Think Global Health is a multi-contributor website that examines the ways in which changes in health are reshaping economies, societies, and the everyday lives of people around the globe. Launched on January 21, 2020, our editorial team has been closely monitoring the emergence of coronavirus, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its economic and social consequences. This timeline is a running account, gathered in real-time, of key events as they unfolded. We will be updating this timeline frequently as new developments are reported. You can access all of Think Global Health’s coronavirus coverage here.

Ongoing Timeline of Events Follows

Week of August 11 and August 17: South Africa Must Disclose Contracts with COVID-19 Vaccine Suppliers; First U.S. Nasal Spray Vaccine for COVID-19; New Zealand Lifts Last Pandemic Restrictions

August 17

• A national court rules that the South African government must disclose its contracts with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. 
• The U.S. National Institutes of Health, Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine, and Belgium-based manufacturer Exothera develop the first COVID-19 nasal spray vaccine. 

August 14

• New Zealand lifts its final COVID-19 restrictions, which required mask wearing and post-infection isolation. 

Week of August 4 and August 10: China Lifts Group Ban Travel; Cyprus to Use COVID Medication Against Feline Mutation; EG.5 Variant Dominant in U.S.

August 10

• China lifts its ban on group travel to seventy-eight international destinations three years after it was first imposed. 

August 7

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control announce variant EG.5 is now the dominant form of COVID-19 circulating in the United States.

August 4

• The government of Cyprus votes to allow coronavirus medications formulated for humans to be used against a deadly coronavirus mutation in felines, which has killed thousands of cats on the island. The feline coronavirus mutation cannot be transmitted to humans. 

Week of July 28 to August 3: HHS Launches Long COVID Office; Pfizer Considers Lowering Prices for COVID-19 Products; Japan’s First mRNA Vaccine Approved

August 1

• Pfizer announces it will consider a cost-cutting program if demand for its COVID-19 products continues to fall. 
• An mRNA COVID-19 vaccine made by Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo is approved by the Japanese health ministry.

July 31

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services forms the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the national response to Long COVID and help coordinate the launch of Long COVID-related clinical trials.

Week of July 21 to July 27: Manufacture of PanCOV Vaccine Underway; India Scraps COVID-19 Testing for International Travelers

July 24

• Biotech firm LinkinVax announces the completion of the first batch of its PanCOV vaccine, which aims to induce immunity against a broad range of coronaviruses. Clinical trials will begin early in 2024. 

July 21

• India’s Health Ministry announces that international travelers will not require a COVID-19 test for entry. 

Week of July 14 to July 20: HHS Cuts Off Funding for Wuhan Virology Institute; New WHO Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa; Chinese Province Deletes COVID-19 Mortality Data

July 19 

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cuts off access to federal funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for likely violations of biosafety rules. 

July 18

• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization,and the Robert Koch Foundation launch a program entitled “Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Intelligence in Africa.”
• Zhejiang province in China has reportedly deleted COVID-19 mortality data suggesting that the end of China’s zero-COVID policy led to increased deaths. 

Week of July 7 to July 13: Updated Vaccine By End of September; CDC to Launch Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccine; Germany Will Discard Total of 200 Million Doses, Report Says

July 13

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces in a letter that the updated COVID-19 vaccine could be ready for distribution as soon as the end of September.
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plan to launch an access program in the fall to ensure vaccine and treatment access to uninsured and underinsured adults. 

July 11

• According to a Politico report, Germany is likely to discard as many as 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine due to expiry and lack of demand.  

Week of June 30 to July 6: Spain Ends COVID-19 Emergency; China Reports June Uptick in COVID-19 Deaths; Moderna Files for EMA Authorization for Updated Vaccine

July 6

• China reports an uptick in COVID-19 deaths in June following the lift of most containment regulations. 

July 4

• Spain ends its health emergency for COVID-19. This move also ends obligatory use of masks in hospitals and pharmacies.

July 3

• Biotech company Moderna files for authorization with the European Medicine Agency for an updated COVID-19 vaccine, following fellow vaccine manufacturer Pfizer/BioNTech. 

Week of June 23 to June 29: Arcturus Strain on the Rise; Pfizer/BioNTech Initiate EMA Application for Updated Vaccine; ODNI Finds No Direct Evidence of COVID-19 Lab Leak Origin 

June 23

• Biomedical partnership Pfizer and BioNTech initiate an application to the European Medicines Agency for authorization of an updated COVID-19 vaccine that would better target dominant strains. 
• A declassified report from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence finds there is no direct proof that COVID-19 stemmed from a lab leak in Wuhan. 
• According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Arcturus strain of COVID-19 is causing up to twenty percent of new infections. 

Week of June 16 to June 22: Genetic Sequence Data Sharing; Dr. Cohen To Lead the CDC

June 19

• As the pandemic treaty drafting continues, the issue of genetic sequence data and its sharing between sovereignties has become central to the debate.

June 16

• Dr. Mandy Cohen is chosen to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention, the successor to Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
• Japan is reportedly on the cusp of another COVID-19 wave after downgrading the severity of the pandemic in May.  

Week of June 9 to June 15: FDA Votes to Update the COVID Vaccine; Indian Government Denies COVID-19 Vaccine Data Leak

June 15

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine committee votes unanimously to update the COVID-19 vaccine to be more effective against currently-circulating strains. 

June 12

• The government of India denies that an online portal containing information about citizens who received the COVID-19 vaccine was breached, causing private information to be shared. 

Week of June 2 to June 8: White House COVID Coordinator to Step Down; Moderna, Pfizer Sued Over Patent Infringement; EMA and WHO Support Vaccine Antigen Update

June 8

• White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha announces he will step down from his role on June 15. 

June 6

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves a COVID-19 at-home diagnostic test through the traditional premarket review process, not through emergency use authorization, for the first time.  
• A biotech firm named Promosome LLC launches a suit against companies Moderna and Pfizer over an alleged patent infringement involving the mRNA technology in their COVID-19 vaccines. 
• The European Medicines Agency back the World Health Organization’s recommendation to update the antigen composition of the COVID-19 vaccines. 

Week of May 26 to June 1: China Allegedly Investigated Lab Leak Claims; Japan to Open Its Own CDC; U.S. COVID Hospitalizations at Record Low

June 1

• Japan announces it will open a disease control body modeled after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to respond to future health crises. 

May 30

• A Chinese scientist alleges that China investigated claims of COVID originating from a lab leak. 

May 26

• According to U.S. CDC data, COVID hospitalizations across the country have hit a record low. 

Week of May 19 to May 25: FDA Approves Paxlovid; WHO to Launch Pathogen Surveillance Network; Former UK PM Referred to Police for COVID Breaches

May 25

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves oral antiviral Paxlovid for COVID-19 treatment in adults with mild-to-moderate symptoms. 

May 23

• Boris Johnson, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is referred to the police for allegedly breaking COVID-19 rules on social distancing and gatherings during his tenure. 

May 20

• The World Health Organization announces the launch of its International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to bring together genomics experts and prepare for the next pandemic. 

Week of May 12 to May 18: J&J Vaccine No Longer Available in US; Australia to End its COVID Work Visa; Title 42 Officially Lifted in US

May 17

• The Australian government plans to end its COVID work visa program, through which many temporary workers and international students were allowed to remain in Australia during the pandemic. 

May 15

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces that the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson is no longer available in the United States. 

May 12

• Title 42, the public health authority allowing officials to turn away migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, is lifted. 

Week of May 5 to May 11: Public Health Emergency Expires in U.S.; WHO Ends COVID-19 PHEIC; Biden Ends Vaccination Requirements for Federal Employees, Foreign Visitors

May 11

• The coronavirus public health emergency officially expires in the United States, three years after it was first declared by the Trump administration. 

May 9 

• The Biden administration ends COVID-19 vaccination requirements for foreign visitors to the U.S. and federal employees and contractors.

May 5

• The World Health Organization ends the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19. 

Week of April 28 to May 4: Japan Lifts COVID-19 Border Controls; Mexico Develops Own Vaccine; Chinese Whistleblower Released from Detention

May 3

• Chinese authorities release Fang Bin, a citizen journalist who publicly reported China’s first major outbreak and lockdown, from detention after three years. 
• Mexican officials announce that the country has finished development of its own COVID-19 vaccine. 

April 29

• Japan lifts all its COVID-19-related border controls in advance of its annual Golden Week holiday. 

Week of April 21 to April 27: CDC Loosens Vaccine Requirement for Foreign Visitors; China Drops PCR Test Requirement for Travelers; Australia Pledges Long COVID Funding

April 27

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) loosens its vaccination requirement for international travelers, now accepting only one dose of the COVID vaccine instead of two. 

April 25

• The Chinese government announces it will no longer require travelers entering its borders to show a negative PCR test. It remains unclear whether a negative antigen test will be required instead.

April 23

• The Australian government pledges $50 million in funding for long COVID research. 

Week of April 14 to April 20: U.S. CDC Updates Vaccine Recommendations; WHO Launches mRNA Vaccine Tech Hub; Former Chinese CDC Head Says No Evidence Yet on Virus Originating Animal

April 20

• The World Health Organization launches its mRNA vaccine technology hub in Cape Town, South Africa.

April 19

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination, allowing an additional bivalent booster dose for those over the age of 65, those with weakened immune systems, or for those who want additional protection against infection. 

April 14

• The former head of the Chinese CDC says there is no evidence yet showing which animal COVID-19 may have originated from.  

Week of April 7 to April 13: Biden Ends National Emergency for COVID-19; China Defends Itself Against WHO Comments; Japan to End Testing and Vaccination Protocols for Travelers

April 10

• U.S. President Joe Biden signs a bill ending the COVID-19 national emergency. 

April 8

• Chinese officials call the comments made by the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus regarding Beijing’s delay in sharing genetic material “offensive and disrespectful.”

April 7

• Japan’s National Tourism Organization announces it will end COVID-19 testing and vaccination protocols for international travelers beginning in May. 

Week of March 31 to April 6: EU to Revamp Drug Laws; Pfizer and Merck Lower Prices in China; South Korea Begins Sewage Testing

April 5

• South Korea begins weekly tests of the sewage system of its major cities in an effort to identify COVID-19 spread. 

April 4

• Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Merck lower prices for their COVID-19 treatments in China. 

April 3

• The European Union announces it will release a proposal to revive investment and support access to affordable drugs in the wake of high prices and low access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Week of March 24 to March 30: Chinese Researchers Release Genomic Data; WHO Revises Vaccine Recommendations; FDA Considers Second Booster

March 30

• China plans to begin spot checks at hospitals across the country to track COVID-19 cases. 

March 29

• The World Health Organization revises its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination, stating that healthy kids and teenagers who are considered low priority may not need to get a shot. 
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers the authorization of a second booster for high-risk individuals. 
• Chinese researchers release the genomic data that may shed light on the origins of COVID-19

Week of March 17 to March 23: China Approves First mRNA Vaccine; Biden Declassifies COVID-19 Origin Intelligence; WHO Calls on China for Data Transparency

March 23

• U.S. President Joe Biden’s order that all federal employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 is blocked by a federal appeals court. 
• China approves its first COVID-19 vaccine featuring mRNA technology. Previously approved Chinese-made vaccines all featured inactivated forms of the virus.

March 20

• U.S. President Joe Biden signs a law declassifying national intelligence regarding the origins of COVID-19. 

March 17

• The World Health Organization calls on China to release data on the origins of COVID-19. The request comes after China removed the data used to link raccoon dogs in Wuhan to COVID-19 from a public virus database. 

Week of March 10 to March 16: Genetic Data Linking Virus to Racoon Dogs Emerges; FDA Approves Paxlovid for Those Over Fifty; China Reopens to Foreign Tourists After Three Years

March 16

• A team of virologists announce they found data linking SARS-CoV-2 to genetic data from racoon dogs in Huanan Seafood WholeSale Market in January 2020. 
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the recommendation of COVID-19 treatment with Paxlovid for adults over fifty years of age and those at high-risk. 

March 14

• China reopens its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since the pandemic began three years ago. 

March 10

• The U.S. House of Representative passes a bill requiring that the director of national intelligence declassify the origin of COVID-19. 

Week of March 3 to March 9: U.S. to End Testing Requirement for China; WHO Continues Work on COVID Origins; Millions of Vaccine Doses Scrapped in Bulgaria

March 7

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces it will end the testing requirement for travelers coming from China. 

March 6

• The Bulgarian health authorities call on the European Union to end its contract with biopharmaceutical partnership BioNTech/Pfizer after having to scrap more than five million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine due to poor uptake and excessive supply. 

March 3

• The World Health Organization continues to work on identifying the origins of COVID-19, with its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noting “all hypotheses on the origins of the virus remain on the table.”

Week of February 24 to March 2: Department of Energy Concludes Lab Leak; FDA Proposes In-Person Visits for Frequently Abused Prescriptions; Japan Ends Testing Requirement for China

March 1

• Japan ends the blanket COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers coming from mainland China. 

February 26 

• The U.S. Department of Energy announces its conclusion that the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a lab leak. 

February 25 

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposes rules requiring patients seeking frequently abused prescription drugs like OxyContin and Adderall to visit doctors in-person. This would reverse a pandemic policy that allowed patients to receive their medications through tele-health appointments. 

Week of February 17 to February 23: China’s “Major Decisive Victory”; Moderna to Pay NIH for Vaccine Technology; Japan Will Phase Out COVID-19-Specific Hospital Beds

February 23 

• Biopharmaceutical company Moderna agrees to pay the U.S. National Institutes of Health, along with two American universities, 400 million dollars for its use of a government-produced chemical delivery technique used in its COVID-19 vaccine. 
• The Japanese healthcare system announces it will phase out COVID-19-specific hospital beds within a year. 

February 17 

• Chinese officials declare a “major decisive victory” against COVID-19. 

Week of February 10 to February 16: Moderna to Keep Vaccine Free for Americans; WHO Pauses COVID Origin Investigation; China Resumes Visa Issuance to South Koreans

February 16 

• Biopharmaceutical company Moderna announces American citizens will not have to pay for its COVID-19 vaccine. This comes after news that the price would rise to more than $100 per dose following the end of the U.S. government’s vaccine purchase agreement.

February 15 

• China announces it will resume the issuance of short-term visas to citizens of South Korea, after the South Korean government rescinded travel restrictions on travelers coming from China. 

February 14 

• The World Health Organization allegedly shelves the second phase of its investigation into the origin of COVID-19 following difficulties conducting research in China. 

Week of February 3 to February 9: Title 42 To Expire Alongside U.S. Public Health Emergency; Australia To Begin Fifth Dose Rollout of COVID Vaccine; CDC Adds COVID Primary Vaccine Series to Recommended Schedule for Children

February 9 

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes the COVID-19 primary vaccine series to the recommended vaccination schedule for children. 
• Japan is allegedly transitioning away from blanket testing of all travelers coming from China towards a more selective system of arrival testing.

February 8

• The Biden administration intends to terminate Title 42, the public health authority allowing officials to turn away migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, alongside the public health emergency for COVID-19 in May. 
• The Australian health minister announces the country will begin roll-out of a fifth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all adult citizens who have not contracted the disease or have not been vaccinated in the past six months. 

Week of January 27 to February 2: U.S. Will Not Extend Public Health Emergency; WHO Extends Public Health Emergency of International Concern Status for COVID; Reports of COVID Aid Fraud from U.S. Government Watchdog

January 30

• U.S. President Biden informs Congress that his administration will not seek to renew the public health emergency for COVID-19 after it expires on May 11, 2023. 
• The World Health Organization announces that COVID-19 continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
• The U.S. Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) reports $5.4 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been awarded to individuals with questionable social security numbers. 
• The Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) conditionally approves two oral therapeutics for COVID-19 treatment.

January 27

• The European Union is allegedly negotiating with pharmaceutical partnership Pfizer and BioNTech to reduce its vaccine buying commitment in return for a higher price. 

Week of January 20 to January 26: FDA Votes to Standardize COVID Vaccines; China’s CDC Announces Critical COVID Cases Have Dropped; North Korean Capital Pyongyang Begins Five-Day Lockdown

January 26

• A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee votes unanimously to make future COVID-19 vaccines interchangeable. This would mean all vaccine doses, regardless of whether they constitute an original series or a booster, would have identical formulations targeting the same strains. 
• The FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biology Products Advisory Committee expresses doubts about recommending a yearly COVID vaccine, citing too many unknowns. 
• The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announces that critical COVID-19 cases have dropped more than 70% since last month’s peak. 

January 25

• The North Korean government imposes a five-day lockdown on the capital city Pyongyang following a spike in respiratory illness.

Week of January 13 to January 19: China Reports Increase in Deaths After End of Zero-COVID; Johnson & Johnson Scaling Back Vaccine Production; U.S. Department of Justice Asks That Mask Mandate Ban Be Reversed 

January 17

• The U.S. Department of Justice requests that an appeals court reverse an April 2021 ruling banning mask mandates for travel on airplanes, buses, trains, and other modes of transportation. 

January 14

• China reports almost 60,000 deaths following the end of its zero-COVID policy. This comes after the World Health Organization announced China was likely under-reporting deaths from COVID-19. 

January 13

• Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical company that manufactured a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, scales back production following a decline in demand.
• Germany announces it will end its mask mandate for long-distance trains and buses on February 2. 

Week of January 6 to January 12: Tensions Rise as China Retaliates for Negative Test Requirements Globally; China In Talks With Pfizer for Paxlovid Production; U.S. Department of Defense Drops Vaccine Mandate

January 10

• China suspends short-term visa issuance in Japan and South Korea. The move is in response to those countries issuing COVID-19 test requirements for travelers coming from China. 
• The U.S. Department of Defense officially suspends the vaccination requirement for members of the armed forces.
• Saudi Arabia announces that the 2023 hajj pilgrimage is expected to reach pre-COVID levels.

January 9

• Thailand rescinds the negative testing requirement from travelers from China. 

January 7

• A spokesperson for the Chinese government accuses the European Union of discrimination against Chinese citizens following its recommendation that EU member countries require negative tests from travelers from China.

January 6

• The Chinese government begins talks with pharmaceutical company Pfizer to produce a generic version of its COVID drug Paxlovid for use in China.

Week of December 30 to January 5: EU Supports Testing for Travelers from China; WHO Asks for Data from China; Taiwan Offers Support to China 

January 4

• The World Health Organization reiterates requests for comprehensive data sharing and real-time viral sequencing from China. 
• The European Union encourages its member states to impose COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers traveling from China. So far, France, Spain, and Italy are the only member states to have implemented this requirement. 

December 31

• Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announces that Taiwan is willing to offer aid to China during its current COVID-19 surge.

Week of December 23 to December 29: China Scraps Quarantine but U.S. and Others Mandate COVID-19 Tests

December 29

• Italy imposes mandatory COVID-19 testing for those traveling from China, but remains the only member of the European Union to do so to date. 

December 28

• The United States imposes mandatory COVID-19 testing for those traveling from China. This follows similar mandates from Japan and Taiwan. 

December 26

• The Chinese National Health Commission announces that travelers entering China will no longer be required to quarantine.

Week of December 16 to December 22: China Changes COVID-19 Death Definition; Indian Airports Begin Random Testing; U.S. Cannot Require Vaccination From Federal Contractors

December 22

• Airports in India begin random COVID-19 testing for those traveling internationally, following the uptick in cases in nearby China.

December 21

• The Chinese health ministry restricts the criteria for COVID-19 deaths, now only including deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its pandemic death toll.
• The first batch of foreign COVID vaccines are shipped from Germany to China. The German government confirmed these doses will first be administered to German expatriates.

December 19

• A U.S. Court of Appeals rules that the U.S. government cannot make COVID-19 vaccination a condition of its agreements with federal contractors.

Week of December 9 to December 15: Biden Administration Relaunches Free COVID Test Program; Senate Scraps Vaccine Mandate for Military; China Stops Publishing Daily Reports Following Easing of Zero-COVID Policy

December 15

• The Joe Biden administration restarts a program offering free at-home COVID tests via the postal service. 
• The U.S. Senate passes a national defense bill which includes rescinding the vaccine mandate for military service members. 

December 14

• The Chinese National Health Commission stops publishing daily COVID-19 numbers due to a major decline in PCR testing following the end of the zero-COVID policy. 

December 9

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expand use of the bivalent booster to include children from six months to five years old. 

Week of December 2 to December 8: FDA Approves Omicron Booster for Children Six Months and Older; COVAX to Be Incorporated in Routine Vaccine Programs; China Eases Zero-COVID Policy

December 8

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizes COVID-19 vaccines targeting the omicron for children aged six months and older. The agency refrained from approving the vaccine for children who have already received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine, as it is waiting on study completion regarding its usefulness and efficacy.
• Non-profit vaccine alliance GAVI announces it will integrate COVAX, the COVID-19 vaccine distribution mechanism for lower- and middle-income countries, into its routine vaccination programs after 2023.

December 5

• The Chinese government begins easing of COVID-19 restrictions, marking the end of the strictest phases of its zero-COVID containment strategy. 

Week of November 25 to December 1: China Signals Ease of Zero-COVID; Republicans Protest Military Vaccination Policy; Twitter Stops Enforcing COVID-19 Misinformation Policy

December 1

• Chinese vice-premier Sun Chunlan indicates that China’s zero-COVID policy may shift away from lockdowns as it “enters a new stage and mission” of its pandemic response.

November 30

• A group of Republicans in the U.S. Congress protest the U.S. military policy of dismissal for unvaccinated service members. 

November 29

• Twitter announces it will no longer enforce its COVID-19 misinformation policy. 

Week of November 18 to November 24: Zhengzhou Placed Under Lockdown; Biden Administration Begins COVID Booster Campaign; China Records First COVID Death in Six Months

November 24

• The Chinese government places circa 6.6 million people in the city of Zhengzhou on lockdown following a spike in COVID-19 cases. 

November 22

• The Joe Biden administration begins a six-week campaign to encourage American citizens to receive a COVID-19 booster shot before the end of the year. 

November 20

• China registers its first death from COVID-19 in six months. The last death was recorded on May 26, 2022. 

Week of November 12 to November 17: G-20 Announces Global Pandemic Fund; Guangzhou Residents Protest Against Lockdown; Biden Administration Requests More COVID Funding

November 16

• Residents of Guangzhou, a city in southern China, march through the streets tearing down barriers as a protest against strict zero-COVID policies.  

November 15

• The Joe Biden administration requests an addition 10 billion dollars in emergency health funding to boost COVID-19 response, including vaccine access, therapeutic development, and long COVID research.

November 13

• The Group of 20 (G-20) nations announces that 1.4 billion dollars of fundraising will go toward a global pandemic health fund to prevent a repeat of COVID-19.  
• A Carnival Cruises ship is forced to dock early in Australia after more than 800 of its passengers test positive for COVID-19. 

Week of November 5 to November 11: Sanofi-GSK Booster Approved by EU; Guangzhou Placed on Lockdown; FDA Votes Against Sabizabulin

November 10

• Pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and GSK receive approval from the European Union for their jointly-produced COVID booster. 

November 9

• The Chinese city of Guangzhou, a global manufacturing hub, enters a lockdown to tackle the worst COVID-19 outbreak the city has seen since the beginning of the pandemic. The day the lockdown began, Guangzhou’s 3,007 local infections accounted for more than a third of cases across China.  
• An advisory panel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) votes against authorizing oral drug sabizabulin for high-risk hospitalized COVID-19 patients due to efficacy and safety concerns. 

Week of October 29 to November 4: EU and China Seeking Mutual Vaccine Approval; iPhone Factory Placed on Lockdown; Moderna to Face Patent Infringement Suit

November 4

• Per a statement by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the European Union and China are seeking to approve each other’s COVID-19 vaccines. 
• Swissmedic, a Swiss drug regulator, announces that recently-discovered bubbles forming in vials of the BionTech-Pfizer’s bivalent booster showed no indication of risk. 

November 3

• The largest iPhone factory in China, located in Zhengzhou, is placed under lockdown per the country’s “Zero-COVID” policy. Experts expect the disruption of operations to cause delays with iPhone assembly and shipments worldwide. 

November 2

• A U.S. district judge rules that Moderna will face a patent infringement lawsuit over its COVID-19 vaccine. The biotech company had previously presented to the court that the suit should be brought against the U.S. government. 

