Pandemic Timeline

Pandemic Timeline

2022 marks the beginning of the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic. I recall flying back from Singapore in December 2019 and hearing people in Singapore and South Korea speaking about a virus that was spreading in China. Like the rest of the world, I have a better appreciation that low-probability, high-consequence risks can become very real and highly disruptive. IIFX has been following the spread of the disease and all of its mutations since early 2020. While there is so much yet to be written about the pandemic and its implications for our industry, we have reflected on its progression and share some of the highlights here…

31 December
Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in the Peoples Republic of China reports an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, later determined to be a novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

13 January
First cases outside the Peoples Republic of China appeared in Thailand
21 January
First case of COVID-19 reported in the USA
22 January
World Health Organization (WHO) confirms human-to-human transmission of COVID-19
25 January
USA joins other nations in restricting travel from China
30 January
WHO issues a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) about COVID-19
2 February
US Travel Ban blocking travel from China begins
2 March
16 confirmed cases in the USA (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/previouscases.html)
12 March
NBA and MLB pause their seasons; NCAA cancels Division I basketball tournaments (1,629 confirmed cases)
14 March
NHL pauses season (2,234 confirmed cases)
16 March
NASCAR delays start of their season (4,226 confirmed cases)
19 March
Major League Soccer and all intercollegiate sports are halted (15, 219 confirmed cases)
27 March
All mass gatherings in US are halted (103,321 confirmed cases)
1 April
Wimbledon is canceled for the first time since 1945 (World War II)
April
CDC recommends masks for all people over the age of 2; airlines require passengers to wear masks in flight.
28 April
More than 1 million confirmed cases in the USA
22 July
NBA Tournament Bubble at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida (USA) begins with Exhibition Scrimmages featuring 22 teams. Zero fans attending.
24 July
MLB opening day for the shortest season in the league for over 150 years.
August
Capacity limits for NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB vary from zero to 20%
31 August
U.S Open serves for the first time without fans
September
CDC strongly recommends mask use. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson report good news about their vaccines’ efficacy.
11 October
NBA Tournament Bubble at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida (USA) ends with NBA Finals. Zero fans attending.
November and December
Covid Vaccines receive FDA Emergency Use Authorization – vaccinations begin in the USA

January
Presidential Executive Order requires masks be worn at all times in airports, most airplanes, intercity buses, and on trains
8 February
Australian Open starts after a three-week delay due to the country’s strict COVID policy
February
NFL Super Bowl capacity limited to 22,000 fans
March
CDC relaxes masking recommendation for fully vaccinated people; states begin to lift mask mandates
5 April
Texas Rangers Opening MLB Game at Globe Life Field is at Full Capacity
May
CDC says vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most places
June
Covid infection rates in the United Kingdom, United States, and other nations fall due to increasing vaccination rates
11 June
After being delayed for a year, the Euros 2020 kicked off for the month-long tournament
4 July
Wimbledon announces a return of full capacity crowds for the semi-final and final matches during the tournament. This is the first full-capacity sporting event in the United Kingdom since 2019.
July
Delta Variant becomes a WHO Variant of Concern; CDC issues new guidance. 57.9% of US adults “fully” vaccinated
23 July – 8 August
2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan with limited crowds
August
Intercollegiate football games open to capacity crowds; federal government extends mask mandate
September
• Delta Variant peaks in the USA
• Broadway and New York theater district opens fully
• President Biden announces 6-point plan to halt spread of Delta variant and increase vaccination rates in the USA
November
• President announces COVID-19 plan that includes mandatory vaccination for businesses with 100 or more employees
• Omicron Variant discovered and becomes a variant of concern because it is highly transmissible and may evade protections afforded by vaccines.
2 December
Owners “lock out” Major League Baseball players after the expiration of their Collective Bargaining Agreement on 1 December 2021. This is the first lock out since the 1994-1995 season.
20 December
NHL begins Holiday Break two days early because of Omicron; play will resume on 27 December 2021
21 December
• NFL changes COVID-19 protocols with new testing and return-to-play rules
• NBA announces intent to play all matches on Christmas Day
26 December
CDC reduces COVID-19 quarantine from 10 days to five