The Coronavirus Pandemic Timeline from December 2019 until Now
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus was first detected back in December of 2019, over 11.8 million people have been infected, and 544,200 have died. A timeline of events from then until now reminds us just how large this crisis is.
A recent article by the New York Times gives readers an understanding how events have unfolded since the doctors first detected the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. For many, this pandemic has felt like it has lasted much longer than six months, but you might be surprised at the notable events (good or bad) that have happened in a short amount of time.
The Times’ coronavirus timeline walks you through the pandemic’s notable events, starting with Chinese authorities treating dozens of cases of an unknown pneumonia in December 2019 until current day, when Brazil’s president tests positive for the virus in July of 2020.
The coronavirus has covered all corners of the globe and affected nearly every facet of life including the global economies, politics, education, workplace culture, pandemic planning, retail, the healthcare industry and much more. The world has gone from one confirmed, official death in China on January 11 to nearly 544,200 in less than a year.
Since then, the World Health Organization declared the situation a global health emergency and global pandemic, international travel halted and the U.S. became one of the leading hotspots for the virus with over 3 million cases to date. There is still no approved vaccine for the public.
The Times’ coronavirus timeline helps readers have a more tangible understanding of just how much has happened over the last few months, and how much a pandemic can affect. And as much as this crisis took the world by surprise, experts, scientists and even Bill Gates has been warning of an outbreak like this for years.
Check out Gates’ TedTalk from 2015, right after the world avoided a global outbreak of Ebola:
The gravity of the situation is much bigger than a “flu” with a “low death rate.” With thousands already dead, economies tanking and the world struggling to breathe, the coronavirus pandemic has shown us just how much is at stake in our interconnected world.
Hopefully, the Times’ coronavirus timeline helps readers understand the crisis in relative terms of time, expanse and internationality. This fight, many say, is only beginning.