Coronavirus History: How Did Coronavirus Start?

Timeline of the COVID-19 Pandemic

December 2019

- December 1: A cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause is reported in Wuhan, China.

- December 31: The Chinese authorities identify the novel coronavirus as the cause of the outbreak.

January 2020

- January 11: The World Health Organization (WHO) issues its first Disease Outbreak News (DON) on the outbreak in China.

- January 20: The WHO convenes an emergency meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on the outbreak.

- January 23: The WHO declares the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

- January 30: The WHO issues its first situation report on the outbreak, reporting a total of 7,711 confirmed cases and 170 deaths in China.

February 2020

- February 11: The WHO announces that the outbreak has been named "COVID-19".

- February 24: The WHO reports that COVID-19 has been detected in 50 countries and territories outside of China.

- February 29: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 100,000.

March 2020

- March 11: The WHO declares the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

- March 13: The United States declares a national emergency in response to the pandemic.

- March 16: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 200,000.

- March 23: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 300,000.

April 2020

- April 2: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 400,000.

- April 10: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 500,000.

- April 18: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 600,000.

- April 27: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 700,000.

May 2020

- May 5: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 800,000.

- May 13: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 900,000.

- May 21: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,000,000.

- May 29: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,100,000.

June 2020

- June 6: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,200,000.

- June 14: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,300,000.

- June 22: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,400,000.

- June 30: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,500,000.

July 2020

- July 7: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,600,000.

- July 15: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,700,000.

- July 23: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1,800,000.

- July 31: The WHO reports that the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 1