Week of October 22 to October 28: Italy Reinstates Unvaccinated Healthcare Workers; Chinese Inhalable Vaccine Debuted in Shanghai; Biden Announces Measures to Boost Vaccine Uptake

October 28

• Italy announces the end of its ban on unvaccinated healthcare workers. Doctors and nurses who were suspended from working in clinical settings due to their lack of vaccination will be reinstated in the coming days.  
• The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator releases its plan to expand research, development, and in-country support for COVID-19 response in the next six months.  

October 26

• The Chinese city of Shanghai begins to administer an inhalable version of the COVID-19 vaccine.

October 25

• The Joe Biden administration announces additional measures to support COVID-19 vaccination, including educational campaigns and pop-up clinics.

Week of October 15 to October 21: Pfizer to Raise Vaccine Dose Price; Vaccination Slowing on African Continent; Shanghai Will Build New Quarantine Facility

October 21

• Vaccine manufacturer Pharma has announced plans to raise the price of the COVID-19 vaccine to around $110 per dose when the U.S. government’s ongoing purchase program ends.

October 20

• According to an analysis conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccine roll-out has slowed in 27 of the 54 countries on the African continent. Doses administered per month have dropped by over 50 percent since July.  

October 19

• Shanghai will build a COVID-19 quarantine facility with 3,250 bed capacity in its city center. 
• The European Medical Authority (EMA) recommends approval of the Comirnaty and Spikevax COVID-19 vaccines for children starting at 6 months. Both vaccines are already approved for children starting at five years. 

Week of October 8 to October 14: U.S. FDA Approves Booster for Children Under 12; Japan Reopens Borders; South Africa Attempts to Break Contract with Johnson & Johnson

October 12

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the COVID-19 bivalent booster produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for children between the ages of five and eleven.  

October 10

• Following issues with delivery and low demand for vaccination, the South African government tries to break its contract with Johnson & Johnson.
• Japan reinstates visa-free travel to many countries in an attempt to reinvigorate the economy through tourism. Visitors must present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within seventy-two hours of departure.   
• Brazil’s federal health authority approves Senai Cimatec’s COVID-19 vaccine for phase two trials. 

Week of October 1 to October 7: Afrigen Biologics to Start Animal Testing on New Vaccine; Study Shows Vaccination Linked with Lower Rates of Stillbirth; North Korean Officials Advise Masking

October 6

• The Chinese government bans residents from leaving the autonomous region of Xinjiang due to an outbreak of COVID-19. 

October 5

• The World Health Organization’s mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub, hosted by South African company Afrigen Biologics, will begin animal trials on its COVID-19 vaccine. 

October 3

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suspend country-specific travel bans for COVID-19. 
• A meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics shows strong associations between COVID-19 vaccination and lower rates of stillbirth, lower risks of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and maternal infection. 

October 2

• Authorities in North Korea advise that citizens wear masks as protection against a resurgence of COVID-19. The country had lifted all mask mandates last month.  

Week of September 24 to September 30: Australia Will End Isolation Requirements; 2022 World Cup Policy Mandates COVID-19 Testing; Study Shows Impact of COVID on Menstrual Cycle 

September 30

• Chinese health authorities advise against cross-province travel for the upcoming “Golden Week” national holiday. 
• Australian authorities announce that mandatory COVID-19 isolation requirements will end in October. 

September 29

• Organizers of the Qatar 2022 World Cup announce that visitors will be required to submit negative COVID-19 test results to attend, regardless of vaccination status. 

September 28

• A study in the United Kingdom analyses how COVID-19 lockdowns altered behaviors in common bird species.     

September 27

• A new study suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine may temporarily alter the menstrual cycle.   

September 26

• Freight train operations between North Korea and China resume, following a five month suspension due to COVID-19.  
• In an effort to reduce administrative burden, Japan simplifies its COVID-19 reporting system to focus on high-risk and elderly individuals. 

Week of September 17 to September 23: Joe Biden Calls Pandemic Over; New Dominant Omicron Variant Identified; Quality Issues Impact Moderna Booster Availability 

September 23

• Continued quality issues in manufacturing cause shortages in Moderna booster shot availability. 

September 22

• Days after President Joe Biden’s comments on the pandemic, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus notes that “being able to see the end does not mean we are at the end.”

September 20

• Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows evidence that a new Omicron variant named BF.7 has emerged as the top strain of COVID-19.   

September 19

• White House officials confirm that federal COVID-19 policies, including the public health emergency declaration, will remain unchanged. 

September 18

• In a 60 Minutes interview, President Joe Biden says “the pandemic is over,” prompting a flurry of responses from journalists and health professionals, including that of Chief Medical Advisor to the President Anthony Fauci. 

Week of September 10 to September 16: ‘Zero-COVID’ Lockdowns Drag on on Tibet and Xinjiang; Xi Jinping Makes First International Trip Since the Start of the Pandemic; Shrunken U.S. Labor Force

September 16

• China’s ‘Zero-COVID’ policies take particular toll on Tibet and Xinjiang, where lockdowns have dragged on for months and are accompanied by other repressive policies.  

September 14

• World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General says “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic,” but warned that if the world does not take the opportunity now, there is still a risk of more variants, deaths, disruption, and uncertainty.
• Chinese leader Xi Jinping made his first international appearance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

September 12

• New study suggests that COVID-19 shrank the U.S. labor force by around 500,000 people due to lack of childcare, fear of COVID-19 and other reasons.

Week of September 2 to September 9: Possible Vaccinations in North Korea; China and India Roll Out Needle-Free COVID Vaccines; Winter Without Restrictions in Denmark

September 8

• New life expectancy data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on American Indians and Alaska Natives. 
• Hong Kong expands vaccine mandate to children as young as 5. 
• North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un suggests North Korea may begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations in November. 

September 6

• Almost 8 million children ages 18 and younger lost a parent or primary caregiver to COVID-19-related causes, according to new research reported in JAMA Pediatrics. Children in India, Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Pakistan were affected most.
• India and China approve two new needle-free COVID-19 vaccines, one administered nasally and the other orally. 
• United States plans to offer annual COVID-19 booster shots. 

September 3

• The Chinese city of Shenzen shuts down the city center and issues stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of COVID ahead of the Communist Party Congress. 
• Russia reports 50,000 daily COVID-19 cases for second day running. 

September 2

• Denmark’s Health Minister anticipates a winter without COVID-19 restrictions. 
• Women and girls affected disproportionately by North Korea’s COVID rules which hamper their ability to provide food for themselves and their families, according to a UN expert. 

Week of August 26 to September 1: Moderna Sues Pfizer and BioNTech; Lingering Protests in Australia and New Zealand; Millions Under Lockdown in China

September 1

• China locks down city of Chengdu as it continues it’s ‘Zero-COVID’ policy. 
• CDC recommend updated booster shots for the majority of Americans. 
• European Medicines Agency backs use of Novavax vaccine as a booster. 

August 31

• WHO calls for people to get vaccinated and boosted ahead of a predicted ‘winter surge’ of COVID-19 cases. 

August 30

• China places millions under lockdown as part of its ‘Zero-COVID’ strategy. 

August 28

• Health workers and community organizers raise questions about how the United States will roll out omicron specific boosters in the fall now that funding to disseminate them has dried up. 

August 26

• Moderna sues Pfizer and BioNTech for allegedly copying its COVID-19 vaccine technology. 
• Despite the fact that Australia and New Zealand have rolled back almost all of their pandemic restrictions, protests against them persist, in part due to lingering disinformation. 

August 25

• World reaches tragic milestone of one million COVID-19 deaths so far in 2022. 

Week of August 19 to August 25: Dr. Fauci to Leave Government Service; Philippines Return to In-Person Schooling

August 24

• Japan announces it will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 tests for international travelers. 
• WHO Regional Committee for Africa meets in Lomé, Togo to discuss how to bolster Africa’s healthcare systems, better respond to outbreaks, and achieve universal health care following COVID-19.

August 23

• Singapore to drop most indoor mask requirements.

August 22

• Dr. Anthony Fauci announces that he will leave government service before the end of the year after advising seven U.S.  presidents.
• The Philippines returns to in-person schooling, ending one of the world’s longest shutdowns.
• China says COVID-19 contributed to the decline in births and marriages. 

Week of August 12 to August 18: UK Approves New Moderna Vaccine; Free Boosters in India; Brazilian President Accused of Spreading COVID-19 Disinformation

August 18

• Madhya Pradesh, India, sees a dramatic spike in COVID-19 booster vaccinations after the vaccines were made free. Previously, when people had to pay for boosters themselves, the state administered only 55,000 doses to people aged 18-59, but boosters shot up to over 4.2 million in just three weeks after the doses were made free. 
• World Health Organization (WHO) recommends French vaccine-maker Valneva’s COVID-19 vaccine.

August 17

• Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle Walensky calls for the agency to be reorganized due to its shortcomings in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Brazil’s Federal Police accuse President Jair Bolsonaro of discouraging mask use during the pandemic and falsely suggesting that people who got vaccinated against COVID-19 ran the risk of contracting AIDS, which could constitute crimes. 
• Russia’s daily COVID-19 cases surpass 30,000 for the first time since March 2022. 

August 16

• The Marshall Islands, which didn’t record a single COVID-19 case in 2021, experience outbreak.

August 15

• Study suggests that BCG tuberculosis vaccine may boost immunity against COVID-19. 
• United Kingdom approves Moderna booster shot that targets two variants. 

Week of August 5 to August 11: North Korea Declares Outbreak Over; Hong Kong Cuts Quarantine for Travelers; Death Toll in Russia Exceeds 820,000

August 11

• North Korea declares its COVID-19 outbreak is over, although experts have cast doubt on this and other COVID-19-related claims. Since March 2020, North Korea has reported 4.7 million cases of people developing a high fever,​ but has not linked those cases with COVID-19, and has recorded just 74 deaths.
• The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have been in talks with buyers to facilitate purchases of South Africa’s Aspen COVID-19 vaccine and is hopeful that purchases will come through soon. 
• The CDC relaxes COVID-19 guidelines and quarantine requirements for those exposed to COVID-19, including in schools.

August 8

• The United States sees very low uptake in COVID-19 vaccines among toddlers, despite their availability.
• Hong Kong cuts quarantine for inbound travelers to three days. 
• Covid-19 outbreak in the resort town of Sanya, China has left tens of thousands of tourists stranded due to quarantine restrictions and the closure of the airport. 
• Novavax cuts its sales forecast due to low demand for its newly-approved COVID-19 vaccine. 

August 6

• Japan signals interest in omicron-specific vaccines under development by Pfizer and Moderna for use as early as October. 

August 5

• The seven-day average for people hospitalized with COVID-19 has recently flattened, suggesting that the omicron BA.5 wave may be waning in the United States.
• Russia’s official COVID-19 death toll exceeds 820,000.

Week of July 29 to August 4: Rare Vaccine Death Reported in South Africa; Toddlers Eligible for Vaccination in Hong Kong; Surge of Cases in Japan

August 4

• South Africa reports first death causally linked to COVID-19 vaccine. 

August 3

• Eli Lilly’s antibody treatment for COVID-19 will now be sold commercially, instead of under the auspices of the U.S. Federal Government.
• European Union says Novovax’s COVID-19 vaccine must carry warning about heart-related side effects. 

August 1

• Hong Kong lowers minimum age to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to 6 months.
• Macau eases COVID-19 restrictions. 

July 29

• Japan encourages regions to institute more public health measures in response to a COVID-19 wave and a spike in hospitalizations, but opts not to introduce federal measures. 

Week of July 22 to July 28: Dwindling Supplies of Russia’s Sputnik Light Vaccine; China Locks Down Wuhan; Wide Racial Disparities in U.S. COVID Deaths

July 28

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises Americans under 50 to wait until September for second booster shots. 
• New research suggests that at the peak of the omicron wave, COVID-19 killed Black and Hispanic people in the rural United States at considerably higher rates than it did their white neighbors.

July 27

• Supplies of Russia’s one-dose Sputnik Light vaccine run dry in many parts of the country.
• China locks down district of one million people in Wuhan after four asymptomatic cases were reported. 

July 25

• China’s slow progress in vaccinating elderly and vulnerable populations may be prolonging it’s ‘Zero-COVID’ strategy.

July 24

• U.S. lab companies report shrinking capacity for PCR tests as demand has fallen and people have switched to at-home antigen tests.

July 22

• Africa CDC to receive $100 million in funds from the World Bank to strengthen public health emergency response and preparedness. 
• South Africa rolls back most COVID-19 measures citing sufficient availability of treatment and vaccines. 

Week of July 15 to July 21: COVID Pill Approval Delayed in Japan; Routine Childhood Vaccination Stalls; 2 Billion Vaccinated Against COVID-19 in India

July 21 

• Australia resists returning to COVID restrictions as hospitalizations surge but reinstates quarantine pay.

July 20 

• Macau casinos set to reopen after COVID-19 lockdown.  
• COVID-19 cases in China reach two-month high at 906 new locally transmitted cases across mainland China up from 643 cases the day before. Chinese community health workers in the city of Guangzhou apologize for breaking into homes in search of COVID-19 cases. 
• United States creates a new division within its Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate the nation’s response to pandemic threats and other health emergencies. 
• Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a symptom of COVID-19, is afflicting far fewer children as a proportion of known COVID-19 cases than during earlier waves of the pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
• Japan’s health regulator delays decision on emergency approval for Shionogi’s COVID pill.  

July 19 

• Novavax vaccine approved in the United States for use in people who have not yet been vaccinated. 

July 18 

• North Korea announces it is nearing the end of its COVID crisis as cases rise in neighboring countries.  

July 17 

• India reaches 2 billion vaccinated people. 

July 15 

• COVID-19 fuels slowest rates of routine childhood vaccination globally in nearly three decades, as rates fell to 81 percent. 

Week of July 8 to July 14: Vaccine Approvals; Second Boosters in EU and United States; Casinos Turned COVID Wards in Macau

July 14 

• Canada approves Moderna vaccine for preschoolers and will reinstate random COVID testing for air travelers.  
• South Korea’s COVID-19 cases more than double in the course of a week to almost 40,000. 
• Japan encourages booster shots as COVID cases rise. While about 80 percent of those in their teens, 20s, and 30s have been twice vaccinated, only about 3 percent to 5 percent have received a third booster shot. 

July 13 

• A surge of cases in Shanghai raises fears of another lockdown. 
• New Zealand offers free masks and test kits as its health system struggles to cope with an influx of COVID patients. 

July 11 

• Three cities in China impose partial lockdowns after new cases are reported.  
• Kenya employs solar-powered health truck to bring vaccines to those in remote villages.  
• United States announces purchase of 3.2 million Novavax vaccines after the vaccine receives authorization from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  
• European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) calls for second booster shots for those 60 and older. The United States also considers second boosters for those under 50.  
• Moderna to develop two different omicron-specific booster shots.  

July 10 

• Macau shutters casinos and enters lockdown as COVID cases surge, repurposing some casinos as health facilities. 

July 8 

• FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for use in adolescents. 

Week of July 1 to July 7: Cases Spike in Bangladesh; Antiviral Treatments for Africa; Millions of Vaccines Discarded

July 7 

• Bangladesh sees spike in COVID-19 cases ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations. 
• Hong Kong lifts COVID-19-related flight restrictions.
• Beijing institutes a local vaccine passport and institutes vaccine requirements for certain public spaces.  
• Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) signs Memorandum of Understanding with Pfizer to provide antiviral treatments.  

July 6 

• Europe is at the center of a new COVID wave, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 
• WHO Director-General urges Pfizer to make COVID-19 antiviral treatments available in low- and middle-income countries.  
• A new study suggests a cancer drug could be effective at treating COVID-19.  
• U.S. pharmacists now authorized to prescribe Pfizer antiviral COVID medicine Paxlovid.  
• Western governments discard millions of unused COVID-19 vaccines as demand for vaccines declines.

July 4 

• COVID-19 causes long-term educational setbacks for students in Venezuela, Uganda, and India, among others.  

July 3 

• Countries like Japan and Australia continue to prescribe Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral drug Lagevrio rather than Pfizer’s Paxlovid despite its lower efficacy in an attempt to avoid adverse drug reactions. 

July 1 

• North Korean authorities implausibly attribute the country’s COVID-19 outbreak to contact with balloons sent over the border from South Korea as North Korea continues to likely underreport cases.  

Week of June 25 to June 30: Bhutan to Reopen to Tourists; Taiwan to Receive Novavax Vaccines; China Halves Quarantine Time for Travelers

June 30 

• Bhutan announces it will reopen to tourists for the first time since March 2020. 

June 29 

• Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) sounds the alarm about rising cases in the Americas and the 224 million people in the region who have yet to be vaccinated. 
• Taiwan to receive first shipment of Novavax vaccines through COVAX. 
• The United States purchases 105 million doses of Pfizer vaccine for a nationwide booster campaign as federal funding for antiviral treatments dwindles. 
• Mauritius rolls back most pandemic-related restrictions. 
• WHO estimates that BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants have driven a 20 percent rise in cases.  

June 28 

• BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants become dominant in the United States, according to the CDC. 
• China halves quarantine time for international travelers. 

June 27 

• France reinstates mask mandate on public transportation as it faces new wave. 
• Pakistan requires masks on domestic flights as cases rise. 

June 26 

• Shanghai will gradually reinstate indoor dining.

Week of June 18 to June 24: Austria Repeals Vaccine Mandate; Doubts Cast on Sputnik V, Inequities in Antiviral Treatments

June 23 

• South Africa rolls back COVID-19 restrictions as fifth wave wanes.
• Macau institutes strict COVID restrictions including mass testing and closure of public spaces, while its casinos remain open. 
• Austria repeals vaccine mandate after failing to enforce it.

June 22 

• COVAX calls for slowdown in vaccine delivery for low- and middle-income countries due to oversupply.

June 20 

• New study casts doubt on the data from the initial clinical trials conducted on Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, saying the efficacy numbers are too consistent to have come from a real trial.

June 21 

• A study by the CDC shows that antiviral drugs for treating COVID-19 are inequitably prescribed and are disproportionately used in low-risk, high-income zip codes.

June 18 

• Cuba credited with success in vaccinating young children with its domestically produced vaccine.

Week of June 11 to June 17: FDA Approves Vaccines for Young Children, WTO Achieves Patent Waivers, Zimbabwe Nurses Strike

June 17 

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as six months old.
• New Lancet study suggests delta strain is more likely to cause long COVID than omicron. 
• World Trade Organization (WTO) reaches agreement over patent waivers for COVID-19 vaccines for use in low- and middle-income countries. 
• Zimbabwe nurses strike for the second time due to low pay and pandemic burnout.
• Thailand eases COVID-related travel restrictions and mask mandates 

June 16 

• Hong Kong authorities are accused of using a COVID-19 health app to quash a protest. 
• African nations see progress in vaccinating vulnerable populations such as health workers and the elderly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

June 15 

• Saudi Arabia eases some COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the hajj season in which as many as a million people are expected to make pilgrimages to the cities of Mecca and Medina 

June 14 

• World Bank loans South Africa $474 million to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

June 13 

• A new vaccine designed by Sanofi and GSK PLC to combat the beta variant shows promise according to two new studies. 
• Japan sports the lowest COVID-19 fatality rate among wealthy nations according to new data. 

June 11 

• Taiwan cuts quarantine time for incoming travelers from seven days to three 

Week of June 4 to June 10: COVID-19 Corruption Scandal in Vietnam; Patent Waivers in Sight; Egypt to Provide Vaccines to African States

June 10 

• United States lifts COVID-19 testing restrictions for international travelers. 

June 9 

• Vietnam’s Health Minister and the Mayor of Hanoi were removed from their posts due to involvement in a COVID-19 test scandal that has led to charges against dozens of officials. 
• World Health Organization (WHO) releases a preliminary report on the origins of COVID-19. 

June 8 

• Moderna says new trial results show that a revised vaccine works better against omicron. 
• The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) signals optimism about COVID-19 patent waivers for low- and middle-income countries ahead of WTO meeting on June 12-15. 

June 7 

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers recommend authorization of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which provides a more traditional alternative to an mRNA vaccine.  
• Japan opens its borders to international travelers with masks, insurance, and chaperones. 

June 6 

• Egypt pledges 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to African states. 
• Uganda’s Health Minister raises the alarm about rising COVID-19 cases.  
• Beijing relaxes COVID-19 restrictions, while Shanghai prepares millions of residents for mass testing. 

June 4 

• India approves Biological E. COVID shot as a booster. 

Week of May 28 to June 3: North Korea Relaxes COVID-19 Restrictions; Shanghai Reopens; Successful Vaccination Drive in Cuba

June 3 

• North Korea relaxes COVID-19 restrictions, despite worries from international observers who suspect high numbers of unreported cases. 

June 2 

• Moderna announces several-month delay in vaccine deliveries to EU. 
• Portugal experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by an omicron sub-variant. 
• WHO forecasts a dramatic drop in COVID-19 cases in Africa but warns to be vigilant anyway. 

June 1 

• Shanghai reopens after weeks of strict quarantine.  
• South Africa experiences a surge in cases despite most people having antibodies. 
• PAHO urges increased vigilance around viral diseases, including COVID-19 as influenza and hurricane seasons approach. 
• Brazil works to rebuild its education system after COVID-19 causes many students to drop out. 

May 31 

• Cuba lifts mask mandate after a successful vaccination drive and a steep dip in cases. 
• Ghana works to build its public health infrastructure after COVID-19 depleted its healthcare funds.  

May 30 

• India to provide scholarships and counseling to children orphaned by COVID-19.
• Japan begins to lift travel restrictions for foreign tourists. 

Week of May 21 to May 27: World Health Assembly Signals the Pandemic is Not Over; India Considers Manufacturing Vaccines in Africa; Mass Testing in China 

May 27 

• The World Bank and G20 countries announce a multi-billion-dollar fund to help countries with pandemic preparedness. 

May 26 

• COVID-19 lockdowns in China have disrupted the supply of an important chemical used in radiological imaging, delaying diagnosis of cancers and other illnesses. 

May 25 

• China rolls out mass testing policy that requires a PCR test for nearly 100 million people every other day in pursuit of its ‘Zero-COVID’ policy. 

May 24 

• A new omicron subvariant known as BA.2.12.1 makes up about 58 percent of all new U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to estimates by the CDC. 
• A new study by the CDC suggests that as many as 1 in 5 adults who contract COVID-19 will develop symptoms of long COVID. 
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson comes under fire after the publication of a new report investigating a party he attended in violation of COVID-19 protocols.  
• India’s Serum Institute expresses interest in building a vaccine manufacturing plant in southern Africa at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  
• Germany’s vaccine panel says one shot is sufficient for children.  
• A collection of NGOs ask U.S. President Joe Biden to throw his weight behind an effort to ease patent restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines negotiated by the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

May 23 

• North Korea reports a “positive trend” in its battle with COVID-19, but experts are skeptical of their claims that of 3.3 million cases, only 69 were fatal. 
• Pfizer says three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine produce a strong immune response in young children. 

May 22 

• Director General of the WHO warns COVID-19 is not over at the opening ceremony of the World Health Assembly. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also addressed the Assembly calling for greater vaccine equity.  
• South Africa begins rural vaccination campaign driven by community health workers as it combats the surge of two omicron subvariants.  

Week of May 14 to May 20: North Korea Combats COVID-19; 92 Percent Rise in Cases in Argentina; Pandemic Preparedness Languishes 

May 20 

• CDC urges adults over 50 to get a second booster shot. 
• A federal U.S. judge blocked an attempt by the Biden Administration to remove Title 42, a pandemic-related border restriction that prevents asylum seekers from entering the country. 
• Japan announces it will double the number of international travelers allowed into the country to 20,000 a day.  

May 19 

• The U.S. CDC encourages booster shots for children aged 5 to 11 who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. 
• G7 Health Ministers do not discuss COVID-19 patent waivers at their meeting. 
• North Korea boosts production of medical supplies like thermometers and sterilization equipment in response to the spread of COVID-19.  

May 18 

• PAHO sounded the alarm over skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in the Americas. 918,000 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Americas in one week.  
• Argentina saw a 92 percent increase over the previous week. 
• North Korea indicates its intention to follow China’s strategy for combatting COVID-19 as cases continue to spread and are likely vastly undercounted. 
• China relaxes some COVID-19 testing rules for international travelers. 
• The world is no better prepared for pandemics than it was in 2019, according to a new report by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response set up by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

May 17 

• Tech company Apple delayed its return to office over concerns about the intensifying spread of COVID-19. 
• The White House offered another round of free test kits to Americans. 
• Shanghai health officials announce the COVID-19 pandemic is now under control, while many remain in lockdown. 

