United States CDC begins to prepare for potential widespread transmission.
18. Feb 11, 2020 – The virus is officially named “COVID-19” by the World Health Organization.
19. Feb 13, 2020 – WHO warns the global situation is worsening and that the virus could spread globally.
20. Feb 15, 2020 – Chinese officials report more than 66,000 confirmed cases in China.

Global Spread and Early Responses (2020)

21. Mar 1, 2020 – WHO announces COVID-19 is spreading globally, with over 60 countries affected.
22. Mar 11, 2020 – WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
23. Mar 12, 2020 – The United States declares a national emergency.
24. Mar 13, 2020 – Italy surpasses China in death toll, becoming the hardest-hit country.
25. Mar 14, 2020 – The United States begins implementing travel restrictions from Europe.
26. Mar 16, 2020 – President Trump announces a 15-day “15 Days to Slow the Spread” initiative.
27. Mar 18, 2020 – U.S. Senate passes a $2 trillion economic relief bill.
28. Mar 20, 2020 – Many countries, including Italy, Spain, and France, enter full national lockdowns.
29. Mar 21, 2020 – India announces a nationwide lockdown affecting over 1.3 billion people.
30. Mar 24, 2020 – Global confirmed cases surpass 400,000.
31. Mar 27, 2020 – WHO reports over 500,000 confirmed cases worldwide.
32. Apr 1, 2020 – The United States becomes the epicenter of the pandemic, surpassing 150,000 confirmed cases.
33. Apr 4, 2020 – Global cases reach 1 million, with over 50,000 deaths.
34. Apr 7, 2020 – New York City reports a dramatic surge in cases, making it the epicenter in the U.S.
35. Apr 15, 2020 – Global death toll reaches 100,000.
36. Apr 17, 2020 – Many countries begin debating whether to ease lockdowns or extend them.
37. Apr 25, 2020 – The United States hits 1 million confirmed cases.
38. May 1, 2020 – First wave of lockdowns begins to ease in parts of Europe, including Germany and France.
39. May 10, 2020 – United States surpasses 80,000 deaths.
40. May 17, 2020 – WHO reports over 4.7 million global cases.
41. May 27, 2020 – Global deaths exceed 350,000.
42. Jun 5, 2020 – WHO warns of a “second wave” as countries begin reopening.
43. Jun 15, 2020 – India becomes the third most affected country, surpassing Russia.
44. Jun 17, 2020 – The United States hits 120,000 deaths, as cases continue to rise.
45. Jul 1, 2020 – Over 10 million cases globally.
46. Jul 7, 2020 – Spain and Italy report declines in infection rates after intense lockdowns.
47. Jul 15, 2020 – WHO warns about the possibility of a “second wave” of infections.
48. Aug 1, 2020 – Global cases surpass 18 million.
49. Aug 5, 2020 – Many countries face economic recessions due to ongoing lockdowns.
50. Aug 25, 2020 – The United States hits 5 million confirmed cases.
51. Sept 1, 2020 – The global death toll reaches 850,000.
52. Sept 15, 2020 – Many countries begin implementing partial reopenings, with new safety measures in place.
53. Oct 1, 2020 – The United States reports more than 7 million cases.
54. Oct 13, 2020 – New cases rise sharply in Europe and the United States, triggering renewed restrictions.
55. Nov 1, 2020 – The global death toll surpasses 1 million.
56. Nov 10, 2020 – Pfizer and BioNTech announce a 90% effective COVID-19 vaccine.
57. Nov 30, 2020 – WHO urges caution as the pandemic continues with no global consensus on a vaccine rollout.

