United States COVID-19 Pandemic Timeline
With various vaccines being distributed nationwide, we are now approaching a year since COVID-19 lockdowns began. January 30, 2020 was the day the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency, and not long after followed the regulations of mandatory masks and social distancing.
The United States led the world in confirmed cases on March 26, leading to mass closings of public spaces. On April 30, airlines implemented mask requirements, as well as certain travel guidelines and restrictions. Through the summer months, confirmed case numbers spiked, and the U.S. set seven records in 11 days. In response to the surging case numbers and deaths, President Trump made an alarming statement, simply proclaiming: “It is what it is.”
Midway through August, the C.D.C began consulting with California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Philadelphia with plans for a vaccine rollout, with the virus now spreading throughout college campuses. On October 2, President Trump tested positive for the virus, with reports that he had a fever and congestion, as well as dips in his oxygen levels while recovering at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
November saw the U.S. surpassing 10 million infections, along with a death toll of over 250,000. In December the F.D.A approved both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, right as the U.S. death toll surpassed 300,000.