May 14 

• South Africa experiences a surge in cases driven primarily by two new variants. 

Week of May 7 to May 13: Outbreak in North Korea; One Million Deaths in the United States; Israel and EU Loosen Restrictions for Air Travel

May 13 

• South Korea offers to send COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea. 
• South African president Cyril Ramaphosa urges donors and countries to buy vaccines from Aspen as Africa’s first vaccine manufacturing plant has received no orders. 
• Research links exposure to air pollution to worse COVID-19 outcomes. 
• Shanghai announces intention to end 7-week lockdown next week.  

May 12 

• North Korea reports 6 deaths and more than 350,000 COVID-19 cases, giving insight into how quickly the virus spreads among the un-immunized. 
• WHO pledges support for North Korea as it combats its first reported COVID-19 outbreak. 
• U.S. President Joe Biden marks one million COVID-19 deaths in the United States at the White House global COVID-19 summit. 
• South Africa experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases as testing drops off in the region.  

May 11 

• North Korea reports its first COVID-19 outbreak after previously insisting there were no cases of COVID-19 in the country. 
• Researchers reported that Moderna vaccine elicits a strong immune response in children ages 6 to 11. 
• The European Union will no longer recommend that masks be worn during air travel. 

May 10 

• China tightens COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing even as cases wane in Shanghai. 

May 9 

• Former heads of state and nobel laureates urge Biden to commit $5 billion in COVID-19 aid.  

May 8 

• Israel ends mandatory COVID-19 tests for arrivals at Tel Aviv airport.

Week of April 29-May 6: South African Vaccine Plant Risks Closure; WHO Estimates Worldwide COVID-19 Death Toll at 15 Million; FDA Restricts Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

May 6 

• World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting to discuss the temporary waiver of COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property rights went “very well,” according to Ambassador Lansana Gberie from Sierra Leone, who chairs the council tasked with finding an agreement on the waiver. 
• China sets up 9,000 permanent testing stations in Shanghai, with more to follow in other parts of the country.  

May 5 

• New estimates by the WHO place the total COVID-19 death toll at around 15 million, which is almost 2.5 times the reported death count. 
• U.S. Food and Drug Establishment (FDA) places further limits on the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, citing safety concerns.  

May 4 

• Moderna’s vaccine brought in $5.9 billion in revenue in the first three months of this year and was the company’s biggest source of revenue, which totaled $6.1 billion. 

May 3 

• India releases 2020 COVID-19 mortality figures ahead of a WHO study, which estimates a higher death toll. India objects to the study’s methodology.  
• Taiwan cuts quarantine requirements for arrivals from abroad, even as cases rise.  
• South Africa’s Aspen COVID-19 vaccine plant risks closure after no orders are placed, raising concerns about vaccine manufacturing efforts in Africa. 
• COVID-19 surges in Puerto Rico after restrictions are loosened.  

May 2 

• Many South Koreans choose to continue wearing masks despite the loosening of outdoor mask mandates due to the persistent threat of omicron. 
• New Zealand families reunite after lifting travel restrictions for the first time in two years. 
• Italy eases mask and health-pass rules for bars, restaurants, and shops. 

May 1 

• Greece lifts COVID-19 curbs ahead of tourist season. 
• In the United States, loss of pandemic aid stresses hospitals that treat the uninsured. 

April 30 

• Six Shanghai districts reach ‘zero-COVID’ status.  

Week of April 23-April 29: Mass Testing in Beijing; EU and U.S. Declare End to “Emergency Phase” of Pandemic; Community Vaccination in Ghana

April 29 

• Twelve million people in Shanghai were allowed to leave their homes after strenuous lockdown. 
• Hong Kong’s mandatory testing policy fuels plastic waste problem. 
• China and North Korea suspend rail travel between the two due to COVID-19 concerns. 
• Switzerland court rules that four Swiss soldiers who refused COVID-19 vaccinations were rightfully dismissed.  

April 28 

• Moderna seeks approval from the U.S. FDA for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children under six. 
• The International Labor Organization published a report on how lessons from the COVID-19 can improve workplace safety globally.  
• The European Union attempts to withhold COVID-19 recovery funds from Hungary due to corruption and anti-democratic reforms.  
• Ecuador lifts indoor and outdoor mask mandates. 

April 27 

• Beijing tests 22 million residents in an effort to avoid large-scale lockdowns like those China imposed in Shanghai  
• The European Commission announces that the European Union is now out of the emergency phase of the pandemic. White House advisor Anthony Fauci made a similar announcement in the United States. 
• South African health officials announce a fifth wave of COVID-19 in South Africa.  
• Ghana rolls out community vaccination strategy in a push to vaccinate 23 million out of a total of 31 million people. 
• New Zealand court rules that the country’s border quarantine policies infringed on people’s rights. 
• Malaysia lifts additional COVID-19 restrictions, including those for the unvaccinated.  

April 26 

• U.S. pharmacies experience difficulties administering the COVID-19 drug Paxlovid to those who need it despite sufficient availability 
• Canada’s Atlantic provinces, which were relatively shielded, see a resurgence in COVID-19 cases after the removal of mask mandates. 
• Sixty percent of Americans, including 75 percent of children, had been infected with COVID-19, according to research by the U.S. CDC.
• Turkey lifts all COVID-19 restrictions. 

April 25 

• U.S. judge halts efforts to rescind Title 42, a measure that restricts migration on the Southern border of the United States based on concerns about COVID-19 

April 24 

• Japanese pharmaceutical company Shionogi & Co announces a new antiviral pill that has shown promise in clearing symptoms of COVID-19 in clinical trials. 

April 23 

• Drive to vaccinate the world population against COVID-19 starts to lose steam. 

Week of April 16-April 22: United States to Appeal Mask Mandate Decision; International COVID-19 Summit; India Tries to Bury WHO Report 

April 22 

• Hong Kong to allow international travelers for the first time since 2020.  

April 21 

• Routine childhood vaccinations in the United States fell below levels needed for broad immunity during COVID-19 pandemic.
• WHO recommends two COVID-19 drugs and urges transparency around pricing.

April 20 

• U.S. Department of Justice opts to appeal decision striking down mask mandate on public transportation and commercial airlines. 
• WHO urges people worldwide to continue wearing masks.
• Delhi, India reinstates mask mandate due to rise in COVID-19 cases.  
• Shanghai reports low COVID-19 death toll as the city suffers under extreme lockdown measures.

April 19 

• Moderna trial suggests redesigned vaccines can better protect people from variants. 
• Canada maintains mask mandate for public transportation, even after a U.S. judge struck down a corresponding mandate in the United States.  
• U.S. CDC rolls out new COVID-19 forecasting system modeled after weather forecasting.  

April 18 

• The United States in conjunction with Belize, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal announces an international COVID-19 Summit to be held in May 2022 
• About 99 percent of the population of Java, Indonesia’s most populous island, have COVID-19 antibodies according to a government-commissioned study by the University of Indonesia. 

April 16 

• India attempts to block release of WHO findings that its COVID-19 death toll was substantially higher than originally reported. 
• Omicron-specific versions of the Sinopharm and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines will move forward with clinical trials in Hong Kong.  

Week of April 9-April 15: Botswana Scientists Identify New Variant; Shanghai Stockpiles Food in Preparation for Lockdown; 60 Percent of Rwandans Vaccinated

April 15 

• U.S. FDA authorizes first breath test to detect COVID-19.
• South Korea announces intention to completely lift quarantine rules in late May.

April 14 

• Hong Kong confirms its intention to ease COVID-19 restrictions starting April 21.
• World Health Organization announces Africa has witnessed the longest-running decline in COVID-19 cases. 
• COVID-19 cases strain England’s bid to reduce backlog of non-COVID health problems for which people delayed treatment due to the pandemic.  
• Pfizer says booster strengthens immune response for children ages 5 to 11.
• Shanghai residents stock up on food due to fears of lengthy COVID-19 lockdowns, shortages, and price gouging.

April 13 

• New Zealand welcomes vaccinated tourists and loosens more restrictions.

April 12 

• World surpasses 500 million recorded COVID-19 cases. True numbers are likely higher.  
• Botswanan scientists identify a new omicron variant, which the WHO says is not more transmissible or severe, so far. 

April 11 

• COVID-19 vaccine access lags behind in conflict areas.
• Vaccine manufacturers in India lower the price of COVID-19 shots after the country expands access to boosters. 

April 9 

• Rwanda vaccinates more than 60 percent of its population. 

Week of April 2-April 8: Mass Testing in Shanghai; Vaccine Mandates for U.S. Federal Employees; South Africa Lifts “State of Disaster” Status

April 8 

• UN Secretary-General warns COVID-19 pandemic is far from over as countries loosen restrictions.

April 7 

• Cyprus announces it will lift COVID-19 travel restrictions.
• A U.S. Appeals Court reinstated the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal employees.
• WHO says over 65 percent of Africans have been infected with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. 

April 6 

• A leading provider of COVID-19 testing in Arizona suspends 60 sites due to uncertainty about the future of federal pandemic funding.
• Japan lifts COVID-19 travel restrictions for residents of 106 countries while keeping tight control on entry visas.

April 5 

• U.S. FDA suspends use of Glaxo antibody drug to treat COVID-19 due to insufficient efficacy against the BA.2 variant.
• Israeli study suggests fourth Pfizer dose boosts immunity against omicron in older adults, but only in the short term. 
• United Kingdom’s health service expands its list of COVID-19 symptoms.

April 4 

• Shanghai tests all 25 million of its residents for COVID-19 as lockdowns persist and cause food shortages and supply chain disruptions.
• U.S. CDC will undergo an evaluation to prepare for a reconfiguration of the agency.
• South Africa lifts COVID-19 “state of disaster” designation after two years. 
• Taiwan relaxes COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise.

April 3 

• Indonesia greets Ramadan with mass prayer as COVID curbs ease.

April 2 

• United Kingdom scales back COVID-19 data collection, raising fears about lack of information and preparedness as positive tests reach record levels in England and Wales.
• WHO suspends use of COVAXIN vaccine by UN agencies due to irregularities in production.

Week of March 26-April 1: New United States COVID-19 Border Policy; Economic Aid to Tunisia; Indonesia Proposes Standard Health Requirements for Travel

April 1 

• CDC confirms it will end the U.S. public health order restricting immigration, enacted due to COVID-19.
• Shanghai residents express anger at COVID-19 restrictions as infections spike among its elderly population.

March 31 

• South Koreans are taking advantage of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, causing a boom in “revenge travel.” The term is spreading on social media and refers to travel plans that seek to make up for lost time under pandemic lockdown. 

March 30 

• COVID-19 cases surpass 100 million in Asia, driven largely by the BA.2 variant.  
• A third of the world population remains unvaccinated from COVID-19 according to the WHO.  
• A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that use of the drug ivermectin did not reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19.  
• WHO releases a new Strategic Preparedness, Readiness, and Response plan for 2022. 

March 29 

• The World Bank approves $400 million for Tunisia to help about 900,000 vulnerable Tunisian households cope with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. 
• BA.2 variant accounts for over half of U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to CDC data. 

March 28 

• Indonesia, in its capacity as the G20 chair, proposes standardized health requirements for international travel. 
• CFR health experts call for global vaccination to be swifter. 
• UN analysis shows link between a lack of vaccine equity and a widening poverty gap. 
• United States announces plans to vaccinate migrants at its southern border.

March 26 

• Public health experts warn of increased infections of COVID-19 and other diseases, stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine, the subsequent refugee crisis, and the damage to Ukraine’s health infrastructure. 

Week of March 19-March 25: Rising Cases and Second Boosters in Europe; Telemedicine in South Korea; 5 African Countries Catch Up on Routine Childhood Vaccinations

March 25 

• German Health Minister urges at-risk people to get second booster 

March 24 

• Singapore announces it will ease restrictions and move toward a “living with COVID-19” model.
• The WHO identifies the omicron BA.2 “stealth variant” as the dominant strain of omicron worldwide, making up around 86 percent of cases.
• Moderna seeks authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine for young children after promising trial results.

March 22 

• Novovax says its COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in India for teenagers.
• Italian study shows ventilation can cut COVID-19 cases in schools by as much as 80 percent.
• South Africa announces new COVID-19 strategy that eases some restrictions while preserving indoor mask mandate.
• WHO Regional Director for Europe says cases are rising in Europe because many countries eased restrictions too soon.

March 21  

• South Korean president-elect signals support for continued use of telemedicine, which was previously illegal in South Korea, but was authorized under emergency measures to tackle COVID-19. 
• France sees a spike in cases following its removal of COVID-19 restrictions.
• United Kingdom’s health service starts administering second booster to vulnerable populations.
• Hong Kong announces it will lift bans on flights from 9 countries and cut quarantine times. 
• Disney temporarily closes its resorts in Shanghai due to spread of omicron.

March 20 

• Japan pledges $428 million in aid and 1.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Cambodia through the COVAX global vaccine-sharing program. 
• United States sees surge in hospitalizations of young children with COVID-19 during omicron wave.

March 19 

• Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe roll out mass polio vaccination campaign in response to outbreaks caused due to a dip in routine childhood vaccinations during the pandemic. 
• U.S. states begin to report on COVID-19 data less frequently, leading to fears about “data blind spots.” 

March 18 

• New study shows alcohol-related deaths spiked during the pandemic.

Week of March 12-March 18: Approval of Russia’s Sputnik V Delayed due to Ukraine Invasion; China’s Worst Outbreak Since 2020; Piecemeal Vaccinations in Sierra Leone

March 17 

• Canada scales back its travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers.
• Cases spike again in South Korea.

March 16 

• Average COVID-19 vaccination rate in Africa hovers at around 14 percent.
• WHO delays inspections related to the approval process of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• False narrative that omicron is the last variant causes case numbers to rise, according to WHO.

March 15 

• Sierra Leone works to vaccinate its populations with a mix of different vaccines, depending on the availability.

March 14 

• China imposes lockdowns and halts manufacturing as it grapples with its worst COVID-19 outbreak since 2020.
• COVID-19 protocols prevented hundreds of thousands of dengue virus infections in Latin America and South Asia, according to a study by the Lancet.
• WHO releases new operational protocol to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccine uptake among refugees and migrants.
• France lifts most mask and COVID-19 restrictions.

March 13  

• 300,000 people quarantined in Hong Kong due to COVID-19.

March 12  

• After staving off outbreaks for a year and a half, the French island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific experiences a major COVID-19 surge that particularly impacts its indigenous population.
• Experts warn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could ignite a major COVID-19 outbreak in Europe.

Week of March 5-March 11: 6 Million COVID-19 Deaths; Malaysia to Reopen; Moderna Pledges Not to Enforce Vaccine Mandates

March 11 

• China places several cities, including Shanghai under lockdown as it grapples with coronavirus outbreaks 
• Indian state of Maharastra, which was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 in 2021, reports its third day in March with no COVID deaths  

March 10 

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for global vaccine equity, noting that only 13 percent of people in low-income countries were vaccinated compared to 70 percent in high-income countries. 

March 9 

• Romania lifts all COVID-19 restrictions, including digital passes and curfews. 
• The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a report on the Impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of households with children that shows a major decrease in families’ earnings. 
• Austria changes course on vaccine mandate in instituted in November 2021 

March 8 

• Malaysia announces it will reopen its borders to international visitors after two years of pandemic border restrictions. 
• India announces it will resume international flights for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 
• WHO strengthens its endorsement of booster shots, while still emphasizing the need for primary shots 
• Hong Kong’s death rate from COVID-19 soars to the highest in the world, driven largely by deaths among unvaccinated elderly people.

March 7 

• Global COVID-19 death toll surpasses 6 million.
• Moderna pledges to never enforce vaccine patents in low-income countries.

Week of February 26-March 4: Medical Aid to Ukraine; Outbreaks in Hong Kong and New Zealand; Peace Corps Returns

March 4 

• South Africa says it may have to destroy 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines due to slow uptake.

March 3 

• WHO says it does not expect major vaccine disruptions in Africa due to war in Ukraine and Russia sanctions.
• Peace Corps to start sending volunteers abroad again following COVID-19 hiatus.
• New Zealand contends with major omicron outbreak after having been mostly insulated from the pandemic.
• WHO updates its guidelines for COVID-19 therapeutics.

March 2 

• Pfizer promises 10 million courses of its COVID-19 pill Paxlovid to low- and middle-income countries. 
• WHO sends shipment of medical aid, including COVID-19 treatments and medical oxygen to Ukraine.
• President Joe Biden announces “Test to Treat” Initiative in State of the Union Address.
• Hong Kong continues to grapple with COVID-19 surge and strenuous quarantine policies.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announces 8.3 million refugees have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

March 1 

• Ukraine war and refugee crisis stoke fears of COVID-19 and other outbreaks due to low vaccination rates in Eastern Europe.
• Germany first country to answer call to support the ACT-Accelerator Program to provide vaccines and pandemic equipment to low- and middle-income countries.

February 27 

• United Arab Emirates drop face masks outside and some quarantine restrictions.

February 26 

• South Korea records its deadliest day of pandemic yet at 112 deaths in 24 hours.

Week of February 19-February 25: Australia Reopens to Tourists; UK Removes Restrictions; Hong Kong Cases Surge Despite “Zero-COVID”

February 24 

• Lancet study estimates at least 5.2 million children have lost a parent or caregiver due to COVID-19. 
• WHO starts renewed push to spur vaccination in Africa. 

February 23 

• WHO sets up biomanufacturing training hub in South Korea to teach countries to produce vaccines.
• Colombia rolls back COVID-19 restrictions. 

February 22 

• The United Kingdom announces its “Living with COVID” plan, which includes scrapping isolation laws and free mass testing. 
• Hong Kong mandates testing for all residents as cases surge despite “Zero-COVID” policy. 
• Ireland ends mask mandates in most locations and social distancing in schools. 
• Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ask the world to pause vaccine donations to avert waste.  
• Uganda proposes new law that would fine or imprison unvaccinated Ugandans. 

February 21 

• Australia reopens to fully vaccinated international travelers.

February 20 

• Israel announces plans to allow unvaccinated tourists. 

Week of February 12-February 18: mRNA Technology in Africa; Hong Kong Hospitals at Capacity; Vaccines Authorized for Young Children in Australia

February 18 

• The World Health Organization announces Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia to be the first six countries to receive the technology needed to produce mRNA vaccines in Africa. 
• Hong Kong’s hospitals reach 90 percent capacity despite China’s “Zero-COVID” policy.
• The United States announces increased vaccine assistance to 11 African countries through its new Initiative for Global Vaccine Access.

February 16 

• Australia authorizes Moderna vaccine for children aged 6 to 11.

February 15 

• The Pan-American Health Organization delivers 100 million vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean via COVAX.

February 14 

• Sweden recommends a fourth vaccine dose for people 80 and older.

Week of February 5-February 11: COVID-19 Protests in Canada; COVAX Rescinds Vaccines for North Korea; Johnson & Johnson Suspends Vaccine Production

February 11 

• U.S. FDA delays approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged six years to four months; authorizes new Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. 
• Canada’s Ontario province declares a state of emergency in response to protests against COVID-19 restrictions.  

February 10 

• WHO says Africa is transitioning out of pandemic period. 
• COVAX global vaccine-sharing initiative scales back the number of doses allocated for North Korea because the country did not accept them.
• The Philippines reopen for international tourists. 
• The United Kingdom announces plan to roll back COVID-19 restrictions ahead of schedule. 

February 9 

• WHO calls on donor states to address the gap in funding for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Fund. 

February 8 

• Johnson & Johnson suspends production of its COVID-19 vaccine, causing consternation among developing countries that anticipate deliveries. 
• Study by the National Institutes of Health shows no link between COVID-19 vaccines and infertility.  

Week of January 29-February 4: Novovac Approved in UK; U.S. Discharges Unvaccinated Soldiers; Taiwan Vaccine Diplomacy

February 4 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention add wastewater data to its COVID-19 tracker. 

February 3 

• Saudi Arabia requires booster shots for those traveling abroad. 
• UK approves Novovac as its fifth COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Tonga goes into COVID-19 lockdown as it recovers from a tsunami. 

February 2 

• Germany’s vaccine commission recommends a fourth COVID-19 shot. 
• U.S. military begins discharging soldiers who refuse vaccination. 

February 1 

• Quebec cancels plan for health tax on unvaccinated people. 
• South Africa removes quarantine restrictions for those who test positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic. 

January 31 

• Taiwan sends 150,000 doses of its domestically developed Medigen COVID-19 vaccine to Somaliland. 
• Nigeria destroys expired vaccines, instilling confidence and driving more Nigerians to get vaccinated with unexpired vaccines. 
• Germany misses its target of 80 percent of the population vaccinated by the end of January. 

Week of January 22-January 28: New Variant Omicron BA.2 Emerges; Self-Tests in Brazil; Restrictions Ahead of Beijing Olympics

January 28 

• The European Commission approves Pfizer’s new antiviral pill for the treatment of COVID-19. 
• New Delhi lifts COVID-19 restrictions as cases drop. 
• Brazil approves COVID-19 self-tests for sale in drug stores. 

January 26 

• Austria ends its lockdown for the unvaccinated as pressure on hospitals wanes. 
• Israel broadens eligibility for fourth COVID-19 shot. 

January 25 

• Japan expands its COVID-19 restrictions to cover 70 percent of the country in response to omicron. 
• Spain breaks up COVID-19 passport forgery ring. 

January 24

• New variant Omicron BA.2 emerges in parts of Asia and Europe.

January 23 

• China institutes stricter COVID-19 restrictions as cases mount ahead of Beijing Olympics. 

Week of January 15-January 21: France Approves Vaccine Passports; Hong Kong Culls Hamsters; State of Emergency in Japan

January 21 

• Brazil prevents unvaccinated soccer players from participating in top leagues.
• Belgium eases COVID-19 restrictions and encourages boosters after five months. 
• France’s Constitutional Council approves vaccine passport initiative. 
• Bangladesh closes schools amid COVID-19 case surge. 
• EU tells ministers to prepare for a fourth COVID-19 shot if needed. 
• Italy sets up a fund to compensate people suffering from side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations. 

January 20 

• Hong Kong culls hamsters due to COVID-19 fears as part of China’s “Zero-COVID” policy. 

January 19 

• Japan places Tokyo and twelve other prefectures under a state of emergency due to omicron. 

January 18 

• The U.S. Government launches a website to help Americans access free COVID-19 test kits. 

January 17 

• The Philippines sees a record surge in cases. 

Week of December 7-January 14: Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Struck Down; South Korea Approves Novovax Vaccine; Omicron Spreads in Europe

January 14 

• Netherlands eases COVID-19 restrictions. 
• Italy announces plans to use information from its sewage system to predict future coronavirus outbreaks. 

January 13 

• U.S. Supreme Court rules against President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate. 
• Polish scientists find a gene that doubles the risk of a serious COVID-19 infection. 

January 12 

• Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan report first cases of omicron and a corresponding spike in cases.  
• South Korea approves Novovax COVID-19 vaccine for adults. 
• Denmark rolls out fourth booster shot, while easing COVID-19 restrictions. 
• CDC says U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are due to delta, not omicron. 

January 11 

• WHO announces that over half of Europe could be infected with omicron in the next 6-8 weeks.  
• New Delhi faces major medical staff shortage as its nurses and doctors test positive for COVID-19. 
• Israel shortens quarantine period to seven days for asymptomatic cases. 
• Colombia reduces wait time for booster shots to four months. 

January 10 

• Nepal closes schools and bans large gatherings in response to case surge. 

January 8 

• German Health Minister announces need to revamp Germany’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy.  

Week of December 31-January 6: Second Longest Lockdown; Influenza-COVID-19 Coinfections; Booster Shots for American Teens

January 7 

• Morocco authorizes Merck’s Molnupiravir COVID-19 treatment.

January 6 

• Xi’an, China continues into week four of its lockdown, making it the world’s second longest.
• White House to start shipping COVID-19 test kits to American households.
• The United States, Brazil, Italy, the Philippines and Hungary start reporting cases of “flurona,” or COVID-19 and Influenza coinfection.