Vaccine Development and Rollout (2020-2021)

58. Dec 8, 2020 – The United Kingdom begins administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
59. Dec 14, 2020 – The United States begins its vaccine rollout, focusing on healthcare workers.
60. Dec 15, 2020 – The European Union approves the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
61. Dec 31, 2020 – Global cases surpass 80 million.
62. Jan 1, 2021 – New lockdowns are imposed in many countries due to rising cases from the holiday season.
63. Jan 4, 2021 – The United States reaches 20 million cases.
64. Jan 10, 2021 – The United Kingdom faces a surge in new cases due to a highly transmissible variant (Alpha variant).
65. Jan 13, 2021 – WHO launches COVAX, a global initiative to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.
66. Jan 15, 2021 – The United States surpasses 400,000 deaths.
67. Jan 25, 2021 – European countries like Italy and Germany face vaccine shortages.
68. Feb 1, 2021 – India starts its vaccination campaign, prioritizing healthcare workers.
69. Feb 5, 2021 – Brazil faces severe COVID-19 surges, with overwhelmed hospitals.
70. Feb 19, 2021 – WHO expresses concern over the spread of variants, including Delta and Gamma.
71. Mar 2021 – Global vaccine distribution begins ramping up, but disparities remain between high and low-income countries.
72. Mar 11, 2021 – The one-year anniversary of the WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.
73. Mar 23, 2021 – Vaccine supply increases in many developed nations.
74. Apr 2021 – Global cases exceed 130 million as the Delta variant spreads rapidly.
75. May 2021 – The United States hits 60% adult vaccination coverage.
76. June 2021 – Europe sees a sharp drop in cases thanks to vaccination campaigns.
77. July 2021 – WHO warns of the risk of the Delta variant spreading globally, especially in under-vaccinated regions.
78. Aug 2021 – COVID-19 cases rise sharply again in the U.S., especially in unvaccinated populations.

Continued Spread and Emerging Variants (2021-2022)

79. Sept 2021 – Vaccination campaigns intensify in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
80. Oct 2021 – Many countries begin to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated individuals.
81. Dec 2021 – Omicron variant first reported in South Africa, leading to a surge in cases.
82. Dec 2021 – U.S. faces a winter surge, with new travel restrictions imposed on non-vaccinated individuals.
83. Jan 2022 – Omicron becomes the dominant variant worldwide.
84. Feb 2022 – Global vaccination coverage exceeds 60%, but inequities remain, especially in low-income countries.
85. Mar 2022 – Some countries begin to lift mask mandates as cases decrease.
86. Apr 2022 – WHO continues to monitor the development of new variants, particularly BA.2 and BA.4.
87. May 2022 – Some countries, including the UK, announce plans to “live with COVID,” easing restrictions.
88. June 2022 – The global death toll surpasses 6 million.
89. Sept 2022 – Many schools and workplaces return to full in-person operations.
90. Oct 2022 – Booster vaccines are widely distributed to bolster immunity against emerging variants.
91. Nov 2022 – The Omicron variant continues to cause waves in many countries, but with generally lower mortality rates.
92. Dec 2022 – Many countries declare an end to strict COVID-19 measures, transitioning to endemic management.

Post-Pandemic Transition and Ongoing Effects (2023-2024)

93. Jan 2023 – WHO transitions from an emergency phase to managing COVID-19 as an endemic virus.
94. March 2023 – Global cases continue to decline, but long COVID remains a concern in many countries.
95. May 2023 – WHO advises continued vigilance and vaccine distribution to prevent future surges.
96. July 2023 – Some regions report occasional upticks in cases, but hospitals are no longer overwhelmed.
97. Sept 2023 – Annual COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended in some countries, with booster shots for vulnerable groups.
98. Dec 2023 – The global economy slowly recovers from the pandemic’s initial effects, though some industries still struggle.
99. Jan 2024 – Governments focus on managing ongoing COVID-19 risks, with a focus on surveillance and healthcare preparedness.
100. Dec 2024 – The pandemic is largely controlled globally, but long COVID, economic impacts, and lessons learned continue to shape global policy and healthcare.

This timeline provides an overview of the pandemic’s development, government responses, vaccination efforts, and evolving understanding of the virus. Some countries faced more severe waves than others, and variations in response strategies led to different outcomes.