The news as it happened.
The Outbreak
The new coronavirus through 2020, from a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan to a world pandemic, lockdowns and the first vaccines
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One issue each morning, starting with January 2020.
- January 2020WHO declares global emergency as new virus spreadsThe WHO declares a global emergency as the new coronavirus spreads from Wuhan to 19 other countries; Singapore bars visitors who have been in China, and India confirms its first case, in Kerala.
- February 2020WHO raises global risk to ‘very high’ as virus spreads abroadThe WHO raises the global risk from Covid-19 to very high as outbreaks flare in South Korea, Italy and Iran; Singapore moves to alert Orange, and India’s three patients in Kerala are cured.
- March 2020India locks down 1.3 billion people for 21 daysThe WHO declares a pandemic as Europe locks down; India orders its 1.3 billion people to stay home for 21 days and migrant workers walk for their villages, while Singapore shuts out visitors and records its first deaths.
- April 2020Singapore shuts down as virus sweeps foreign worker dormitoriesSingapore locks down as the virus races through its foreign worker dormitories, India extends its lockdown to 3 May, and Wuhan opens its gates after 76 days.
- May 2020India’s migrant workers make the long journey homeIndia’s migrant workers head home by train and on foot as the country prepares to unlock, and Singapore readies to leave its circuit breaker.
- June 2020India’s count climbs as the country reopensIndia’s count climbs as it reopens, Singapore steps out of its circuit breaker and heads to the polls, and a cheap steroid is found to save lives.
- July 2020Singapore votes in masks and returns the PAP with a smaller shareSingapore votes in masks and returns the PAP with a smaller share, India passes a million cases yet lifts its night curfew, and Singapore’s economy falls into recession.
- August 2020India’s economy shrinks 23.9% as cases near 80,000 a dayIndia’s economy shrinks by nearly a quarter as its cases climb fastest in the world, Singapore clears its last dormitories, and Russia registers a vaccine.
- September 2020World’s recorded virus deaths pass one millionThe world’s recorded deaths pass one million, India moves to second in the world for cases, and the Oxford vaccine trial is paused.
- October 2020Europe returns to lockdown as cases hit a weekly recordEurope goes back into lockdown as the world records its worst week of new cases, while India braces for its festivals and Singapore dines on grounded jets.
- November 2020Three vaccines report strong results in a month of hopeA month of strong vaccine trial results lifts hopes, while Delhi marks Diwali in what its leaders call a third wave.
- December 2020The year ends with the first vaccines going into armsThe first vaccines go into arms in Britain, America and Singapore, a new variant cuts Britain off at Christmas, and India waits on its regulator.