January 5 

• Italy to require COVID-19 vaccines for those age 50 and older. 

January 4 

• Hong Kong expands its vaccine requirements to combat omicron.
• France sees a record 271,000 cases in one day. 

January 3 

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves booster shots for children aged 12-15.

December 31 

• German Prime Minister Olaf Scholtz gives pandemic-focused New Year’s address encouraging Germans to get vaccinated.  

Week of December 23-December 30: Isolation Period Shortened; Israel Begins Trial for Fourth Dose; China Disinfects City

December 27

• U.S. CDC shortens recommended COVID-19 isolation period to five days. 
• Greece announces new restrictions to curb the spread of omicron.
• Israel begins trial for fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• World Bank estimates the pandemic pushed an additional 100 million people into poverty.
• Oman bans people who are not fully vaccinated from entering the workplace.
• South Korea approves emergency use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill.
• China disinfects a city of 13 million people in a bid to curb a delta-variant outbreak.

December 26

• France records over 100,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time.

Week of December 16-December 23: FDA Approves COVID-19 Pill; Germany Records First Omicron Death

December 23

• Italy imposes new restrictions to curb the spread of the omicron variant. 
• South Africa relaxes COVID-19 restrictions. 
• FDA authorizes Merck’s COVID-19 pill, the second on the market. 
• Germany records its first death due to the omicron variant. 

December 21

• Kuwait mandates booster shots for incoming travelers. 

Week of December 6-December 15: Italy Begins Testing Arrivals

December 15

• Italy requires COVID-19 testing for arrivals. 

Week of November 28- December 5: Travel Restrictions Imposed 

December 2

• Finland reports its first case of the Omicron variant.
• South Korea records new record COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day.

December 1

• U.S. President Joe Biden to extend transportation mask mandate through March 2022.
• Japan overturns ban on inbound flights.

November 29

• The United Kingdom extends booster vaccines to all adults amidst concerns over Omicron variant.
• Israel, Morocco, and Japan ban international travel.
• The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada restrict travel to passengers from South Africa.

November 28

• Canada announces the first Omicron case in North America.
• Doctors in South Africa announce that Omicron patients display mild virus symptoms. 

Week of November 20- November 27: Omicron Classified as Variant of Concern

November 26

• The World Health Organization classifies Omicron as a variant of concern.

Week of November 4- November 12: Austria Announces Lockdown for the Unvaccinated; Germany Approves Booster Doses

November 12

• Austria plans to approve a lockdown for the unvaccinated on November 14. 
• Norway announces it will offer booster doses to everyone 18 years old and older. It will also begin issuing digital passes to curb infections. 

November 11

• Russia’s daily COVID-19 deaths hover near record high.
• Malaysia announces it will open to international travelers starting January 1. 

November 9

• Canada authorizes COVID-19 boosters for adults.

November 6

• South Korea announces it will purchase 70,000 doses of Pfizer’s new COVID-19 pill.

November 5

• Germany approves booster shots.

Week of October 28–November 4: CDC Endorses Pfizer Vaccine for Children; COVID-19 Deaths Surge in Germany; UK Approves COVID-19 Pill

November 4

• United Kingdom approves Merck’s COVID-19 pill in world first. 
• Germany reports 33,949 new COVID-19 infections, a new daily record. 
• Russia’s records 1,195 COVID-19 deaths, an all-time daily high.

November 3

• Hong Kong announces it will launch a COVID-19 booster shot campaign. 
• The World Health Organization grants emergency use listing for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine.  

November 2

• U.S. CDC endorses the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5 through 11.   
• Greece requires unvaccinated citizens to show a negative COVID-19 test to access services. 
• Ukraine criminalizes use and manufacturing of false COVID-19 vaccine certificates. 
• New Zealand seals off its northern region over concerns of virus spread.

November 1

• The White House announces it will roll out 15 million COVID-19 vaccines doses to children. 
• China says U.S. COVID-19 origins report is without credibility. 
• The United States donates 1.5 million vaccine doses to Taiwan.
• Indonesia authorizes Sinovac doses for children ages 6-11.
• Indonesia becomes the first country to authorize the protein based Novavax vaccine.
• Johns Hopkins University reports that the coronavirus has killed more than five million people in less than two years.

October 30

• Mexico receives 6 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.
• Philippines records it highest daily COVID-19 deaths, as data is reclassified. 
• The United Kingdom announces it will send 20 million more vaccine doses to developing nations by the end of the year.

October 29

• The United States authorizes the Pfizer vaccine for children from 5-11 years old.

October 28

• ACT-A (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator) launched a new 12-month plan that shifts focus to addressing inequalities to COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments in underserved and humanitarian settings.  

Week of October 20–October 27: Africa Union Buys Vaccines; Mix-and-Match Booster Shots

October 27

• African Union announces it will purchase up to 110 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

• The Medicines Patent Pool and Merck announced that Merck has signed a voluntary licensing agreement for broader access to molnupiravir in low- and middle-income countries. Merck will allow other companies to manufacture generic versions of the drug without royalty payments.  

• The International Labor Organization reported that the uneven pandemic recovery widened the economic gap between highly vaccinated wealthier countries and poorer countries.  

October 26

• BioNTech will start to build a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing facility in Rwanda and Senegal in mid-2022.  

October 24

• Eastern Europe records 20 million COVID-19 cases.

October 23

• South Korea reaches its goal to vaccinate 70 percent of its population.

October 22

• U.S. CDC approves mixing-and-matching COVID-19 booster shots.

October 21

• Serum Institute of India’s CEO predicts it will resume exports to COVAX by end of October or early November.  

Week of October 12–October 19: More Zero COVID-19 Strategies End; Moderna Booster Doses Recommended

October 15

• FDA vaccine advisors fall short of recommending vaccine boosters to children younger than 18. 
• The United States announces it will lift restrictions for vaccinated travelers starting November 8. 

October 14 

• U.S. FDA recommends a Moderna booster for people aged 65 and older and the immunocompromised.  

• Russia reports a record number of COVID-19 infections and death, as the country struggles with low vaccine uptake.  

• The United States donates 17 million doses of Johnson & Johnson to the African Union. 

• The World Health Organization warns that six out of seven COVID-19 cases in Africa go undetected, which would mean the continents true case count could be higher than 50 million.  

October 13

• India resumes vaccine exports since a ban this April.  

October 12 

• The United States announces it will reopen its land borders with Canada and Mexico for vaccinated travelers.   

Week of October 4–October 11: More Zero COVID-19 Strategies End; WHO Recommends Boosters 

October 11 

• The World Health Organization recommends additional dose of coronavirus vaccine for severely or moderately immunocompromised people, regardless of vaccine received, and a third dose for people 60 years and over who received Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. 

• Merck applies for FDA authorization of molnupiravir, a COVID-19 antiviral drug that reportedly cuts the risk of hospitalization or death by about 50 percent among high-risk people with mild to moderate COVID-19.  

October 8 

• Brazil reports more than 600,000 deaths from COVID-19—just the second country to do so.   

October 7 

• WHO resumes shipment of COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea, who restricted cross-border traffic and trade for the past two years. 

• Pfizer submits the application for FDA authorization to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children 5–11 years old. 

• Moderna announces plan to build a mRNA manufacturing plant in Africa with production capacity of 500 million doses per year.  

October 6 

• Sweden and Denmark halt Moderna vaccinations for people aged 30 and younger, citing new data on increased risk of hearth inflammation. 

October 4

• New Zealand acknowledges that it will no longer pursue a zero COVID-19 strategy, following a prolonged outbreak due to the Delta variant.

Week of September 27–October 3: Without Access to Doses, African Nations Lag Behind in Vaccination

October 2

• Russia’s health minister says he sees no hurdles to WHO approval for Sputnik V. 

October 1

• India imposes a quarantine requirement on travelers from the United Kingdom regardless of their vaccination status, following a similar British decision against Indian travelers.
• Pharmaceutical company Merck announces its experimental oral pill reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by approximately 50 percent.
• Australia overhauls its travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents, planning to reopen its border for the first time since 2020.

September 30

• Only nine African nations meet WHO’s goal of vaccinating at least 10 percent of their population by the end of September.
• The United States surpasses 700,000 reported deaths from COVID-19.

September 29

• The International Olympic Committee releases plans for a “closed-loop” 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which would create a bubble-like environment for athletes, officials, and media.

Week of September 19–September 26: Wealthy Nations Donate New Doses; COVID-19 Dominates at UN General Assembly (UNGA)

September 26

• France commits to donating 120 million doses by the end of 2021.

September 25

• Vietnam announces it will abandon its zero-COVID strategy after months of a severe Delta variant outbreak.

September 24

• At the Quad Leaders’ Summit, India announces it will allow some exports of vaccines to resume in October 2021.

September 23

• African leaders highlight global vaccine inequity at UNGA, with some leaders calling the gap “vaccine apartheid.”

September 22

• U.S. President Biden hosts a virtual COVID-19 summit, attended by most major vaccine donors and providers. China and Russia notably do not attend. In addition to their existing pledges to donate vaccines, the United States pledges 500 million doses, the European Union pledges 50 million, Australia pledges 40 million, and Japan pledges 30 million.
• The United States and European Union launch a joint COVID-19 Manufacturing and Supply Chain Taskforce.  

September 21

• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attends the UNGA unvaccinated and defends the use of ineffective drugs.
• Brazil’s health minister—also in attendance at UNGA—tests positive for COVID-19.

September 20

• The United States announces plans to lift travel bans on some fully vaccinated international travelers.

Week of September 11–September 18: U.S. FDA Rejects Widespread Booster Shots; Possible Trouble for Sputnik V

September 17

• The U.S. FDA rejects broad use of booster shots for all Americans.

September 16

• China reports that it has fully vaccinated one billion people representing 71 percent of China’s population.  

September 15

• The European Union announces the creation of a new biomedical authority designed to better respond to future pandemics.
• WHO is rumored to suspend its approval process for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine over manufacturing concerns.

September 14

• WHO-backed vaccine hub for Africa announces it will copy Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Week of September 3–September 10: U.S. Vaccine Mandate and Smaller COVAX Forecast  

September 10

• China commits to donate 100 million doses of vaccines by the end of 2021.

September 9

• U.S. President Biden issues an executive order mandating vaccination for federal employees and puts forth a plan to require all employers with more than 100 employees to ensure their workforce is vaccinated.

September 8

• A new report details how chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes are worsening the toll of COVID-19 and leaving the world more vulnerable for the next pandemic.
• COVAX lowers its 2021 supply forecast from 2 billion doses to 1.425 billion doses in 2021, reflecting export restrictions, delays in regulatory approval, and challenges in scaling up manufacturing.

September 7

• The Seychelles becomes the first African nation to offer booster shots.

Week of August 26–September 2: U.S. Origins Investigation Offers Little New Evidence

August 30

• The European Union recommends halting nonessential travel from the United States due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

August 27

• The U.S. intelligence community finds that both spillover and lab accident theories are plausible for COVID-19 origins.

Week of August 18–August 25: FDA Grants Pfizer Vaccine Full Approval

August 23

• The Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

August 18

• The United States to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots in September.

Week of August 10–August 17: Quebec Announces Vaccine Passports; FDA to Authorize Third Dose

August 11

• The Food and Drug Administration to authorize third COVID-19 vaccine for people with weak immune systems. 

August 10

• Quebec to implement vaccine passports starting September 1. 

Week of August 2–August 9: France Introduces Health Passes; U.S. Reaches 70 Percent Vaccination; WHO Calls for a Moratorium on Booster Shots

August 8

• France introduces “health passes” in a bid to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

August 5

• California becomes the first U.S. state to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all health workers. 
• Novavax delays seeking U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine.
• Amazon delays its return to office until 2022.

August 4

• USAID announces $720 million for COVID-19 response and recovery globally.
• The World Health Organization calls for a moratorium on booster shots until the end of September.

August 2

• United States reaches a 70 percent vaccination rate.
• Germany to offer COVID-19 booster shots starting in September. 

Week of July 25–August 1: California and New York City Require COVID-19 Vaccines; White House Reimposes Mask Mandate; Israel Offers a Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccines

July 29

• England scraps mandatory two-week quarantine from travelers from the United States and European Union.
• Israel to offer a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to citizens over 60.

July 28

• The United States pledges 5.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to South Africa, its largest donation yet.

July 27

• The White House reimposes indoor mask mandate.
• CDC advises that fully vaccinated people exposed to COVID-19 get tested for the virus three to five days after exposure.
• CDC says all students and staff should wear masks during the 2021-2022 school year.
• Fully vaccinated people can catch and spread the Delta variant, CDC says.

July 25

• California, New York City, and the Department of Veterans Affairs mandate all government workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing.

Week of July 17–July 24: Pfizer Seeks Full FDA Approval; France Requires Negative COVID Test

July 21

• Moderna expands COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing to meet global needs.

July 19

• Pfizer seeks full FDA approval of its COVID-19 vaccine.

July 17

• France will require a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours from some European travelers. 
• The first case of COVID-19 is detected in Tokyo’s Olympic village.

Week of July 9–July 16: One in Five U.S. COVID Cases Come from Florida; Singapore Delays Lifting Restrictions

July 16

• The U.S. CDC warns that COVID-19 vaccines might not protect immunocompromised people.
• One in five U.S. COVID-19 cases were recorded in Florida over the past week.
• Singapore delays lifting restrictions after a cluster of cases linked to karaoke lounges forces 2,000 people to quarantine.

July 14

• Greece, France, and Italy mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all essential workers. 

Week of July 1–July 8: EU Travel Pass Goes Live; Weekly cases of COVID-19 in Children in the U.S. Drops to Lowest Since May 2020

July 1

• The EU Digital COVID Certificate goes live in Europe.
• Indonesian President Joko Widodo imposes new emergency measures to contain an exponential increase in coronavirus cases and deaths.  

Week of June 23–June 30: IMF Considering Massive Funding Plan; Cases Surge in Latin America and Africa; Delta Variant Goes Global 

June 30

• A new study raises concerns about vaccine hesitancy among young survivors of cancer in the United States.
• Public Health Scotland identifies nearly 2,000 cases linked to watching Euro 2020 soccer games.

June 29

• Weekly cases of COVID-19 in children in the U.S. drops to lowest since May 2020.
• Moderna says that its vaccine produces protective antibodies against the Delta variant.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warns of a “great crisis” due to lapses in COVID-19 protocol by government officials.
• The European Union reaches 60 percent of adults vaccinated with at least one shot and 41 percent fully vaccinated. 

June 28

• South Africa’s official death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 60,000. 
• Portugal and Spain impose new restrictions on visitors arriving from the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong bans passenger flights from the United Kingdom.
• The African Union and Africa CDC criticize the EU Digital COVID Certificate for not including Covishield, the India-manufactured version of AstraZeneca.

June 27

• Bangkok, Thailand announces 30-day ban on indoor dining and gatherings of more than 20 people amidst rising cases. 
• South Africa tightens COVID-19 restrictions, including banning all gatherings, alcohol sales, and indoor dining in some areas, as the country battles the Delta variant.

June 26

• UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who led the country’s response to COVID-19, resigns after breaking UK COVID-19 rules.
• The first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic sails away. 
• A quarantine-free travel corridor between Australia and New Zealand is suspended following a surge in cases in Sydney, Australia. 

June 25

• Japan announces a plan to donate 1 million COVID-19 vaccines each to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. 
• The WHO recommends that even fully vaccinated people should keep wearing masks and social distancing to combat the Delta variant.
• Israel reimposes its indoor mask requirement as the Delta variant fuels a surge in cases.

June 24

• The International Monetary Fund is finalizing a proposal to issue $650 billion worth of reserve funds that would allow countries to purchase vaccines, finance health care, and pay down debt.
• Brazil receives 3 million donated Johnson & Johnson vaccines from the United States, and Venezuela welcomes its first consignment of Cuba’s Abdala vaccine. 
• Hungary announces a plan to end the indoor mask requirement once 5.5 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 
• Japan reaches its target of administering one million doses per day in its push to vaccine as many citizens as possible before the Olympics.

June 23

• The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warns that the Delta variant is expected to account for 90 percent of all coronavirus cases in the European Union by the end of August.
• Brazil sets a single-day domestic record for new coronavirus cases, registering more than 115,000 cases in twenty-four hours.
• At least 10 percent of the world’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Colombia becomes the tenth country to report more than 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. The other nine countries are the United States, Brazil, India, Italy, France, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

Week of June 15–June 22: CureVac Results Disappoint; Mixed Success for Vaccine Transfers; Concerns Grow Over the Delta Variant

June 22

• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatens to arrest Filipinos who refuse COVID-19 vaccination.
• A study finds that AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the Delta and Kappa variants.
• Cuba reports its Abdala vaccine has 92.28 percent efficacy after three shots in last-stage clinical trials.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives a Moderna vaccine as her second dose following a first dose of AstraZeneca.

June 21

• Indonesia records its largest one-day jump in COVID-19 infections.
• Turkey announces plan to lift all COVID-19 curfews.
• The Biden administration publishes its allocation plan for 55 million COVID-19 donated vaccine doses abroad.
• South Africa and the World Health Organization announce plans to establish the first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.

June 20

• China administers more than one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
• The Philippines signs a supply agreement for 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, its biggest COVID-19 vaccine deal to date.

June 19

• Moscow records highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases.
• Tokyo cancels all Olympic public viewing events due to COVID-19.
• Uganda reimposes a 42-day lockdown as COVID-19 infections surge.
• Brazil reports more than 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, the second highest confirmed death toll in the world.

June 18

• WHO announces that the Delta variant is likely to become globally dominant.
• The Palestinian Authority cancels an agreement to exchange vaccines with Israel after finding that the doses being sent were about to expire.
• A Brazilian Senate inquiry reveals that President Bolsonaro ignored Pfizer’s offers to supply COVID-19 vaccines.
• The U.S. CDC says the Delta variant is likely to become the predominant variant in the United States in a few months.

June 17

• The Biden administration announces $3 billion in funding for a COVID-19 antiviral development strategy.
• The United Kingdom records over 10,000 cases for the first time since February.
• Tanzania ends its no-vaccine policy and submits a formal request to the COVAX facility to receive vaccines.

June 16

• CureVac’s vaccine candidate falls short of 50 percent efficacy in interim clinical trial results.
• Moscow, Russia, mandates that 60 percent of service sector workers must be vaccinated by August 15.
• European Union recommends lifting ban on U.S. travelers.

June 15

• The United States reaches 600,000 deaths from COVID-19, the most confirmed fatalities of any country.
• South Africa imposes tighter lockdown restrictions as cases surge.

Week of June 7–June 14: One Billion Donated Doses; Johnson & Johnson Contamination; European Divide on TRIPS Waiver

June 14

• Iran approves its first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine.
• Novavax’s vaccine candidate demonstrates 90 percent overall efficacy and 100 percent efficacy against moderate and severe COVID-19 in phase III trials.

June 13

• G7 nations pledge to donate a total of one billion vaccines to the world.
• South Africa announces it will dispose of two million Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
• The Copa America opens in Brazil after Argentina and Colombia were forced to withdraw from hosting due to social unrest and surging COVID-19 infections.

June 12

• Saudi Arabia bans foreign pilgrims from Hajj and sets a maximum of 60,000 pilgrims, all of which must be vaccinated.
• Canada rejects 300,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine made in the United States.
• Doctors in China warn the Delta variant of COVID-19 produces different and more dangerous symptoms than those of the initial variant in China.

June 11

• U.S. federal regulators require Johnson & Johnson to scrap 60 million doses of its one-shot coronavirus vaccine due to possible contamination.

June 10

• European Parliament calls for a temporary COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver, despite the European Commission’s continued opposition to a TRIPS waiver.  

June 9

• The United States announces it is buying and donating 500 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to the 92 AMC COVAX countries and African Union.

June 7

• U.S. senators announce a donation of 750,000 vaccine doses to Taiwan.
• Indian Prime Minister Modi reverses his previous decision and commits to providing free vaccines to all Indian citizens above eighteen years-old.

Week of May 30–June 6: Approvals for Sinovac; More Doses and Donations for COVAX

June 5

• China approves Sinovac for use in children as young as three, becoming the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for use among such a young age group.

June 3

• U.S. President Biden announces a goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Americans with at least one dose by July 4, 2021.
• The White House announces a global vaccine distribution plan.
• The world reaches one billion vaccine doses administered.

June 2

• Japan and Gavi cohost the COVAX AMC summit, leading to vaccine donation pledges from several countries, including 30 million from Japan and 15 million from Spain.
• UNICEF signs a long-term supply contract with Moderna on behalf of COVAX for up to 34 million doses in 2021.

June 1

• Israel retires its Green Pass and allows equal access to restaurants, sports events, and cultural activities for vaccinated and unvaccinated citizens.
• The United Kingdom reports no new deaths from COVID-19 for the first time since March 2020.
• WHO approves the Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.

May 31

• WHO Director-General Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus proposes a global pandemic treaty at the final day of the World Health Assembly.

Week of May 22–May 29: Pandemic Origins Remain Muddled; Vaccine Inequity Widens

May 28

• Malaysia orders a nationwide, “total lockdown” to begin in June as the country faces its worse surge of COVID-19 yet.

May 27

• France donates over 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca to Rwanda.
• Kenya announces it will begin administering second doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, twelve weeks after the start of the country’s vaccination campaign.  
• COVAX calls on wealthy nations to share at least one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.

May 26

• U.S. President Joe Biden asks the U.S. intelligence community to analyze the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and produce a report within 90 days.

May 25

• Argentina rejects a donation of 15,000 vaccine doses from Chile.
• EU leaders pledge to donate 100 million doses of vaccines by the end of 2021.

May 24

• China administers more than 500 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19.
• WHO Director-General Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus states “scandalous inequity” is perpetuating the COVID-19 pandemic at the opening of the World Health Assembly.

Week of May 14–May 21: International Travel Resumes for the Vaccinated Few; United States Pledges Vaccines  

May 21

• A new study in the Lancet finds that critically ill patients in Africa have the highest global mortality rate among COVID-19 patients.

May 19

• The European Union agrees to open its borders to vaccinated U.S. citizens.
• India sets global record for daily COVID-19 deaths, surpassing the U.S. record.

May 18

• Indian officials state the country is unlikely to resume vaccine exports until at least October.
• Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia is considering an internal vaccine passport for interstate travel.
• The UAE and Bahrain plan to offer a third Sinopharm shot to citizens who have already received two doses due to concerns about the vaccine’s efficacy.   

May 17

• The revamped Sanofi-GSK coronavirus vaccine appears effective and safe in interim results.
• The United States announces it will donate at least 80 million U.S. vaccines, including 60 million AstraZeneca doses and 20 million of other U.S. authorized vaccines, by the end of June.
• Tanzanian experts suggest an overhaul of the government’s COVID-19 policy after former President John Magufuli’s death.

May 16

• Italy lifts mandatory quarantine restrictions for travelers from the European Union, United Kingdom, and Israel.

May 14

• Greece reopens its borders to international travelers.

Week of May 6–May 13: The Pandemic Rages in South and Southeast Asia; Independent Panel Releases Its Report; Vaccine Access Remains Troubled

May 13

• U.S. CDC eases guidance on masks for fully-vaccinated Americans.
• A new report finds South Africa’s true COVID-19 may be almost three times the official tally.  
• An Indian government panel recommends widening the gap between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca to expand access to vaccines.
• Tunisia announces plans to reopen despite persistently high caseloads and full hospitals.

May 12

• The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response releases its findings and recommendations on the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Indonesia restricts inter-city travel ahead of Eid al-Fitr.
• Venezuela’s National Academy of Medicine asks the United States for vaccine donations.
• Brazil announces that it could run out of ingredients for vaccines by the end of the week.
• The European Union imposes travel bans on India.
• Cuba launches its vaccination campaign using homegrown vaccines that have not yet completed clinical trials.  

May 11

• France commits to allocating more than 5 percent of its vaccines to COVAX.  
• At least nineteen Indian states record COVID-19 positivity rates higher than 20 percent.

May 10

• WHO classifies the coronavirus variant spreading in India, B.1.617 or Delta variant, as a global “variant of concern.”
• U.S. FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech for emergency use in adolescents age 12–15.
• Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli loses a confidence vote, in part over his response to Nepal’s COVID-19 crisis.
• Brazil allocates an additional $1 billion USD to producing and acquiring COVID-19 vaccines.

