March 11, 2020: The Day COVID-19 Changed the World:
Key Highlights:
– On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
– The NBA suspended its 2019-2020 season, and the NCAA canceled March Madness the following day.
– Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, publicly announced they had tested positive for the virus.
– Over seven million people have died worldwide due to COVID-19.
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped the world. While its effects continue to be felt globally, one day stands as a turning point in history.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, a series of significant events occurred that accelerated the pandemic:
1. WHO Declares the COVID-19 Pandemic: After Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. Chief Medical Advisor, warned lawmakers earlier that morning that things would worsen, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. At that point, there were 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths across 114 countries. Since then, the global death toll has increased by more than 1,650 times.
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2. Government Action to Curb the Spread: As the virus spread, cities across the U.S. took measures to limit large gatherings to prevent further transmission. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed banned events with more than 1,000 people, while governors in Washington and Oregon implemented restrictions on gatherings of 250 people or more.
3. The First Case in Congress: On March 11, a staff member working for Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington became the first person on Capitol Hill to test positive for COVID-19, signaling the virus’s entry into the U.S. government.
4. NBA Suspends Season; NCAA Adjusts March Madness: Due to the pandemic, the NCAA decided to hold March Madness with no fans, limiting attendance to players, essential staff, and close family members. A day later, both the men’s and women’s tournaments were canceled. The NBA followed suit, suspending the remainder of its 2019-2020 season after learning that Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert had tested positive, forcing the cancellation of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Jazz game.
5. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Test Positive:
Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, revealed on Instagram that they had tested positive for COVID-19 while in Australia. Hanks described their symptoms as mild, including fatigue, body aches, chills, and slight fevers, and assured followers they would keep everyone informed.
6. Trump Declares a National Emergency and Announces a Travel Ban:
In the evening, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in response to the pandemic and announced a 30-day travel ban on non-U.S. citizens coming from 26 European countries, set to take effect on March 13.
Five Years Later: The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19: As of today, more than seven million people have died worldwide from COVID-19, with over 1.2 million deaths in the U.S. alone, according to WHO.
By the fall of 2024, the FDA approved updated COVID-19 vaccines designed to target the KP.2 variant using mRNA technology. These vaccines are now available to everyone six months and older at healthcare facilities nationwide.