May 9

• Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warns that the country’s recent outbreak could spread nationwide.

May 8

• India reports more than 4,000 deaths in a single day for the first time.
• Uruguay reports the world’s highest death rate from COVID-19 in the past week.
• The European Union approves a contract for 900 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.

May 7

• WHO grants emergency authorization to China’s Sinopharm vaccine. 
• The United Kingdom recommends that individuals under the age of 40 be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca when possible. 

May 6

• Germany announces its opposition to a WTO patent waiver, stressing that the limiting factor for vaccine manufacturing is not patents but capacity.
• Russia authorizes the use of the vaccine Sputnik Light, a one-shot dose still undergoing testing.  
• Gavi signs an advance purchase agreement for 350 million doses of Novavax’s vaccine candidate on behalf of COVAX.

Week of April 28–May 5: WTO Patent Waivers; Vaccine Passports in Europe; India’s Crisis Deepens

May 5

• The United States announces its support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, but does not commit to support the Indian-South African proposal at WHO.

May 4

• The European Union donates the first batch of 651,000 vaccine doses to Balkan nations.
• The European Medicines Agency begins a rolling review of China’s Sinovac vaccine.
• G20 Tourism ministers support vaccine passports as a means to resume tourism and enable economic recovery.

May 3

• Gavi signs an advance purchase agreement for 500 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine from the second half of 2021 through 2022.

May 1

• India becomes the first country to record more than 400,000 cases in a single day.

April 30

• Pfizer ships doses to Mexico, marking the first exports of U.S.-made Pfizer shots abroad.
• WHO approves Moderna for emergency use.
• Global coronavirus cases surpass 150 million.

April 29

• The European Parliament adopts a framework for the issuance, verification, and acceptance of the EU Digital Green Certificate.

April 28

• The United States announces $100 million in aid for India.

Week of April 20–April 27: Global COVID-19 Cases Increase for the Eighth Consecutive Week

April 27

• Brazilian authorities reject Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, stating that the doses received from Russia still had replication-competent adenovirus in them.

April 23

• The United States lifts its pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration following FDA and CDC safety reviews.

April 22

• India records more than 310,000 new infections in a single day, surpassing the global record for one-day high of recorded cases set by the United States in January.
• WHO urges African nations not to destroy COVID-19 vaccines that have expired.

April 20

• The World Health Organization reports that global COVID-19 cases have increased for the eighth consecutive week.

April 19

• South Sudan announces plan to destroy over 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines that expired before the country could use them.
• Global coronavirus deaths surpass 3 million.

Week of April 12–April 19: Vaccines Expire in Africa; Johnson & Johnson Is Paused

April 19

• South Sudan announces plan to destroy over 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines that expired before the country could use them.
• Global coronavirus deaths surpass 3 million.

April 16

• The United States pledges to allocate $1.7 billion to fight COVID-19 variants. 

April 15

• New Zealand becomes the first high-income democracy to donate vaccine supplies directly to COVAX, providing 1.6 million doses.

April 14

• Malawi announces it will destroy more than 16,000 doses of vaccines sent by the African Union after the doses expired.

April 13

• The United States pauses use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six individuals (out of nearly seven million recipients) developed a rare clotting disorder.

Week of April 4–April 11: Cases Surge in India; Concerns Remain Over AstraZeneca

April 11

• The head of China’s CDC says that the efficacy of Chinese vaccines is “not high.” 

April 10

• Iran orders a 10-day lockdown as its cases surpass two million. 

April 9

• Chilean studies find that China’s Sinovac vaccine has 56.5 percent efficacy four weeks after the second dose—but just 3 percent efficacy after one jab.

April 8

• Venezuela announces it has capacity to manufacture Cuba’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
• COVAX vaccine deliveries reach one hundred economies, providing 38 million doses of AstraZeneca/Covishield and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to the world.
• The African Union drops plans to secure AstraZeneca, despite the vaccine’s low cost.
• Slovakia, one of the few EU countries to purchase Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, announces concerns over vaccine quality for received doses.  

April 7

• Brazil’s one-day death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 4,000, making Brazil just the second country to do so.

April 6

• The Biden administration denies plans to pursue a vaccine passport. 

April 5

• India records over 100,000 new cases in a day, surpassing its previous record for daily cases.

April 4

• European Medicines Agency finds possible link between AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots

Week of March 28–April 3: WHO Report Released; EU Clashes Over Vaccines

April 1

• Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s effort to alter the EU vaccine distribution criteria fails, reaffirming the European Union’s population-based allocation formula.   
• Madagascar joins COVAX after initially indicating it would forgo the WHO’s vaccine procurement mechanism. 

March 31

• Cuba suspends arrival of international flights to help curb the spread of the virus.
• Pfizer and BioNTech announce their coronavirus vaccine is extremely effective in adolescents 12–15-years-old.
• European Medicines Agency meets to review reports of the AstraZeneca vaccine’s link to blood clots.

March 30

• Papua New Guinea rolls out COVID-19 vaccinations amid surging infections.
• WHO releases its report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, finding that animal-to-human transmission was the most likely origin of the virus. 

Week of March 20–March 27: COVID Infections Surge Around the World; COVAX Deliveries Are Delayed

March 26

• WHO asks rich nations to donate at least 10 million coronavirus vaccines to COVAX so that WHO can reach its goal of vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of 2021.

March 25

• Brazil records over 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time. 
• Mexico becomes the third country to surpass 200,000 deaths from COVID-19. 

March 23

• Turkey records 26,182 new COVID-19 cases, its highest number this year.
• Russia applies for the Sputnik V vaccine’s inclusion in COVAX.

March 22

• Britain bans travel from outside the United Kingdom in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. 

March 20

• Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19 just days after receiving his first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine.
• Japan bars overseas spectators from attending the summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Week of March 12–March 19: Johnson & Johnson Wins WHO Approval; AstraZeneca Vaccine Is Safe; EU and UK Want Vaccine Passports 

March 19

• Nepal approves India’s COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for emergency use.
• Brazil buys 138 million vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.
• The Biden administration surpasses its goal of administering 100 million doses. 
• European Medicine Agency finds no links between AstraZeneca vaccine and increased blood-clotting. 
• Finland pauses AstraZeneca vaccines for a week.

March 18

• The United States shares four million doses of its AstraZeneca vaccine supply with Canada and Mexico.

March 17

• The European Commission proposes an EU vaccine passport: the Digital Green Certificate.
• The United Kingdom considers introducing vaccine passports for summer travel.

March 14

• AstraZeneca finds no risk of increased blood clotting with its COVID-19 vaccine.

March 12

• France approves Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine.
• The World Health Organization approves Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for emergency use.
• Bulgaria suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine amidst safety concerns. 
• Thailand delays its vaccine rollout over blood clot concerns surrounding AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Week of March 4–March 11: Daily COVID-19 Tests Decline by 25 Percent; U.S. Seven-Day Vaccine Average Passes Two Million

March 11

• Brazil’s ICUs surpass 90 percent capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic flares up.
• A study in Brazil identifies two cases of simultaneous infection with two different coronavirus variants.
• Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel test positive for COVID-19.

March 9

• Ukraine approves China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.

March 8

• Wyoming announces it will lift its mask mandate next week. 
• Iraq extends it curfew as it experiences a surge in new COVID-19 cases.
• Italy becomes the sixth country to pass 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma test positive for COVID-19.

March 4

• A study finds that daily COVID-19 tests in the United States have declined by 35 percent since mid-January. 
• U.S. seven-day COVID-19 vaccine average passes two million. 
• The United States administers 82.6 million COVID-19 vaccines. 
• India’s Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine is shown to be 81 percent effective in new study. 
• Peru receives 50,000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines doses as part of COVAX.
• Brazil records 1,910 COVID-19-related deaths, its highest figure to date. 
• Italy blocks COVID-19 vaccine exports.
• Cuba starts late-stage trials of its own COVID-19 vaccine candidate. 
• Germany approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Week of February 23–March 3: Pfizer Considers a Booster Shot; Global Death Toll Passes 2.5 Million; Ghana is First Country to Receive COVAX Shipment

March 3

• Nigeria receives nearly 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of COVAX.
• Rwanda receives 102,000 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of COVAX.
• Sudan receives 820,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of COVAX.
• Gambia receives 36,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses a part of COVAX.
• South African authorities dismantle a counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine network after getting a tip from INTERPOL.

March 2

• France approves AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65.
• Texas lifts mask mandate, opening the state up. 
• Venezuela receives 500,000 doses of donated coronavirus vaccine from China.
• Kenya receives over one million COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of COVAX.
• Austria and Denmark partner with Israel to produce second-generation COVID-19 vaccine amidst a slow EU rollout.

March 1

• Colombia receives the first COVAX shipment to Latin America.

February 26

• The United States administers 70.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. 
• Canada authorizes AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for use.
• Japan announces it will remove state of emergency for six prefectures ahead of March.

February 25

• Pfizer-BioNTech initiate a study to evaluate a COVID-19 booster shot as part of three-dose regimen. 
• Pfizer announces its vaccine can be stored in normal freezer temperatures. 
• Ivory Cost receives 504,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of COVAX. 
• Global COVID-19 death toll passes 2.5 million. 
• Bahrain becomes the first country to approve the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. 
• Guatemala approves Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use. 
• Finland announces it will enter a three-week lockdown beginning on March 8. 
• COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom fall by nearly 80 percent after a six-week lockdown.
• Austria and Greece urge the European Union to adopt vaccine passports. 
• Researchers find a new COVID-19 variant in New York City. 

February 24

• The Biden administration announces it plans to send masks to over 25 million Americans.
• The White House officially announces the continuation of the COVID-19 state of emergency.  
• The United Kingdom announces it will prioritize people with learning disabilities for the COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Ghana becomes the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX. 

February 23

• Colombia authorizes emergency use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. 
• The Biden administration announces it will send 14.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to U.S. states, a 70 percent increase from last month. 
• Johnson & Johnson announces it ready to ship 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the United States. 
• India sends its first vaccine doses to Africa under COVAX.
• The Philippines offers to send health-care workers to Britain and Germany in exchange for vaccine doses. 
• The World Health Organization reports its sixth consecutive week of declining COVID-19 cases globally. 

Week of February 15–February 22: The United States Passes 500,000 Deaths

February 22

• The United States passes 500,000 COVID-19-related deaths.  
• A UK study shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective after one dose. 

February 17

• Switzerland announces it plans to lift lockdown restrictions beginning March 1.

Week of February 6–February 14: COVID-19 Vaccine Will Not Be Required For Olympic Athletes; South Africa Suspends AstraZeneca Vaccine; Russia Reports Third-Highest COVID-19 Death Toll 

February 14

• The International Olympic Committee announces that vaccines will not be required for athletes. 

February 12

• Spain announces it will receive over 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

February 10

• Athletes competing at Tokyo Olympic games will be tested for COVID-19 every four days. 

February 9

• Iran starts its COVID-19 vaccine campaign using Russia’s Sputnik V. 
• Peru begins its COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

February 8

• South Africa suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine after it was shown to be ineffective against its coronavirus variant. 
• Russia reports third-highest COVID-19 deaths globally in 2020. 
• China’s Cansino COVID-19 vaccine shows 65 percent efficacy after the first dose. 
• Greece agrees on a “vaccine passport” deal with Israel. 

February 6

• The Netherlands surpasses one million COVID-19 cases. 

Week of January 30–February 5: Russia’s Sputnik V is Over 90 Percent Effective; U.S. Reaches 450,000 Deaths, COVAX to Distribute 2 Million Doses to North Korea

February 4

• Turkey reports its first cases of the South African and Brazilian coronavirus variants. 
• COVAX announces it will distribute nearly two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea.
• The United States surpasses 450,000 COVID-19-related deaths. 
• Spain surpasses 60,000 COVID-19-related deaths. 
• Johnson & Johnson asks the FDA to issue an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine. 
• The AstraZeneca vaccine is found to be effective against the coronavirus variant first found in the United Kingdom. 

February 3

• UNICEF announces a deal with India’s Serum Institute to produce 1.1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine for low-income countries. 
• Nicaragua issues an emergency use authorization for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. 
• Mexico issues an emergency use authorization for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, becoming the first country in North America to register Russia’s vaccine.
• Switzerland delays approval of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• Saudi Arabia suspends entry from 20 countries in an effort to contain COVID-19. 

February 2

• The Lancet reports that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is 91.6 percent effective.
• China announces it will supply COVAX with 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. 
• New Zealand approves the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine is reported to be effective against the coronavirus variant first found in South Africa. 

Week of January 22–January 29: U.S. COVID-19 Cases Decline By 16 Percent

January 24

• New Zealand reports its first case of community spread in two months. 

January 22

• New U.S. COVID-19 cases decline by 16 percent in a two-week period.
• Panama detects its first case of the COVID-19 variant first found in South Africa.

Week of January 14–January 21: Global Death Toll Passes 2 Million; Turkey Vaccinates Over 600,000 People in Two Days; Operation Warp Speed Takes Over Two Months to Approve Vaccine Distribution

January 21

• Hong Kong imposes its first COVID-19 lockdown. 

January 19

• New COVID-19 variants are shown to evade existing vaccines.
• The European Union announces its target to vaccinate at least 70 percent of adults by summer 2021. 

January 18

• Brazil kicks off its vaccination campaign. 

January 17

• Brazil delays approval of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, citing missing data. 
• Germany vaccinates over one million people. 

January 16

• COVID-19 deaths pass two million globally.
• Pakistan grants emergency use authorization for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Argentina confirms its first case of the new variant first found in the United Kingdom.
• India vaccinates over 200,000 residents—below its 300,000 target—during the first day of its vaccination campaign. 
• Turkey vaccinates more than 600,000 people in two days using China’s Sinovac vaccine. 

January 15

• The world surpasses two million COVID-19 deaths. 
• The United States surpasses 400,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• Turkey vaccinates more than 600,000 people in the first two days of its vaccination campaign using China’s Sinovac vaccine. 
• It is reported that Operation Warp Speed leaders took more than two months to approve vaccine distribution plans. 

January 14

• Israel vaccinates over 20 percent of its population. 

Week of January 6–January 13: The United States Passes 4,000 COVID-19 Deaths

January 11

• U.S. President-elect Joe Biden receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 

January 10

• Indonesia approves China’s Sinovac vaccine for emergency use. 

January 8

• Russia applies for emergency use authorization for its Sputnik V vaccine in the Philippines. 
• The U.S. FDA warns new COVID-19 variants can deliver false negative results on COVID-19 tests. 
• WHO officials say that the second-dose of a COVID-19 vaccine could be delayed up to six weeks after the initial shot if supplies are limited. 

January 7

• Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is reported as effective against mutation in new COVID-19 variants.
• The United States tops 4,000 COVID-19 deaths in one day, the deadliest day in the pandemic. 
• Two arthritis medications—tocilizumab and sarilumab—are found to be effective for treating COVID-19. 

January 5

• Saudi Arabia requires all in-bound travelers to provide a negative COVID-19 test, administered with 72 hours of their departure. 

Week of December 29–January 5: United States Reports its First Case of New Virus Strain; Turkey Announces Production of Sputnik V; India Authorizes AstraZeneca Vaccine

January 3

• Israel vaccinates more than 10 percent of its population in two weeks.
• Saudi Arabia lifts its ban on international flights and the closure of its land and sea borders to travelers. 
• New Zealand requires pre-departure COVID-19 tests for inbound passengers traveling from the United Kingdom and the United States.

January 2

• India authorizes the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. 

January 1

• The United States surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases. 
• The World Health Organization grants emergency approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in developing countries. 
• The United States had over 100,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations every day for the month of December. 

December 30

• The United Kingdom authorizes the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. 
• China approves its Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for general use. 
• California reports its first case of the COVID-19 variant that emerged in the United Kingdom. 
• Ireland returns to a full lockdown for at least one month. 

December 29

• India reports 6 cases of new COVID-19 strain as travelers from the United Kingdom test positive. 
• Turkey announces it will begin production of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. 
• The United States reports its first case of the new COVID-19 variant in Colorado. 

Week of December 21–December 28: EU Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine; Brazil Completes Phase Three SinoVac Trials; Belarus Registers Sputnik V Vaccine

December 27

• Israel enters its third COVID-19 lockdown.

December 26

• France and Romania receive their first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Tokyo records 949 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, a new daily high for the capital city. 
• Global COVID-19 cases surpass 80 million. 
• Sweden reports first case of new COVID-19 variant. 

December 25

• France records it first case of new COVID-19 variant. 
• Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• The U.S. CDC requires that all passengers traveling from the United Kingdom have proof of a negative COVID-19 test. 

December 24

• China suspends all flights form the United Kingdom indefinitely over fears of new virus strain.
• Nepal suspends all flights from the United Kingdom over fears of new virus strain. 
• Mexico begins its COVID-19 vaccination campaign with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 
• Italy surpasses 2 million COVID-19 cases. 
• The U.S. TSA announces 1.2 million people flew in the United States, a new air travel record for the pandemic. 
• California becomes the the first U.S. state to surpass two million COVID-19 cases. 
• The United Kingdom announces a travel ban on all flight coming from South Africa over concerns of new virus strain. 

December 23

• The United States reaches 117,777 hospitalizations, a new record. 
• The United States administers its first one million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
• Argentina is the first country in Latin America to register Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, and the third country globally. 
• Sweden extends travel ban from flights from the United Kingdom over concerns over new virus strain.  
• Switzerland vaccinates its first citizen, beginning a country-wide vaccination campaign. 
• Germany records 962 deaths in 24 hours, its highest daily death toll as a result of the pandemic. 
• Antartica reports it first COVID-19 case.
• South Korea signs deals with Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen to import COVID-19 vaccines to cover up to 16 million people.

December 22

• Taiwan records its first domestic transmission of the virus in eight months, ending the world’s longest COVID-19-free period.
• Philippines halts passenger flights from the United Kingdom amid concerns over a new coronavirus strain.
• Peru surpasses one million confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

December 21

• The European Union approves the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
• U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden receives the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on live television. 
• World Health Organization says the variant of SARS-CoV-2 that was identified in the United Kingdom appears to be more infectious but likely will not affect vaccines.
• Brazil becomes the first country to complete phase three trials for China’s SinoVac vaccine and reports that the results show the vaccine has an efficacy rate of at least 50 percent.
• Kenyan doctors employed in public hospitals strike over the government’s failure to provide adequate PPE and treatment, should they fall ill.
• Belarus becomes the first country to register the Russian vaccine Sputnik V outside of Russia.

Week of December 14–December 20: EU Countries Impose Travel Restrictions on United Kingdom; Denmark Exhumes Mink Carcasses; United States Grants Emergency Use to Moderna Vaccine  

December 20

• Several EU countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Ireland, impose travel restrictions on the United Kingdom over the new coronavirus variant identified there. Other countries, such as Canada, Israel, and El Salvador, also impose travel restrictions.
• Israel, soon followed by other countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, imposes travel restrictions on South Africa over the new coronavirus variant identified there.
• Denmark announces it will exhume up to 5.5 million mink carcasses after environmental inspectors found that they may be polluting water sources.

December 18

• COVAX announces that it has arrangements in place to access nearly two billion does of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on behalf of 190 participating economies and will be able to distribute doses to all participants in the first half of 2021.
• The United States grants its second emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to the Moderna candidate.
• U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. congressional leaders receive doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
• South Africa announces a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 and says the virus seems to be more transmissible and affect young people more.
• India becomes the second country, after the United States, to record 10 million COVID-19 cases.

December 17

• French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19.
• A U.S. health-care worker has a severe allergic reaction after receiving Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine. 

December 14

• Prime Minister of Eswatini Ambrose Dlamini dies from COVID-19, the first sitting world leader to die from the disease.

Week of December 5–December 13: The United States Grants Emergency Use of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine; UK Identifies Variant and Launches Immunization Campaign

December 11

• The United States grants its first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate.

December 10

• Australia terminates its purchase agreement for the University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine after participants returned false positive HIV test results.

December 9

• The United Arab Emirates becomes the first nation to approve a Chinese coronavirus vaccine, approving Sinopharm’s candidate.

December 8

• The United Kingdom identifies a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that appeared to be more transmissible.
• The United Kingdom begins its nationwide coronavirus immunization campaign.

December 7

• Brazil sets January 25 as the first concrete date for vaccination in Latin America.

Week of November 27–December 4: UK Grants First Emergency Use Authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

December 2

• The United Kingdom grants the world’s first emergency use authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate.

November 27

• South Korean intelligence officials report North Korea executed a traveler who brought goods from China into North Korea, violating the country’s coronavirus-related quarantine measures.

Week of November 19–November 26: Samoa Announces Its First Case 

November 23

• AstraZeneca and Oxford announce interim results show their vaccine candidate reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by an average 70 percent. This average is based on two different dose regimes; two full doses with 62 percent efficacy and a half dose followed by a full dose at 90 percent efficacy.

November 19

• Samoa announces its first case, a traveler from Europe.

Week of November 12–November 18: Pfizer and BioNTech Announce 94 Percent Vaccine Efficacy; Moderna Announces 94 Percent Vaccine Efficacy; France Reaches 2 Million Cases

November 18

• Pfizer and BioNTech announce that interim results show their vaccine is more than 94 percent effective.
• France becomes the first European country to reach 2 million COVID-19 cases. 

November 16

• Moderna announces interim results show its vaccine candidate is more than 94 percent effective at preventing COVID-19.

Week of November 5–November 11: The United States Passes 10 Million Cases; Brazil Suspends SinoVac Trials; World Records 50 Million Cases

November 11

• Vanuatu announces its first case, a traveler from the United States.
• Gamaleya and the Russian Direct Investment Fund announce interim results show their vaccine candidate, Sputnik V, is 92 percent effective at preventing COVID-19.

November 10

• The Czech Republic extends its state of emergency until November 20. 
• Belgium announces second COVID-19 lockdown. 

November 9

• Brazil suspends vaccine trials for SinoVac after a participant died from suspected suicide unrelated to the vaccine. 
• U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden unveils the members of his COVID-19 task force. 
• Pfizer and BioNTech announce interim results show their vaccine candidate is more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without prior evidence of infection.
• The United States becomes the first country in the world to record 10 million cases.

November 8

• The world passes 50 million coronavirus cases.

Week of October 28–November 4: The United States Passes 100,000 Cases in One Day; European Union is New Epicenter of the Pandemic

November 4

• The United States passes 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time. 
• France imposes a second nationwide lockdown.
• Denmark announces it will kill its entire mink population of 15–17 million after a coronavirus mutation was found to spread from the animals to humans.

October 30

• The United States surpasses nine million COVID-19 cases. 
• The Czech Republic extends its state of emergency until November 20. 
• Belgium announces second COVID-19 lockdown. 

October 29

• India surpasses 8 million COVID-19 cases. 
• Japan surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases. 
• The World Health Organization declares that Europe is again the “epicenter” of the pandemic.
• The European Union will fund the transfer of COVID-19 patients across country-borders to prevent hospital collapse.

October 28

• The U.S. government announces it will pay for any future COVID-19 vaccines for Americans. 
• France imposes new national four-week lockdown as COVID-19 cases surge. 
• South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa goes into self-quarantine after attending a dinner party with a COVID-19-positive guest.
• The World Health Organization reports a record three million new COVID-19 cases in one week.
• The United States records 85,357 new daily COVID-19 cases, its highest figure to date. 

Week of October 20–October 27: France Reports New Daily Record; India Reports Less Than 50,000 Cases; Italy Imposes Harshest Lockdown Since March

October 27

• The Trump White House lists ending the COVID-19 pandemic as an accomplishment despite a surge in cases.

October 25

• France reports a record 52,010 daily new COVID-19 cases.
• Italy imposes its harshest lockdown restrictions since March. 

October 22

• Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health mandates that masks must be worn at all times in outdoor areas. 

October 21

• The Czech Republic reinstates its mask-mandate. 
• Brazil’s Health Minister, Eduardo Pazuello, tests positive for COVID-19. 
• Germany’s Health Minister, Jens Spahn, tests positive for COVID-19.

October 20

• Belgium requires hospitals to postpone elective medical procedures to help tackle the COVID-19 surge.
• India reports fewer than 50,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time in three months. 
• The United States reports 58,387 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period, its highest figure since July.
• Russia reports more than 16,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time. 

Week of October 12–October 19: Global COVID-19 Cases Pass 40 Million; Johnson & Johnson Pauses Vaccine Trial; Singapore and Indonesia Open Their Borders

October 19

• There are now over 40 million reported COVID-19 cases globally.
• Iran records 337 COVID-19 related deaths, its highest figure since the pandemic took effect. 
• Argentina surpasses one million COVID-19 cases. 
• The United States and Mexico reach a border-control agreement to limit movement across their borders to help curb the spread of COVID-19. 

October 13

• Russia reports 13,868 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period.

October 12

• Johnson & Johnson pauses its COVID-19 vaccine trails after a participant contracts an unexplained illness.
• Carnival Cruises announces cruise cancellations through March 2022. 
• New research shows that there were 20 percent more deaths than expected from March 1 to August 1, two-thirds of which were attributable to COVID-19.
• The United Kingdom imposes new lockdown rules across the country. 
• Singapore and Indonesia agree to open their borders for travel. 
• Iran reports 272 COVID-19-related deaths, its highest death toll since the pandemic took effect. 

Week of October 5–October 11: White House Outbreak Reaches 34 People; President Trump Returns to the White House; White House Prepares $1.8 Trillion Stimulus Proposal

October 10

• Brazil passes 150,000 COVID-19 deaths, giving it the second-highest death-toll after the United States.

October 9

• Spain declares a state of emergency in response to Madrid’s COVID-19 outbreak.
• The White House prepares a $1.8 trillion COVID-19 stimulus proposal.  
• China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hua Chunying, announces China’s commitment to COVAX.
• A study reveals that one in four pregnant women experience prolonged COVID-19 symptoms.  
• Nepal reports 100,000 new COVID-19 cases, its largest daily increase since the pandemic took effect. 

October 8

• Top White House aid, Stephen Miller, tests positive for COVID-19. 
• White House COVID-19 outbreak reaches at least 34 people.

October 7

• Italy begins ordering mandatory COVID-19 testing on travelers from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

October 6

• AstraZeneca’s clinical trials remain on hold in the United States, the last country to keep the hold in place. 

October 5

• President Donald Trump returns to the White House from Walter Reed hospital. 

Week of September 27–October 4: President Trump Diagnosed With COVID-19; Global Deaths Pass One Million; NFL Reports Its First Outbreak 

October 3

• Spain imposes a partial lockdown on Madrid.
• The Solomon Islands reports its first case of COVID-19. 

October 2

• U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19.
• President Trump is flown to Walter Reed hospital to receive treatment for the coronavirus. 

October 1

• New York City’s hotspots in Queens and Brooklyn, reach a 6.5 COVID-19 positivity rate. 
• Advisor to U.S. President, Hope Hicks, tests positive for COVID-19. 

September 30

• Major League Baseball announces it will allow a “limited number” of fans to attend the World Series event. 
• Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and Sweden commit approximately $1 billion to the Access to COVID-19 Tool (ACT) Accelerator. 
• Johnson & Johnson announces it will supply 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to developing countries.  
• The CDC announces a Cruise Ship No Sail Order, effective through October 31.

September 29

• The National Football League reports its first COVID-19 outbreak. 
• Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine shows acceptable safety. 
• India’s Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu, tests positive for COVID-19. 
• New York City’s COVID-19 positivity rate reaches 3.25 percent—its highest figure since June. 
• Russia signs a deal to supply 25 million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine to Nepal. 
• Moscow extends school holiday in response to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

September 28

• Global COVID-19 deaths pass one million. 
• New York’s positive COVID-19 test rate reaches 1.5 percent, reflecting a national increase in cases.
• The Netherlands implements new restrictions on restaurants and bars, and inter-city travel as COVID-19 cases surge. 
• Finland introduces a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants. 

Week of September 19–September 26: United States Passes Seven Million COVID-19 Cases

September 25

• The United States passes seven million COVID-19 cases. 

September 24

• U.S. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci states that aerosol transmission of the coronavirus does occur. 
• WHO estimates that as many as 80 percent of cases in Africa are asymptomatic. 

September 22

• The United States passes 200,000 deaths from COVID-19. 

Week of September 11–September 18: India Reports Over 83,000 new daily cases

September 18

• Denmark limits public gatherings to groups of 50 people or less. 
• CDC publishes and then removes guidance on aerosol spread of COVID-19.  

September 16

• Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, announces that a COVID-19 vaccine likely will not be widely available until mid-2021. 

September 15

• Iran reports 2,152 new COVID-19 cases, its highest daily increase in 10 days.
• The United Kingdom records 1,940 new COVID-19 cases, its highest daily increase since May.
• Australia announces it will receive first batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021.

Week of September 3–September 10: India Reports Over 83,000 New Daily Cases for Two Consecutive Days; Russia’s Vaccine Generates an Immune Response; Over 500,000 U.S. Children Are Diagnosed With COVID-19

September 9

• More than 500,000 U.S. children have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• The United States announces it will stop screening international arrivals for COVID-19.

September 8

• Egypt passes 100,000 COVID-19 cases. 
• AstraZeneca pauses COVID-19 vaccine trails after one volunteer falls ill. 
• Hong Kong relaxes social distancing measures.
• The Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football announces it will postpone qualifying matches until March 2021.

September 7

• New York’s positive test rate stays below 1 percent for 30 consecutive days. 
• India records 90,000 new daily COVID-19 cases, overtaking Brazil as the second worst-hit country.
• Spain passes 500,000 COVID-19 cases, a milestone-figure in Western Europe. 
• French Open Tennis Tournament announces it will allow a limited number of fans to attend the event. 
• Denmark limits public gatherings in Copenhagen to limit COVID-19 spread.

September 6

• South Korea reports 167 new COVID-19 cases, its smallest 24-hour rise in three weeks. 

September 5

• Australia’s COVID-19 epicenter, Melbourne, extends its hard-lockdown until the end of September. 

September 4

• Moderna slows down phase three vaccine trials to expand testing to at-risk minorities.
• One study finds that Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine generated a “strong immune response.”
• France reports 9,000 new COVID-19 cases, its highest 24-hour increase. 
• New Zealand reports its first COVID-19 death in three months and announces it will remain at alarm level 2.5 until at least September 16.
• India reports over 83,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day. 

September 3

• Brazil passes four million COVID-19 cases.
• Thailand reports its first COVID-19 case after 100 days. 
• Russia resumes flights to the UAE, Egypt, and Maldives. 
• India reports over 83,000 new COVID-19 cases. 
• Czech Republic reports 650 new COVID-19 cases, a new 24-hour record. 

Week of August 26–September 2: COVID-19 Cases in Europe Reach March Levels; India Becomes Third Worst-Affected Country; Latin America Passes 7 Million Cases

September 2

• COVID-19 cases in Europe are almost back to March levels.
• Greece reports its first COVID-19 case at Moria refugee camp. 
• China resumes international flights to and from Beijing.
• Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief adviser for the White House vaccine program, said that a COVID-19 vaccine before November would be “extremely unlikely but not impossible.” 

September 1

• Colombia passes 20,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• The U.S. CDC issues a temporary halt on evictions until the end of 2020. 
• The National Institutes of Health advised doctors to not use convalescent plasma as a COVID-19 treatment until more research is conducted. 
• Utah State University issues mandatory quarantine after detecting COVID-19 in water supply. 
• The White House announces it will resume tours at 18 percent capacity following six-month hiatus. 

August 31

• India reports 78,000 new COVID-19 cases, surpassing the U.S. record for the second day in a row. 
• India becomes the country with the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases behind the United States and Brazil.
• Jordan reports its highest daily number of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.

August 28

• France reports 6,111 new COVID-19 cases, its highest daily number of new infections since March. 
• Turkey reports 1,517 new COVID-19 deaths, its highest death-toll since May. 
• The FDA expands emergency authorization of remdesivir for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. 
• Ireland announces a $19 million support package for pubs. 
• Hungary announces it will close its borders to foreigners again starting September 1. 
• New York announces its lowest rate of COVID-19 infection since the pandemic began, marking three consecutive weeks of an infection rate below one percent. 

August 27

• The White House announces the purchase of 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests. 
• Latin America surpasses seven million COVID-19 cases.

Week of August 18–August 25: First Case of Reinfection Reported; New Cases Are Decreasing in Half of U.S. States; South Korea Stops In-Person Instruction in Over 2,000 Schools 

August 24

• First case of COVID-19 reinfection reported in Hong Kong. 
• White House officials announce the possibility of fast-tracking a COVID-19 vaccine before phase three trials are completed. 
• New COVID-19 cases are decreasing in half of U.S. states. 
• South Korea stops in-person classes at over 2,000 schools in response to rising COVID-19 cases. 

August 23

• The U.S. FDA issues an emergency authorization for convalescent plasma treatment against COVID-19. 
• New York state announces record-low number of COVID-19 hospitalizations. 
• COVID-19 cases in France triple within the past month. 
• South Korea reports its highest-number of new COVID-19 cases since March. 

August 22

• Italy reports 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since May. 
• Germany reports largest increase in daily cases since late April.

August 19

• Spain reports its highest level of COVID-19 deaths since May. 
• Egypt requires negative Covid-19 PCR test from all travelers starting September 1. 
• The U.S. College Board cancels the SAT test for nearly half of the students scheduled to take it in August. 
• The Trump Administration’s Operation Warp Speed announces a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be made available next spring. 
• Brazil reports 50,000 new COVID-19 cases.
• Brazil passes 110,000 COVID-19 deaths and 2.4 million cases. 
• Colombia approaches 16,000 COVID-19 deaths and passes 500,000 cases. 

Week of August 10–August 17: Russia Approves Vaccine; Moderna Agrees to Supply the United States Vaccine; WHO Reports Record Number of New Cases

August 17

• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces the state’s COVID-19 infection rate is below 1 percent for the tenth consecutive day. 

August 15

• The World Health Organization reports 294,237 new COVID-19, a record number of new cases reported within 24 hours. 
• Russia begins production of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. 

August 14

• New Zealand extends its lockdown in Auckland by 12 days amid COVID-19 concerns. 

August 13

• India reports just under 67,000 new COVID-19 cases, its highest daily increase since the pandemic took effect. 
• WHO reports that the COVID-19 pandemic is costing the the global economy over $375 billion per month, citing International Monetary Fund research. 
• U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden calls for a three-month national mask mandate. 
• New unemployment claims in the United States fall below one million for the first time since March. 
• Venezuelan politician and the governor of Venezuela’s Caracas capital district, Dario Vivas, becomes the first government official to die from COVID-19 in the country. 

August 12

• Greece reports 262 new COVID-19 cases, its largest jump in daily cases since the pandemic began. 
• France reports 1,397 new COVID-19 cases, its highest number of new cases since it began easing lockdown restrictions. 
• New Jersey announces schools can reopen in the fall. 
• Jordan closes its border with Syria over COVID-19 concerns. 

August 11

• Russia becomes the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, called “Sputnik V.” Scientists worldwide condemn the approval over safety concerns. 
• Brazil begins talks with Russia to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine. 

August 10

• Moderna and the Trump administration negotiate a deal to supply the United States with 100 million doses of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

Week of August 2–August 9: COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines pass 100,000

August 7

• New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo announces New York City schools can reopen in the fall if COVID-19 cases remain low. 

August 2

• COVID-19 cases in the Philippines pass 100,000.
• Deborah L. Birx, the Trump administration’s coronavirus coordinator, warns the United States is in a “new phase” of the coronavirus epidemic. 

Week of July 25–August 1: North Korea Reports Its First Suspected Case; South Korea Records Its Largest Daily Increase Since March; Mexico  Reports the Third-Highest Death Toll in the World 

August 1

• Mexico’s COVID-19 death toll becomes the third-highest in the world. 
• Kuwait bans commercial flights from 31 high-risk countries citing coronavirus concerns. 
• Mississippi has the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the United States. 
• India reports 57,000 new COVId-19 cases, its highest daily jump. 

July 30

• Spain records 1,153 daily COVID-19 cases, its highest-figure since April. 

July 29

• Russia reports its on-track to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine in mid-August. 

July 28

• China reports 105 new COVID-19 cases, its highest number of new cases since April. 

July 27

• Phase III clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Moderna, begin in the United States. 
• A domestic cat becomes the first animal in the United Kingdom to test positive for the virus. 

July 26

• Hong Kong records over 100 new COVID-19 cases for the fifth consecutive day, indicative of a third-wave.  

July 25

• North Korea reports what is then-suspected to be its first case of COVID-19.
• North Korea also implements a lockdown in Kaesong, a city near its border with South Korea, over a suspected COVID-19 case. 
• South Korea records its largest daily increase of COVID-19 cases since March. 
• Vietnam reports its first locally transmitted case in 100 days. 
• The United Kingdom removes Spain from its safe travel list. 
• COVID-19 hospitalizations are up 79 percent in three weeks in Florida. 

Week of July 17–July 24: China and Russia Are Accused of Stealing COVID-19 Vaccine Research; India Passes One Million Cases; Record Number of Cases is Reported to the WHO

July 22

• Global coronavirus cases surpass 15 million; the United States remains the nation with the highest number of cases worldwide.
• The United States charges two Chinese hackers accused of targeting institutions working on vaccine research in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Japan, among other nations.
• Coronavirus cases in Africa exceed 750,000.
• Washington, D.C. issues a new mask mandate as cases rise.

July 21

• China requires proof of negative COVID-19 test for all incoming passengers. 
• The United States accuses China of hacking COVID-19 vaccine research trials. 

July 20

• The European Union negotiates a $859 billion COVID-19 stimulus package. 

July 19

• India reports 38,902 new cases, its highest single-day spike.

July 18

•  A new record number of cases, 259,848, is reported to the World Health Organization. 
• The FDA issues its first emergency use authorization for COVID-19 pool testing. 

July 17

• Russia is accused of stealing COVID-19 vaccine research from the United Kingdom. 
• A record number of cases, 237,743, is reported to the World Health Organization.
• India becomes the third country to pass one million COVID-19 cases. 

Week of July 9–July 16: WHO Announces Independent Coronavirus Review; White House Orders Hospitals to Bypass CDC; Moderna Shows Positive Immune Response 

July 16

• Georgia’s governor issues an executive order rescinding mask mandates made by local governments across the state.
• Italy announces bans on entry for people coming from Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
• U.S., British, and Canadian officials say that Russian hackers targeted academic institutions and laboratories working on coronavirus vaccine research.
• India approaches one million coronavirus cases as numbers rise in rural areas of the country.
• Tokyo records its highest single-day increase in cases in the capital city.

July 15 

• Single-day tallies for cases, hospitalizations, and deaths reach highs across several states including Florida, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
• South Africa is expected to surpass 300,000 coronavirus cases.
• Belgium delays additional reopening measures as cases increase in the country.
• Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, requires all shoppers to wear face-masks in all 5,000 of its U.S. stores. 

July 14

• Global coronavirus cases increased by one million over the past five days.
• Australia, Hong Kong, and India are among those imposing new restrictions amid increases in cases.
• Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded more coronavirus deaths than the United States and Canada.
• Russia reports 6,248 new cases.
• Disneyland Hong Kong closes less than a month after reopening citing concerns for another surge of the virus. 
• Moderna, the first potential coronavirus vaccine tested in humans, is demonstrated to show a positive immune response.
• The White House orders hospitals to bypass the CDC and send COVID-19 case data directly to Washington. 

July 13

• New York City reports no new coronavirus deaths in a 24-hour period.
• California’s two largest public school districts, Los Angeles and San Diego, announce they will be online-only for the fall semester. 
• WHO reports that the United States and Brazil made up half of the daily increase in coronavirus cases globally.
• The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that one in three South Korean coronavirus patients showed improvements while on remdesivir.
• Kazakhstan extends its second lockdown through July and announces additional aid for citizens without income.

July 12

• Mexico surpasses Italy as the country with the fourth-highest COVID-19 death toll. 
• Argentina surpasses 100,000 coronavirus cases despite an ongoing lockdown in Buenos Aires.
• Florida marks 15,300 new cases, the highest single-day increase of any U.S. state since the pandemic began.
• South Africa reimposes a curfew and ban on alcohol sales to relieve burdens on hospitals amid rising coronavirus cases.
• President Donald Trump makes his first public appearance wearing a face-mask.

July 11

• Two Australian states report increases in cases linked to community transmission since the states reopened. 
• Louisiana mandates masks statewide amid rising cases and hospitalizations.

July 10

• The United States reports 63,247 new coronavirus cases, its highest single-day increase to date.
• Revised data from Russia show a mortality rate in April and May nearly three times higher than previously reported.

July 9

• Single-day case records are reported across four states in the United States.
• Health workers in Ghana urge the government to provide PPE and other supplies to hospital systems to protect workers.
• Indonesia reports its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases linked to an outbreak at a military training facility.
• WHO announces an Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Data from WHO and African governments show a 24 percent in increase in new coronavirus cases in Africa from the previous week.

Week of July 1–July 8: Cases in Brazil and the United States Continue to Spike; Countries Impose New Travel Restrictions; Africa Surpasses Half a Million Cases

July 8

• Iran reports highest one-day death toll since the start of the pandemic, exceeding 12,000 total deaths.
• Intensive care units in hospitals across Florida and Arizona reach full capacity due to surges in coronavirus cases.
• Confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa surpass 500,000, but gaps in data and testing raise concerns about underreporting.
• Uzbekistan announces a second lockdown for July 10, in response to cases surging in the nation.

July 7

• Brazilian President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus.
• President Donald Trump formally notifies Congress and the United Nations of U.S. withdrawal from WHO.
• WHO acknowledges evidence suggesting airborne coronavirus transmission and cautions need for further assessment.
• Coronavirus cases in the Americas reach 5.9 million, with half in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Kenya announces schools will remain closed until 2021. 
• Africa Development Bank warns that an additional 49 million Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic and its aftermath, with West and Central Africa hit hardest.

July 6

• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tells supporters that his lungs are “clean” after undergoing a lung scan amid reports that he showed coronavirus symptoms.
• A Spanish government study involving over 61,000 participants finds that coronavirus antibodies decrease with time, falling below necessary levels for herd immunity.
• California orders six additional counties to close indoor operations for restaurants, bars, and other businesses as coronavirus cases increase in the state.
• India overtakes Russia as the country with the third-most coronavirus cases. 

July 5

• Scientists from over 30 countries call on WHO to direct attention to evidence suggesting airborne spread of coronavirus.
• Florida and Texas report new single-day records for coronavirus cases.

July 4

• Melbourne, Australia tightens restrictions on 12 suburbs and imposes “hard lockdowns” on several apartment blocks as cases surge. The Australian Medical Association calls for a pause in easing COVID-19 restrictions until the situation in Melbourne stabilizes.  
• New coronavirus cases in Tokyo increase by 131, governor urges residents to limit travel outside of the city.
• Over 200,000 people in Spain’s Lleida province are ordered to lock down due to outbreaks in the region.

July 3

• The United States reports over 55,000 new coronavirus cases, marking a new daily global record.
• The United Kingdom announces an end to travel restrictions from fifty countries, not including the United States. 
• French authorities open investigations against former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

July 2

• Florida reports over 10,000 new coronavirus cases, marking a new single-day record for the state.
• India announces reopening measures despite surpassing 600,000 coronavirus cases and 17,834 deaths.
• Switzerland announces self-isolation requirements for travelers from 29 countries including the United States, Brazil, and Russia.
• Tokyo confirms over one hundred new coronavirus cases, its highest single-day count since May.

July 1

• Burundi’s newly elected president shifts from predecessor’s stance on the coronavirus, promising steps to combat its spread.
• Brazil sees 12,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day; Rio de Janeiro begins opening.
• Texas governor, Greg Abbott, mandates face masks in public. 

Week of June 23–June 30: Saudi Arabia Places Restrictions on the Hajj; Vaccine Trials in Africa Begin; India Reports Record Spike 

June 30

• The United States acquires over 500,000 doses of remdesivir from Gilead, all of its production for the month of July and 90 percent of August and September.

June 29

• Global coronavirus death toll surpasses 500,000.
• Kazakhstan reimposes lockdown measures after surge in cases linked to reopening measures.

June 28

• According to the Pan American Health Organization, cases in Latin America have tripled in June, surpassing two million infections.
• The Czech Republic reports its highest single-day increase in new cases since April 8.

June 27

• Twelve U.S. states slow reopening measures as new cases increase across the country.

June 26

• The United States sees its highest daily increase in confirmed coronavirus cases.
• Over half of U.S. states report record numbers of new daily cases.

June 25

• U.S. CDC estimates that more than 20 million individuals may have had coronavirus in the United States thus far. 

June 24

• Twenty-six U.S. states see a rise in coronavirus cases since easing up on lockdown restrictions. 
• New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut require visitors from “hot-spot” states to self-quarantine for 14 days. 
• The United States reports its highest daily total of new coronavirus cases.
• India reports over 15,000 new coronavirus infections, its highest single-day rise in cases.

June 23

• FDA warns against the use of hand sanitizers containing methanol, a toxic substance. 
• Saudi Arabia restricts Hajj pilgrims, the first time Muslim people will be barred this rite in modern times. 
• Germany reimposes a regional lockdown after cases linked to a meatpacking factory pass 1,500. 
• The first COVID-19 vaccine trial in South Africa begins. This is the first vaccine trial on the continent. 
• Coronavirus-related deaths in Latin America pass 100,000. 

Week of June 15–June 22:  Beijing Reports a New Cluster of Cases; FDA Revokes Use of Hydroxychloroquine; Health-care Workers Resign 

June 22

• Citing pandemic concerns, President Donald Trump issues restrictions on immigration to the United States, suspending most H1-B, H2-B, and H-4 visas. 
• More than 20 public health officials in the United States have resigned or left their posts in recent weeks. 
• In response to exponential rises in coronavirus cases, Liberia extends its state of emergency.
• South Korea reports a second wave of coronavirus infections around its capital city, related to a May holiday.
• Beijing outbreak disrupts supply chain across meat, poultry, and other food industries.

June 21

• Italy’s Civil Protection Department sees its lowest increase in daily cases since the start of the pandemic.
• Spain lifts state of emergency, allowing tourists from most EU countries.
• Potential strain on worldwide glass supply chain poses delays to coronavirus vaccine development.

June 20

• WHO officials announce that the cluster of cases in Beijing was traced to a European coronavirus strain, not a market-based cross-species infection.
• Florida and South Carolina report sharp spikes in new cases, breaking single-day records for third day in a row.

June 19

• The Czech Republic reports its largest increase in daily cases since April.

June 18

• India eases lockdown measures despite rises in confirmed cases and deaths.

June 17

• Peru surpasses 240,000 coronavirus cases, passing Italy’s total number of cases.
• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces final daily COVID-19 briefing for Friday.

June 16

• Nursing and care facilities are reported to account for at least 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the United States. 
• The UN’s Latin America and Caribbean agency warns of rising hunger in the region due to COVID-19’s effect on food systems and the region’s economies.

June 15

• China reports an additional 36 confirmed coronavirus cases in Beijing for a total of 79 since its first confirmed case in 56 days was reported on June 11.
• Beijing imposes lockdown measures in 21 neighborhoods as rampant testing procedures undergo in Beijing.
• Cases in new Beijing cluster have reportedly spread to Liaoning and Hebei provinces in China.
• The United States surpasses 115,000 coronavirus deaths as new cases increase across more than 12 states.
• The FDA revokes emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine.
• The Imperial College of London begins a coronavirus vaccine trial. 
• France lifts travel resections for European Union and Schengen citizens. Restrictions stay in place for Spain and the United Kingdom.  

Week of June 7–June 14: The United States Sees a Rise in Cases; New Zealand and India Lift Lockdown Restrictions; China Publishes White Paper

June 14

• The United Kingdom reports 36 deaths, its lowest daily death toll since March. 

June 12

• India overtakes the United Kingdom to become the fourth worst-hit nation. 

June 11

• As the United States exceeds two million confirmed coronavirus cases, new model suggests spikes in death toll in September and later months.
• U.S. farms and packing plants report an increase in cases among workers.
• Confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia pass 500,000. 
• Biotech company Moderna to begin final stage of trial for coronavirus vaccine in July on 30,000 participants.

June 10 

• France reports decline in daily death toll, but a rise in confirmed cases. 
• Health authorities in Libya report spikes in coronavirus cases, linked to repatriation efforts. 
• Germany announces extended travel warnings for non-European nations through August, travel ban for EU members to be lifted June 15. 
• The United States sees rises in confirmed cases across 19 states, 24 states trend downward, and 7 remain the same.  

June 9 

• WHO says earlier statement calling asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus “very rare” and a misunderstanding. 
• Since Memorial Day in the United States, nine states have reported increases in hospitalizations due to coronavirus. 
• Brazil resumes reporting data on country’s cases after supreme court order. 

June 8 

• New Zealand lifts all lockdown restrictions, declaring the country virus-free.  
• India lifts lockdown restrictions, despite fears of a surge. 
• Experts warn that up to 540 Americans can die each day as a result of the ongoing protests.  
• New York City begins phase one reopening.  
• WHO says pandemic “far from over” as daily cases hit record high 
• Lockdown measures are estimated to have prevented 500 million COVID-19 related deaths worldwide.  
• Tanzanian President Magufuli declares Tanzania free of coronavirus, amid concerns of underreporting from WHO. 
• South Africa sees rapid increase in coronavirus numbers, recording over 50,000 confirmed cases in past two weeks. 

June 7 

• China publishes a white paper, defending that it did not try to conceal the virus.  
• Brazil’s health ministry removes coronavirus data from official website. 

Week of May 30–June 6: Countries Begin to Reopen; Spain Extends Its State of Emergency; Trump Asks Congress For Economic Stimulus 

June 5 

• President Donald Trump announces he will ask the U.S. Congress for extra economic stimulus.  
• Jordan reopens mosques for service.  

June 3 

• Spain extends a state of emergency until June 21.  

June 2 

• Italy reopens its borders to tourists. 
• France reopens its beaches, cultural, and sporting centers. 

June 1 

• The Philippines eases lockdown measures.   

Week of May 23–May 30: U.S. Deaths pass 100,000; House Democrats Vote Remotely;  France Pulls Hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 Treatment

May 29

• The United States announces it is leaving WHO. 

May 28 

• WHO Director announces COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for 159,000 excess deaths in 24 European countries since early March. 
• Latin America now accounts for 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths globally. 

May 27 

• The United Nations reports that the coronavirus puts 14 million people at risk of missing meals in Latin America and the Caribbean .
• Coronavirus deaths in the United States pass 100,000. 
• The U.S. House of Representatives’ Democratic members vote remotely for the first time.  
• France revokes approval of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for the virus.  

Week of May 15–May 22: China Flattens the Curve; President Trump Announces He Is Taking Hydroxycholorquine

May 22 

• China reports no new domestic cases. 

May 21

• Iran says that more than 10,000 of its health-care workers have tested positive. 

May 19 

• China reports 6 new coronavirus cases, including one in Wuhan. 
• The World Bank warns that all progress made in poverty alleviation over the past three years could be erased as coronavirus threatens to push 60 million into extreme poverty  

May 18 

• President Donald Trump announces he is taking hydroxychloroquine.
• President Xi Jinping vows to make Chinese vaccines a global public good.  

May 15

• President Donald Trump unveils Operation Warp Speed to develop and manufacture millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of 2020.
• Brazil’s second health minister of the pandemic resigns within a month of the first minister’s resignation. 

Week of May 7–May 14 : Three Children in New York City Die of a Mysterious Toxic-Shock Inflammation Syndrome; Hydroxychlorquine is Proven Ineffective; Global Cases Top 4 Million

May 14

• First coronavirus case is confirmed in a Rohingya refugee camp. 

May 13

• Lesotho confirms its first case of coronavirus.

May 11 

• Hydroxychloroquine is proven ineffective as a treatment against COVID-19.  
• Two White House staff members test positive for the virus. 
• France begins easing lockdown restrictions.  

May 10 

• The global total of cases reaches 4 million.  

May 9 

• Three children in New York die of a mysterious toxic-shock inflammation syndrome linked to the coronavirus. Another 73 are infected.  

May 7 

• Carlos Ernesto Escobar becomes the first person to die from the coronavirus while in U.S. immigration custody.  

Week of April 29–May 6: Two Percent of Moscow’s Population Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Trump Administration Phases Out Task Force; Global Cases Top 3.5 Million

May 5 

• Trump administration considers phasing out coronavirus task force. 
• Thailand reports one new coronavirus case and no new deaths, marking a downward trend of transmission.  
• Number of cases globally surpasses 3.5 million.  

May 3 

• In the United States, Virginia reports its first coronavirus death. Total deaths in the United States are 65,464. 

May 2 

• Moscow’s Mayor announced that 2 percent of the city’s population has tested positive for the coronavirus.  

Week of April 21–April 28: President Trump Suspends Immigration; China Pledges $30 Million to the WHO; Italy and Spain Ease Lockdown Restrictions

April 28 

• The United States records over one million coronavirus cases. 
• A new study reports that cancer patients are nearly three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than non-cancer patients. 

April 27 

• Famotidine, a common over-the-counter heartburn medication, begins testing trials in New York City as a possible coronavirus treatment.  

April 26 

• Italy and Spain unveil plans to ease up on lockdown restrictions beginning on May 4.  

April 25 

• WHO reports that there is still no evidence that recovered patients are immune from the coronavirus. 
• Over a quarter of the world’s coronavirus deaths are in the United States.  

April 24 

• The number of coronavirus cases in Ecuador more than double after delayed testing results were released.  
• The United States’ coronavirus death toll passes 50,000.  
• The Federal Drug Administration warns against the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug touted by President Donald Trump as a coronavirus treatment.  
• Pakistan extends its lockdown until May 9.  

April 23 

• China pledges an additional $30 million in funding to the WHO.  
• The White House announces it has enough test kits for a phase one reopening.  
• South Africa announces it will begin phase one on reopening on May 1.  
• Indonesia announces it will ban domestic air and sea travel until early June. This coincides with the holy month of Ramadan.  
• President Donald Trump erroneously recommends ingesting disinfectants to fight coronavirus. Lysol and other companies warn against this practice.  

April 22 

• Hydroxychloroquine is deemed ineffective as a treatment against the coronavirus.  
• Germany approves first trials for a coronavirus vaccine.  
• The Netherlands extends ban on major public gatherings until September 1.  

April 21  

• Congressional leaders and the White House strike a deal to deliver $480 million in relief funds to small businesses and hospitals. 
• President Donald Trump effectively suspends immigration to the United States. Green card recipients will be blocked from moving to the country but temporary workers on nonimmigrant visas will be allowed in.

Week of April 13–April 20: China Reports First Economic Contraction in a Decade; Austria Becomes One of the First European Countries to Reopen; President Trump Suspends Immigration

April 20 

• Israel’s coronavirus rate of recovery begins to outpace its death rate. 
• Israel begins to ease up on lockdown restrictions, including allowing the opening up of small stores, resuming small group prayer, and introducing fines for not wearing a mask in public.  
• Iran begins to reopen its economy starting with major shopping centers in Tehran. 
• President Donald Trump announces he will temporarily suspend immigration to the United States for 60 days by executive order.  
• U.S. hospitals, including the esteemed Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, announce they will reopen for elective surgeries and other non-emergency procedures. 

April 19 

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper extends the Department of Defense travel ban until June 30 amid coronavirus concerns. The original ban was set to expire on May 12. 
• Orthodox churches in Georgia host Easter masses for hundreds of parishioners despite the country declaring a state of emergency.  
• Chile becomes the first country to issue “immunity cards” to people who have fully recovered from the coronavirus.

April 18 

• American conservatives protest the country’s lockdown measures.  

April 17 

• China reports its first economic contraction in a decade. It’s GDP shrank 6.8 percent during the first three months of 2020.  
• Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, makes an executive decision to begin reopening Texas beginning in May. This decision makes Texas one of the first states to loosen restrictions. 
• Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, dies after contracting coronavirus.  
• U.S. Vice President Mike Pence declares that the country has enough tests for a phase one reopening.  

April 16 

• Japan declares a nation-wide state of emergency. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approves a budget to include a ¥100,000 handout to all citizens regardless of income. 
• An additional 5.2 million Americans file for unemployment over the past week, bringing the total number to 22 million Americans filing since President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency four weeks ago. This job loss is comparable to Great Depression statistics.  
• President Trump unveils a set of guidelines for opening up America giving liberty to state governors to choose whether they want lift restrictions statewide or on a county-by-county basis. 

April 15 

• Germany announces plans to reopen the economy starting April 20. It also announces plans to resume in-person schooling on May 3. 
• President Trump delays funding to WHO. 

April 14  

• The International Monetary Fund warns that the world is facing its worst economic downturn as coronavirus lockdowns continue to wreck havoc on the global economy. 
• Austria reopens thousands of small shops, becoming one of the first European countries to loosen lockdown measures in response to the coronavirus.  
• New York City’s coronavirus death toll passes 10,000—a figure larger than any European country’s.  
• President Donald Trump delays thousands of stimulus checks in an unprecedented move to mandate that his name appear on the check.  
• Wyoming confirms its first coronavirus death, bringing the total to all 50 states having reported coronavirus fatalities.
• Hydroxychloroquine is deemed ineffective as a treatment against the coronavirus.  

Week of April 5–April 12: Wet Markets Reopen in Wuhan; The United States Has the Most Coronavirus Deaths in the World; Boris Johnson Discharged from Intensive Care

April 12  

• Wet markets reopen in Wuhan, China.  

April 11 

• The United States surpasses Italy for having the most confirmed coronavirus deaths in the world. 
• The U.S. Internal Revenue Services deposits its first round of stimulus checks to Americans.  
• Over 550 crew members aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive for coronavirus. 
• South Korea introduces a tracking bracelet to monitor citizens’ adhesion to quarantine rules.  
• Yemen reports its first coronavirus case.  

April 10 

• Spain sees a flattening of the curve. A slowdown in the rate of infections and deaths means the government is considering lifting some of the heavy lockdown restrictions.
• New York City reports more coronavirus cases than any country.  
• World coronavirus deaths surpass 100,000. 

April 9 

• 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment claims over the past week, bringing the total number of unemployment claims filed in the past three weeks to over 17 million. 
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is discharged from intensive care. 

April 8 

• Global coronavirus cases surpass 1.5 million. 
• Singapore bans all public and private social gatherings.
• China lifts its lockdown on Wuhan. 

April 7 

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is moved to an intensive care unit.  
• Egypt announces it will keep mosques closed during Ramadan.  
• Paris announces it will ban daytime outdoor exercising.  
• Japan declares a state of emergency.  
• China reports no new coronavirus deaths for the first time since January.  

April 6 

• The U.S. death toll passes 10,000. 
• Chile mandates that everyone use a face mask on public and paid private transportation.  
• The Open Golf Championship is cancelled for the first time since World War Two.  
• Iran passes 60,000 coronavirus cases, the highest in the Middle East.  
• A third passenger on the Coral Princess cruise ship has died.  

April 5 

• Haiti reports its first coronavirus death. 
• China sees an increase in asymptomatic coronavirus cases.  
• The United States reports 1,300 coronavirus deaths in one day, its highest daily spike.  
• Spain reports a decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases for its third consecutive day.  
• The CDC begins testing blood for coronavirus immunity. 
• Former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril dies from coronavirus 
• A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York tests positive for coronavirus.  

Week of March 30–April 4: Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Exceed One Million; Over 10 Million Americans File for Unemployment; Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Canceled for the First Time Since World War Two 

April 4 

• Turkey requires all residents to wear face mass in public. 
• Dubai imposes a two-week lockdown. 
• Without scientific evidence, President Trump endorses malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, as an effective coronavirus treatment. 

April 3 

• China advises foreign diplomats to stay out of Beijing until May 15.  
• Libya reports its first coronavirus death.  
• U.S. President Donald Trump invokes the Defense Productions Act to halt the export of masks and other personal protection equipment. 
• The United States confirms 32,000 new cases in one day, setting a new record for the largest jump in daily cases. 

April 2 

• Global coronavirus cases pass the one million mark; deaths exceed 50,000.
• Almost 91 percent of Americans are ordered to stay at home.
• The White House encourages all Americans to wear masks in public.  
• 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment over the course of the last week, bringing the total number of unemployment claims to over 10 million.  
• Peru and Panama implement gender-based quarantines to help curb the spread of coronavirus. 
• Thailand announces a nationwide curfew.
• Saudi Arabia imposes a 24-hour curfew on Mecca and Medina. 

April 1   

• Spain passes 100,000 coronavirus cases. 
• Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is canceled for the first time since World War Two.  
• The United Nations postpones its climate conference, originally scheduled to take place in November. 
• Italy announces it will extend its lockdown until April 13. 
• Unemployment numbers in Austria reach their highest figure since World War Two. 
• The World Bank estimates the coronavirus pandemic could push 11 million people into poverty. 

March 31 

• Belarus reports its first coronavirus death. 
• El Salvador reports its first coronavirus death.  
• China reports 48 new cases of the virus, all of which are imported. 
• The United States unveils a model which project that 100,000 Americans could die from the coronavirus. 

March 30 

• President Trump announces more than one million Americans have been tested for coronavirus.  
• Mexico declares a health emergency in response to its growing coronavirus death toll.  

Week of March 22–March 29: Nearly One-Third of the World’s Population Is Living Under Coronavirus-Related Restrictions; Japan Postpones 2020 Summer Olympics; WHO Warns There Is a “Significant Shortage” of Medical Supplies

March 29 

• Bolivia reports its first coronavirus death. 
• Uruguay reports its first coronavirus death. 
• Syria reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Nigeria orders the cessation of movement in Lagos and Abuja. 
• The United States passes 140,000 coronavirus cases—more than any other country in the world. 
• The Netherlands passes 10,000 coronavirus cases. 
• Hubei province reopens domestic flights. 
• President Trump extends social distancing guidelines until April 30.  

March 28 

• Sri Lanka reports its first coronavirus death.  
• New Zealand reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Global deaths surpass 30,000. 

March 27 

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus.  
• China bans foreign visitors after imported cases rise. 
• South Africa imposes a three-week lockdown.  
• South Africa reports its first coronavirus death. 
• Montana reports its first coronavirus death. 

March 26 

• Nearly one-third of the world’s population is living under coronavirus-related restrictions. 
• United States death toll reaches 1,000.  
• More than 3.2 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week—the highest number to date.  
• The Senate unanimously passes a $2 trillion stimulus plan. 
• New York City becomes the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. Reported coronavirus cases double every three days. 
• Singapore records 73 new cases of the virus—their largest single-day increase to date. 
• Iraq and Lebanon extend their curfews until April 11.  
• Moscow announces it will be closing all nonessential businesses until April 5, effective March 28.
• Panama suspends all domestic flights. 
• Venezuela reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Spain extends state of emergency until April 12. 
• Thailand declares a state of emergency.  
• Armenia reports first coronavirus death. 

March 25 

• Spain supplants China as the country with the second-greatest number of recorded COVID-19 deaths. 
• The United Kingdom’s Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus.  
• North Carolina reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Nearly one-third of the world’s population is affected by coronavirus lockdowns.  
• The United Nations launches a $2 billion humanitarian response plan.  
• WHO warns that there is a “significant shortage” of medical supplies.  

March 24 

• U.S. National Guard is activated in all 50 states. 
• Navy reports first cases of coronavirus aboard a ship at sea. 
• Japan postpones 2020 summer Olympics for the first time since World War Two. 
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel tests negative for coronavirus. 
• New Zealand enters lockdown. 
• Australia bans all overseas travel. 
• United States reaches 50,000 coronavirus cases. 
• China lifts lockdown on Hubei province.  

March 23 

• Cuba announces lockdown and will restrict movement of its citizens. 
• The United Kingdom announces lockdown.  
• Zimbabwe records its first coronavirus death.  
• Zimbabwe closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents. 
• Nigeria closes its land borders to noncitizens and nonresidents for four weeks.  
• New Hampshire reports its first coronavirus death.  
• WHO announces the “pandemic is accelerating.”  

March 22 

• Global coronavirus cases double from last week, reaching almost 330,000 cases.  
• India suspends all international flights arriving and departing from India for at least one week. 
• Panama suspends all international flights until at least April 31. 
• Hawaii announces a mandatory 14-day quarantine for everyone entering—including residents. 
• The United Arab Emirates suspends all inbound and outbound passenger flights for two weeks.
• The Czech Republic reports first coronavirus death. 
• Syria reports its first coronavirus case. 
• Spain extends state of emergency for another 15 days.  
• Germany introduces a “contact ban”—banning groups of more than two people. 
• Greece enters lockdown.  
• Guam reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Colombia reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Singapore closes its borders to all visitors.  

Week of March 14–March 21: China Reports No new Coronavirus Cases for Its Third Consecutive Day; Italy Becomes the Country with the Highest Death-Toll; President Trump Signs the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Into Law

March 21 

• China reports no new local coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day.  
• Angola, Eritrea, and Uganda confirm their first cases of coronavirus.
• Mauritius reports its first coronavirus death.
• Bolivia announces a 14-day quarantine. 
• Chile reports first its coronavirus death. 
• Vietnam suspends all inbound international flights.  
• Egypt closes all mosques and churches for 14 days. 
• Pakistan bans all incoming flights.  
• Colombia announces mandatory 19-day isolation period as a preventative measure.  
• The United Arab Emirates announce first its coronavirus-related deaths.  
• Arizona records its first coronavirus death. 

March 20 

• Italy records 627 deaths, the largest single increase since the onset of the outbreak.  
• The United States CDC reports more than 18,000 coronavirus cases. 
• Cuba closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents.  
• Ohio reports its first coronavirus death. 
• Zimbabwe reports its first coronavirus case.  
• U.S. stocks close their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. 
• Canada announces it will turn back asylum seekers at the U.S. border.  
• WHO delivers more than 1.5 million coronavirus lab test kits around the world.
• Washington, D.C. reports its first coronavirus death. 
• Hong Kong confirms its largest single-day increase of 48 coronavirus cases. 
• President DonaldTrump invokes the Defense Production Act to disperse medical supplies to hospitals.  

March 19 

• Italy’s coronavirus death toll surpasses China’s.  
• China reports zero new local coronavirus virus infections.  
• California issues a stay-at-home order for all of its 40 million residents.  
• Connecticut postpones its primary elections to June 2. 
• India bans all incoming international flights.  
• The Indian government bans exports of masks, ventilators, as well as certain medications and supplements.  
• Vermont reports its first coronavirus-related deaths.   
• Peru confirms its first coronavirus death.  
• Haiti enters a full-lockdown. 
• The U.S. CDC reports more than 13,000 coronavirus cases.  
• G7 summit is to be held via videoconference.  
• France reports over 10,000 coronavirus cases. 
• U.S. Department of States issues a Level 4  “Do Not Travel” advisory.  
• Italy surpasses China as the country with the most coronavirus deaths.  
• Prince Albert of Monaco tests positive for coronavirus.

March 18 

• President Trump signs the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law.
• The United States and Canada suspend nonessential travel between the two countries.  
• Belgium imposes a lockdown to help curb the spread of coronavirus. 
• Macao closes its borders to all noncitizens and nonresidents. 
• Maryland reports first coronavirus death.

March 17 

• The European Union closes its borders to all nonessential travel.  
• Russia closes its borders to all noncitizens, residents, and diplomats–effective until May. 
• Bolivia closes its borders and suspends all nonessential flights.  
• Turkey confirms its first coronavirus death. 
• West Virginia confirms its first coronavirus case—making the virus present in all 50 United States. 
• Gambia reports first case of coronavirus. 
• Guatemala blocks U.S. deportation flights to curb the spread of coronavirus.  
• Montenegro reports its first two cases of coronavirus. 
• Iran releases 85,000 prisoners in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.  
• Malaysia announces first two coronavirus deaths.

March 16 

• CDC reports over 4,000 coronavirus cases in the United States. 
• South Carolina reports first coronavirus related death. 
• China closes all 16 temporary hospitals in Wuhan.  
• Georgia closes all public schools until March 31. 
• San Francisco closes all public schools for three weeks. 
• Malaysia introduces a movement control order. 
• Colombia closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents.  
• France closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents and bans all social gatherings. 
• Germany closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents.
• Sudan closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents.  
• Hungary closes its borders to all noncitizens and nonresidents. 
• Spain closes its borders to all noncitizens and nonresidents.  
• Switzerland bans all events and closes shops.  
• Egypt suspends all flights for two weeks. 
• The Dow records its worst-drop in history.  
• Airlines request $50 billion in assistance packages.  
• Lockdown in China estimated to have saved approximately 77,000 lives by slashing air pollution.  
• Somalia reports first coronavirus case.

March 15 

• Lebanon announces a 14 day lockdown.  
• New York City public schools close. 
• New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio signs an executive order stating that New York City hospitals are required to cancel elective surgeries. 
• Guatemala reports its first coronavirus death.  
• Panama closes its borders to noncitizens and nonresidents.  
• The Bahamas reports its first case of coronavirus. 
• Oklahoma declares a state of emergency. 
• Maine declares a state of emergency. 
• Massachusetts bans eating and drinking at bars until at least April 17. 
• 29 States announce school closures.  
• Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan close borders after first coronavirus cases. 

March 14 

• Austin, TX bans gatherings of more than 250 people. 
• The United States reaches 2,750 Coronavirus cases. All states have reported cases except West Virginia.  
• President Trump tests negative for coronavirus .
• Georgia declares a state of emergency. 
• Georgia postpones their democratic primary out of safety concerns. 
• Virginia reports first coronavirus death. 
• Trump attends White House Coronavirus task force briefing. 
• New York records its first coronavirus related death. It releases the report of the first two deaths on March 15. 
• Italy suspends all civilian flights. 
• Colombia closes its border with Venezuela.  
• New Zealand mandates all arrivals to self-quarantine for 14 days. 
• Aruba announces first two coronavirus cases. 
• Number new coronavirus cases in South Korea continues to decline. 
• Turkey suspends flights to nine European countries.  

Week of March 7–March 13: One Fifth of All Students Worldwide Are Out of School; More Countries Close Borders and Declare State of Emergency; Europe Becomes the Epicenter; U.S. NBA Cancels Season

March 13

• More than 5,000 have died from coronavirus worldwide.
• President Donald Trump declares a state of National Emergency under Stafford Act.
• New Mexico closes all public schools for three weeks.
• New York opens drive through coronavirus test center.
• Utah bans large gatherings for two weeks.
• Maryland announces it will close all schools for two weeks.
• Denmark, Poland, and the Czech Republic close their borders.
• Uruguay records first case of coronavirus.
• Sixteen states, including Alabama, Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, Washington, Wisconsin,  West Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, and Utah, have announced school closures.
• U.S. House of Representatives reaches deal to pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
• Guatemala reports its first coronavirus case,
• Ukraine announces it will close its borders to foreigners for two weeks.
• Denmark closes its borders to all tourists until April 15.
• Venezuela announces its first cases of coronavirus.
• Massachusetts bans gatherings of more than 250 people.
• Scotland records its first coronavirus death.
• Louisiana postpones primary elections amidst growing coronavirus concerns.
• Sudan reports its first coronavirus death.
• Ukraine reports its first coronavirus death.
• WHO declares Europe the new epicenter of the outbreak.
• Spain declares a state of emergency.

March 12

• Wuhan records just five new cases of coronavirus.
• Kansas reports its first coronavirus death.
• Montana declares a state of emergency.
• Portugal closes all schools.
• U.S. stocks record their worst day since 1987.
• New York City declares a state of emergency.
• Greece closes all entertainment venues for at least two weeks.
• Ohio closes all public schools until at least April 3.
• France closes all schools.
• Norway records its first coronavirus death.
• Israel orders closure of schools and universities.
• Virginia declares a state of emergency.
• India records its first coronavirus death.
• New York bans gatherings of more than 500 people.
• Tennessee declares a state of emergency.
• Oregon cancels all gatherings of more than 250 people.
• The United Nations suspends the Human Rights Council session.

March 11

• WHO characterizes the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic for the first time.
• Turkey confirms its first case of coronavirus.
• Arizona declares a state of emergency.
• Washington D.C. declares a state of emergency.
• United States announces Level 3 travel advisory and suspended entry to all foreign nationals traveling from China, Iran, and certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled travel to the United States.
• North Dakota records its first case of coronavirus.
• Delaware records its first case of coronavirus.
• NBA suspends their season.
• El Salvador imposes a 21-day quarantine and prohibits entry to all foreigners.
• Italy closes all shops and venues across the country.
• Austria announces it will close schools until April.
• India suspends all tourist visas until April 15.
• Ireland reports its first coronavirus death.
• Sweden reports its first coronavirus death.
• The United Nations reports that about 20 percent of students are out of school globally as a result of the pandemic.

March 10

• Michigan, Vermont, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Colorado all declare a state of emergency (23 states total).
• Panama reports its first coronavirus death.
• Portugal suspends flights to Italy for 14 days.
• Chile announces 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving from Spain and Italy.
• Coachella music festival is postponed until October.
• South Dakota reports its first coronavirus death.
• President Donald Trump does not attend a coronavirus briefing. Vice President Mike Pence leads instead.
• New Jersey reports its first coronavirus death.
• Greece closes all schools and universities for two weeks.
• Vice President Pence announces no copays on coronavirus treatment.
• Spain suspends all flights to Italy for two weeks.
• United Nations closes New York Headquarters to the public.
• The Vatican closes St. Peter’s square and Basilica to tourists.
• Iran reports over 8,000 cases, the second highest outside China.
• Czech Republic closes schools.
• Coronavirus cases are reported in all EU member states.

March 9

• Italy declares a nation-wide lockdown.
• the United Kingdom advises against all but essential travel to Italy.
• WHO reports that more than 70 percent of coronavirus cases in China have recovered.
• Rhode Island declares a state of emergency.
• Canada announces its first coronavirus death.
• Madrid region in Spain closes all school.
• China reopens schools in Qinghai Province.
• Israel imposes 14-day quarantine for all international travelers.
• Cyprus reports its first two coronavirus cases.
• Louisiana reports its first positive coronavirus case.
• Germany reports its first two deaths from coronavirus.
• New York announces it will be making its own hand sanitizer using prison labor.
• Egypt cancels large gatherings over one thousand people.

March 8

• Saudi Arabia suspends air and naval travel with the following countries over growing coronavirus concerns: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, South Korea, Egypt, Italy, and Iraq.
• Qatar suspends entry from 14 additional countries over coronavirus concerns.
• First three positive coronavirus cases are reported in Iowa.
• Connecticut confirms its first case of coronavirus.
• Number of cases in the United States passes 500.
• France bans gatherings of more than one thousand people due to coronavirus concerns.
• Eight U.S. states declare a state of emergency.
• The U.S. Army suspends travel for soldiers and families to and from South Korea and Italy.
• Thailand requires travelers from South Korea, China, Iran, and Italy to self-isolate for 14 days.

March 7

• Kansas reports its first coronavirus case.
• Washington, D.C. reports its first coronavirus case.
• Maldives confirms its first two cases of coronavirus.
• A Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) attendee tests positive for coronavirus.
• Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay all announce their first cases of coronavirus.
• Roughly 5,861 coronavirus tests have ben completed by CDC and U.S. public health labs.
• New York declares a state of emergency.
• China outlaws eating wild animals.

Week of February 29–March 6: New Outbreaks Increase in Europe and the Americas; More Deaths Outside China; SXSW Festival Cancelled.

March 6

• Number of coronavirus cases hits 100,000 globally.
• Kentucky confirms its first case.
• Oklahoma announces its first case.
• Costa Rica confirms its first case.
• The SXSW festival is cancelled amid coronavirus concerns.
• Colombia reports its first case of coronavirus.
• CDC urges those over 60-years-old to stay indoors.

March 5

• New Jersey reports its first case.
• The U.S. mortgage rate tumbles to a record low of 3.29 percent.
• Iran rejects an offer for U.S. humanitarian aid.
• Maryland declares state of emergency.

March 4

• Argentina, Chile, Poland, and Ukraine reported new cases of COVID-19.
• California declares a state of emergency over coronavirus.
• Japan reports 33 new infections, their biggest one-day increase.
• The U.S. House of Representatives passes $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus bill.

March 3

• Iran temporarily frees 54,000 prisoners to curb the spread of coronavirus.
• Ukraine confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• China reports only 125 new cases, seven of which are imported cases from Italy.
• The U.S. Federal Reserve cuts its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point.

March 2

• Andorra confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Indonesia confirms its first cases.
• Jordan confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Morocco confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Portugal confirms its first cases, a traveler from Italy.
• Saudi Arabia confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Senegal confirms its first case, a traveler from France.
• Tunisia confirms its first case.
• The United States reports four more deaths, all in Washington state.

March 1

• Armenia confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• The Czech Republic confirms its first cases, three travelers from Italy.
• Thailand reports its first death, a 35-year-old man with dengue fever and COVID-19.
• The United States reports its second death, a man in his seventies with underlying health conditions.
• Florida declares a state of emergency.
• Global death toll surpasses 3,000.

February 29

• Ecuador confirms its first case, a traveler from Spain.
• Ireland confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Luxembourg confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Qatar confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Australia reports its first death, an evacuee from the Diamond Princess.
• The United States reports its first death, a man in his fifties with an underlying health condition.
• Washington state declares a state of emergency.

Week of February 22–February 28: Outbreaks Grow in Iran, Italy, and South Korea; Travel Restrictions Increase; Middle East and Europe Grapple With Spread

February 28

• Azerbaijan confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Belarus confirms its first case, a student from Iran.
• Iceland confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Lithuania confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• New Zealand confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Mexico confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Monaco confirms its first case.
• Switzerland bans all large gatherings over 1,000 people until at least March 15.
• Mongolia’s president and other government officials submit to a 14-day quarantine after returning from a one-day trip to China.

February 27

• Denmark confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Estonia confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• The Netherlands confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Nigeria confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• San Marino confirms its first case.
• U.S. and South Korean militaries postpone key joint exercises because of the coronavirus.
• U.S. CDC widens its testing guidelines.
• Saudi Arabia suspends pilgrimage entry visas over coronavirus fears.
• Iraq bans public gatherings and bars travelers from nine countries, including Bahrain and Kuwait.

February 26

• Brazil confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Georgia confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Greece confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• North Macedonia confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Norway confirms its first case.
• Pakistan confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Romania confirms its first case, a man who had close contact with an Italian traveler.
• Germany’s minister of health announces the country is “at the beginning of an epidemic.”
• WHO announces that February 25 was the first day there was more new cases outside of China than within China.
• U.S. President Donald Trump names Vice President Mike Pence to lead the U.S. coronavirus response.
• An American soldier stationed in South Korea becomes the first U.S. service member to contract COVID-19.
• U.S. Department of State issues a Level 3 travel advisory for South Korea.
• WHO briefs on the findings of the WHO-led mission to China.

February 25

• Algeria confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Austria confirms its first cases, two travelers from Italy.
• Croatia confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Switzerland confirms its first case, a traveler from Italy.
• Iran’s deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, tests positive for the coronavirus. Harirchi was leading the task force to limit the virus’s expansion and had appeared in public through February 24.
• Jamaica and the Cayman Islands deny another cruise ship, the MSC Meraviglia, permission to dock and disembark passengers.
• U.S. senators receive a classified briefing on the Trump administration’s coronavirus response.
• U.S. CDC warns that spread to the United States is likely and that people should prepare.
• San Francisco becomes the first U.S. city to declare a state of emergency over COVID-19.

February 24

• Afghanistan confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Bahrain confirms its first case, a traveler from Iran.
• Iraq confirms its first case, a student from Iran.
• Kuwait confirms its first cases, three travelers from Iran.
• Oman confirms its first cases, two travelers from Iran.
• Italy reports an additional four deaths, raising its total to seven.
• Stock markets plunge after significant increases in confirmed cases and deaths outside of China over the weekend.
• Chinese officials postpone the National People’s Congress, the most significant political event in China.
• China warns its citizens against traveling to the United States, stating that Chinese tourists have faced unfair treatment in the country due to excessive prevention measures.
• Wuhan officials announce visitors trapped in the city may leave, but then promptly reverse the decision. 
• The Trump administration sends a budget request to Congress for $2.5 billion to fight COVID-19.
• U.S. CDC issues a Level 3 travel warning for South Korea and Level 2 warnings for Iran and Italy.

February 23

• Iran reports an additional two deaths, raising its total to eight.
• Iran shuts down schools, universities, and other educational centers in 14 provinces, including in Qom and Tehran.
• Israel extends its entry ban to include Japan and South Korea.
• South Korea reports two additional deaths, raising its total to six.
• South Korea raises its alert level to “red,” the highest level available.
• The last passenger disembarks from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
• Japan reports the third death from the Diamond Princess, but is unclear if the passenger had COVID-19.
• Italy reports its third death.
• Italy passes emergency measures throughout the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 
• Afghanistan, Armenia, Turkey, and Pakistan close their borders with Iran.
• Austria halts trains from Italy temporarily over a COVID-19 scare.
• U.S. CDC issues Level 1 warnings for Iran and Italy.

February 22

• Italy reports its second death.
• Iran reports an additional two deaths, raising its total to six.
• South Korea reports two additional deaths, raising its total to four.  
• Israel refuses to permit 130 South Koreans to disembark from a flight from Seoul.
• U.S. CDC issues a Level 2 travel advisory for Japan and South Korea.
• The WHO-led joint mission arrives in Wuhan, China.
• The U.S. Department of State issues Level 2 travel advisories (exercise increased caution) for Japan and South Korea.
• Japan apologizes for allowing 23 passengers to leave the Diamond Princess without being tested.

Week of February 15–February 21: Cruise Ship Cases Rise; Outbreaks in Iran, Italy, and South Korea; More Deaths Outside Mainland China

February 21

• South Korea reports its second death.
• Iran reports two additional deaths.
• Italy reports its first death.
• Japan suspends major public gatherings to counter the spread of COVID-19.
• Lebanon confirms its first case, a woman returning from the Iranian city of Qom.
• Israel confirms its first case.
• Italy closes public spaces in 10 Italian towns after confirming 16 cases in northern Italy in one day.
• The United States confirms a total of 34 coronavirus cases, including passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess.
• The city of Costa Mesa, California, files a restraining order to prevent U.S. federal agencies from housing and quarantining people with COVID-19 at a nearby developmental center.
• Hubei party secretary Ying Yong orders all cases removed from official provincial tallies on Thursday due to change in classification mechanisms to be added back to the total tally.
• Shandong reports an outbreak in Rencheng prison of 200 confirmed cases.

February 20

• Japan reports two additional deaths, passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
• Japan confirms an additional 13 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 634.
• Singapore confirms what is believed to be the first patient infected with both dengue and COVID-19.
• South Korea reports its first death.
• South Korea reports a doubling of COVID-19 cases in 24 hours.
• The mayor of Daegu, South Korea asks residents in the city to remain inside following a steep increase in cases.
• Iran urges people to limit movements in the city of Qom, where there has been four confirmed cases of COVID-19.
• Kuwait suspends all flights of Kuwait Airways to Iran and advises citizens not to travel to Qom.
• Iraq closes its border with Iran.
• A woman in British Colombia, Canada, tests positive for the coronavirus after returning from Iran.
• China’s National Health Commission again changes its classification system for cases in Hubei province. The new classification no longer includes clinically confirmed cases in data for confirmed cases of COVID-19.

February 19

• COVID-19 death toll surpasses 2,000.
• Japan confirms an additional 79 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 621.
• Passengers aboard the Princess Diamond begin to disembark from the ship.
• South Korea reports 20 cases in one day, almost all of which are linked to one woman.
• China expels three Wall Street Journal reporters over an opinion piece that referred to China as “the real sick man of Asia.”
• Iran confirms its first and second cases.
• Iran reports its first and second deaths from COVID-19; the individuals were the two cases announced earlier in the day.
• Hong Kong reports its second death from COVID-19.
• Cambodia announces that the remaining passengers from the MS Westerdam still in the country tested negative for COVID-19.

February 18

• Japan confirms an additional 88 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 542.
• Russia bans all Chinese citizens from entering the country.
• The 346 Americans evacuated from Wuhan complete their quarantine at two military bases in California.
• U.S. CDC issues a statement on the Diamond Princess quarantine, preventing all passengers and crew of the ship from returning to the United States for at least 14 days after leaving Diamond Princess.
• Liu Zhiming, director of the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan, China, dies from the COVID-19.
• Chinese state media announces that doctors and nurses who die while trying to contain the outbreak will be officially designated as “martyrs.”

February 17

• WHO announces it will report all confirmed cases, including both laboratory-confirmed cases and clinically diagnosed cases.
• Apple warns investors that the company does not expect to meet the revenue guidance for the upcoming March quarter due to the impact of the COVID-19.
• Chinese state media reports that China’s annual parliamentary meeting, originally scheduled for early March, will likely be delayed.
• Armed robbers in Hong Kong steal HK$1,600 worth of toilet paper as COVID-19 has sparked panicked-buying of essential goods in Hong Kong.
• Japan confirms an additional 99 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 454.
• Evacuated U.S. passengers from the cruise ship Diamond Princess arrive in the United States, including 14 with confirmed infections.

February 16

• Taiwan reports the fifth death outside of mainland China.
• Japan warns that it has entered a “new phase” of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Japan confirms an additional 70 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 355.
• The WHO-led expert team arrives in Beijing.

February 15

• France reports the fourth death outside of mainland China.
• WHO Director General addresses the Munich Security Conference about COVID-19, warning that the pathogen has pandemic potential.
• Japan confirms an additional 67 cases aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 285.
• Lockdowns and travel restrictions extend to more than 760 million people in China.
• The Guangzhou branch of China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China, announces that all used banknotes from hospitals, wet markets, and buses will be destroyed to combat COVID-19.
• An American passenger from the MS Westerdam tests positive for COVID-19 in Malaysia after passengers had disembarked from the cruise ship in Cambodia.
• The United States announces plans to evacuate nearly four hundred Americans quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship; passengers who test positive for COVID-19 will be treated in Japan.

Week of February 8–February 14: Death Toll Surpasses That of SARS; WHO-led Team Heads for China; Cruise Ship Cases Surpass 100

February 14

• Hubei revises numbers released on February 13, due to double counting.
• Egypt confirms its first case, the first case confirmed on the African continent.
• Beijing announced that everyone returning to the city would be required to isolate themselves for 14 days.
• Singapore’s Prime Minister warns that the coronavirus might lead to a recession.
• Passengers and crew aboard the MS Westerdam disembark in Cambodia.
• Confirmed virus-free passengers and passengers aged over 80-years-old who test negative for the virus are allowed to disembark from the Princess Diamond cruise ship.
• China announces that more than 1,700 health workers in mainland China have become infected.

February 13

• U.S. CDC Director says that the coronavirus will likely become a community virus and remain beyond this season.
• United States confirms a total of 15 cases of the coronavirus.
• Hubei’s reported cases increase almost tenfold and deaths more than double following a change in diagnostic criteria.
• EU health ministers convene in Brussels for an emergency health meeting on how to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in Europe.
• Cambodia allows the MS Westerdam cruise ship to dock.
• China dismisses top party officials in Hubei province.
• Japan confirms an additional 44 cases aboard Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 218.
• Japan reports the third death outside of mainland China.
• Vietnam quarantines a community of ten-thousand people near Hanoi.

February 12

• United States confirms its fourteenth case.
• Some U.S. states find testing kits distributed by CDC deliver “inconclusive” results.
• Japan confirms an additional 39 cases aboard Diamond Princess cruise ship, raising the total to 174.
• Cambodia agrees to let the cruise ship MS Westerdam dock and disembark.
• Guangzhou and Shenzhen are given the power to requisition private property to fight the coronavirus.
• WHO hosts the second of a two-day global research and innovation forum on the coronavirus.

February 11

• The death toll for the coronavirus surpasses 1,000.
• Two senior Hubei provincial health commission officials are removed from their posts.
• Thailand denies the cruise ship MS Westerdam from docking in its ports. The ship has already been denied entry in Guam, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. 
• WHO hosts the first of a two-day global research and innovation forum on the coronavirus.
• The first group of Americans evacuated from Wuhan are released from quarantine.
• WHO names the disease COVID-19, short for “coronavirus disease 2019.”

February 10

• The United States confirms its thirteenth case.
• Japan confirms an additional 65 people aboard the Diamond Princess are infected with the coronavirus, raising the total to 135.
• The United Kingdom declares that the coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health.
• Some Chinese citizens return to work, but many major companies have asked employees to stay home.
• The Trump administration releases a budget proposal for FY21 that would sharply cut funding for WHO and global health funding.
• An advance team of WHO experts lands in China.
• Russia quarantines a Chinese diplomat as a supposed safety precaution.

February 9

• The death toll from the novel coronavirus surpasses the toll from the SARS epidemic of 2002–3. 
• China allocates more than $10 billion USD to fight the coronavirus.
• The Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai addresses rumors about the origin of the coronavirus on U.S. television.
• An advance team for the WHO-led 2019-nCoV international expert mission departs for China.

February 8

• WHO announces a team of experts has been assembled, and they are intended to arrive in China within a week.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping visits hospitals and treatment centers in Beijing.
• Wuhan opens a second new hospital to fight the coronavirus.
• China’s National Health Commission gives the coronavirus a temporary name, Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia or NCP.
• Japan confirms a Japanese citizen died in Wuhan from the coronavirus.

Week of February 1–February 7: First Deaths Outside China; Coordinated G7 Response; Chinese Stock Markets Plunge

February 7

• Li Wenliang, one of the eight whistleblower doctors in Wuhan, dies from the coronavirus.
• Chinese social media is flooded with grief and anger over the passing of Li Wenliang.
• Presidents Donald J. Trump and Xi Jinping speak about the coronavirus, with President Trump praising China’s efforts and pledging U.S. support.
• Japan confirms an additional 21 cases aboard the cruise ship, including the first person from Latin America to be infected with the coronavirus.
• Singapore raises its virus alert to orange (the same level given to SARS and H1N1), sparking panicked purchases of essentials across the island.
• The United States pledges $100 million USD to assisting China and other countries fight the coronavirus.

February 6

• An American citizen with the coronavirus dies in Wuhan, becoming the first known American death from the outbreak.
• Japan confirms an additional 10 cases of the coronavirus on the cruise ship.
• Taiwan extends its travel advisory to those coming from Macau and Hong Kong.
• Russia rejects a Saudi-led effort to deepen OPEC’s oil production cuts in response to the coronavirus.
• Chinese authorities order Wuhan officials to carry out house-to-house searches and house all infected individuals in quarantine centers.
• WHO convenes a global research and innovation forum to accelerate research and action on the coronavirus.

February 5

• The United States completes a second round of evacuations from Wuhan.
• The United States confirms its twelfth case.
• Hong Kong announces a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from mainland China and has suspended 10 out of 13 boarder crossing with mainland China.
• Japan confirms 10 cases of the coronavirus on a cruise ship with nearly 4,000 passengers and crew and announces the ship will be quarantined for two weeks.
• CDC announces several planes carrying passengers from Wuhan, China, will arrive in California, Texas, and Nebraska.
• CDC begins shipping diagnostic test kits to more than a hundred labs in the United States.
• WHO launches a $675 million preparedness and response plan for February through April 2020 to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus and protect states with weaker health systems.
• An infant tests positive for the coronavirus just 30 hours after birth, raising concerns of vertical transmission.
• U.S. Peace Corps evacuates all volunteers out of China.

February 4

• Belgium confirms its first case.
• Hong Kong reports the second death outside of mainland China.
• Taiwan announces a ban on foreign nationals who have been to China in past 14 days.
• The United Kingdom and France advise against all but essential travel to mainland China.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for CDC’s diagnostic test.
• U.S. President Donald J. Trump pledges to safeguard Americans from the coronavirus in his State of the Union address.

February 3

• Chinese stock markets plunge on the first trading day after the Lunar New Year.
• The first U.S. coronavirus patient is discharged from the hospital.
• Ministries of health from Group of Seven (G7) countries agree to coordinate their responses to the outbreak.
• Germany’s public health agency refutes information in an earlier study that supposedly proved asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus in Germany.

February 2

• United States confirms its ninth, tenth, and eleventh cases.
• Construction on a new hospital in Wuhan is completed within 10 days.
• Wuhan tightens quarantine efforts, targeting anyone who has had close contact with confirmed carriers of the virus and people with pneumonia-like symptoms.

February 1

• United States confirms its eighth case.
• The Philippines reports the first death outside of mainland China.
• China’s Ministry of Agriculture reports another disease outbreak: a new bird flu.
• Wenzhou becomes the first city outside of Hubei province to  implement “special measures” to restrict travel, businesses, and public gatherings.

Week of January 25–January 31: First Cases Appear in Many More Countries; Travel Bans Spread

January 31

• Russia confirms its first case.
• Italy confirms its first case.
• The United Kingdom confirms its first case.
• Singapore announces a sweeping ban on Chinese visitors and all those who had visited China within the past 14 days.
• Mongolia closes its border with China. 

January 30

• India confirms first first case.
• The Philippines confirms its first case.
• The United States confirms its sixth case, the first known person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus in the country.
• WHO declares the coronavirus outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). 
• Germany finds evidence of asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus. 
• The United States issues a Level 4 travel advisory for all of China. 
• Russia closes its border with China. 

January 29      

• United Arab Emirates confirms its first case.
• Finland confirms its first case.
• Several other airlines in North America, Europe, and Asia suspend flights to China.
• A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds evidence of human-to-human transmission as early as mid-December in Wuhan. Germany’s public health agency refutes information a week later.
• The United States and Japan are the first countries to evacuate citizens from Wuhan. 

January 28      

• China announces it will admit a WHO team of experts to aid with research and response.
• Hong Kong and Mongolia announce partial closures of their borders with mainland China.
• Japan and the United States evacuate their nationals from Wuhan.
• United Airlines suspends all flights to China from the United States. 

January 27

• Wuhan suspends customs entry and exit services in the city until Thursday.
• Cambodia confirms its first case.
• Sri Lanka confirms its first case.
• Germany confirms its first case.
• Wuhan mayor offers to resign.
• United States extends screening to twenty airports.

January 26

• China bans the trade of wild animals throughout the country, including in markets and online.
• United States confirms fourth and fifth cases in Los Angeles and Arizona.

January 25

• Australia confirms its first case.
• Canada confirms its first case.
• United States confirms its third case, a man in his fifties in Orange County, California.
• First medical professional who had treated people with the coronavirus dies from the virus.

Week of January 18–January 24: First Cases Appear in United States and Europe; The Closing of Wuhan

January 24

• Chinese CDC confirms 830 cases in mainland China and 25 deaths, with the first death occurring outside of Hubei province in Hebei.
• The Chinese province of Heilongjiang confirms an additional death, raising the death count to 26.
• Nepal confirms its first case.
• Vietnam confirms its first case.
• France confirms its first and second cases.
• The United States confirms its second case, a woman in her sixties in Chicago.
• Malaysia confirms its first case.
• China extends travel restrictions or quarantines to twelve cities.
• Wuhan construction crews are working on two hospitals to treat patients of the outbreak; the first is to be completed on February 3, and the second in early February.

January 23

• Chinese CDC confirms 571 cases in mainland China and 17 deaths.
• China extends travel restrictions or quarantines to five cities.
• WHO meets again and decides not to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
• Singapore confirms its first case.

January 22

• North Korea closes its borders to all foreign tourists to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
• Chinese officials confirm the virus may mutate.
• Chinese CDC confirms a total of 440 cases in mainland China and nine deaths.
• Macau confirms its first case.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) meets to discuss whether to declare the outbreak an international health emergency.

January 21

• United States confirms its first case in Washington state, a man who traveled to the Wuhan area.
• China confirms two additional deaths, a 66-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman
• New cases are announced in China, including in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
• Chinese state media raises number of confirmed cases to 291 and confirms 15 medical workers in Wuhan have been diagnosed with pneumonia.
• Hong Kong confirms its first case, a person in their thirties.
• Taiwan confirms its first case, a woman in her fifties.

January 20

• China’s CDC announces the coronavirus is categorized as a Class B infectious disease, but states that the agency is adopting Class A measures to prevent and control the virus.
• China confirms its fourth death from coronavirus, an 89-year-old man.
• South Korea confirms its first case.
• Chinese state TV confirms the human-to-human transmission of the disease.

January 18

• A third person dies from the coronavirus.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The authors would like to thank Madeleine DeVita, Shuhab Elhag, Bayan Galal, Yousof Omeish, Priyanka Sethy, Kailey Shanks, and Serena Tohme for their work on this timeline.