Covid-19 Timeline

December 21st 2019

• Chinese epidemiologists with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published an article on 20th January 2020 stating that the first cluster of patients with ‘pneumonia of an unknown cause’ had been identified on 21st December 2019

December 31st 2019

• Chinese authorities confirmed they were treating dozens of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause. Days laters researchers in China identified a new virus that had infected dozens of people. There was no evidence that the virus was spread by humans.
• China contacts the WHO and informs them of ‘cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology’ detected in Wuhan

January 2nd 2020

• Central Hospital of Wuhan banned its staff from discussing the disease publicly or recording them using text or image that can be used as evidence

January 8th 2020

• The Chinese government agrees to accept a WHO scientific team to assist their own researchers

January 11th 2020

• Chinese state media reported the first known death from an illness caused by the virus. It was a 61-year old man who was a regular customer of the market in Wuhan where the virus is believed to have originated, and had previously been found to have abdominal tumors and chronic liver disease.

January 14th 2020

• Reporters from Hong Kong taken to police station after trying to film the situation within Wuhan hospital

January 20th 2020

• The first confirmed cases outside mainland China occurred in Japan, South Korea and Thailand, according to the WHO.

January 21st 2020

• The first confirmed case of the virus in the US in Washington State, where a man in his 30s developed symptoms after returning from a trip to Wuhan.

January 22nd 2020

• Public Health England announces it is moving the risk level to the British public from ‘very low’ to ‘low’.

January 23rd 2020

• Wuhan (population over 11 million) is cut off by the Chinese authorities. Planes and trains leaving the city are cancelled, and buses, subways and ferries within the city are suspended. 17 people had died at this point and 570 infected in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the US.
• Figures compiled by the Chinese Railway Administration showed that approximately 100,000 people had already departed from Wuhan Train Station by the deadline.
• Construction begins in Wuhan for a specialist emergency hospital which opened on 3rd February

January 26th 2020

• China extends the ‘Spring Festival’ holiday in order to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
• Schools in Beijing to stay closed until further notice

January 29th 2020

• The UK’s first two patients test positive for Coronavirus after two Chinese nationals from the same family staying at a hotel in York fall ill.
• A plane evacuating Britons from Wuhan arrives at RAF Brize Norton. Passengers go into a 14 day quarantine at a specialist hospital on Merseyside.

January 30th 2020

• WHO declares a global health emergency amid thousands of new cases in China.

January 31st 2020

• The US suspends entry into the country by any foreign nationals who had travelled to China in the past 14 days, excluding the immediate family members of US citizens or permanent residents.
• 213 people had died and 9,800 infected worldwide.

February 1st 2020

• Spain confirms its first case of the coronavirus on La Gomera in the Canary Islands

February 2nd 2020

• The first death of coronavirus is reported outside China, as a 44-year-old man in the Philippines dies after being infected.

February  4th 2020

• The UK directs its citizens to leave  China if possible

February 5th 2020

• A cruise ship in Japan quarantines 3600 people after a two-week trip to Southeast Asia. 218 people onboard the ship tested positive for the virus.

February 7th 2020

• The Chinese doctor Dr. Li Wenliang, who tried to ring early alarms that a cluster of infections could spin out of control, dies after contracting the virus. He was reprimanded by authorities in early January and he was forced to sign a statement denouncing his warning as an unfounded and illegal rumor.

February 11th 2020

• The disease is named ‘Covid-19’, an acronym that stands for coronavirus disease 2019. 1113 people in China have died with 44,653 cases, and 393 cases outside of China.

February 14th 2020

• France announces the first coronavirus death in Europe – an 80-year-old Chinese tourist. The fourth death from the virus outside mainland China.
• Egypt confirms its first case, the first on the African continent.

February 17th 2020

• China said it was reviewing its trade and consumption of wildlife, which has been identified as a probable source of the outbreak

February 19th 2020

• 443 passengers leave the Diamond Princess cruises ship. A total of 621 people aboard the ship were infected.

February 21st 2020

• The virus appears in Iran from an unknown source. Iran announced the two cases then hours later said that both patients had died. Two days later, Iran announced two additional deaths.
• The South Korean government shuts down thousands of kindergartens, nursing homes and community centres, following a surge in infections linked to the secretive church the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

February 23rd 2020

• Italy sees a major surge in coronavirus cases – up to 150. Officials locked down 10 towns in Lombardy after a cluster of cases suddenly emerged in Codogno, southeast of Milan. Schools closed and sporting and cultural events were canceled.
• Italy introduces strict measures which place almost 50,000 people in lockdown in an attempt to control the virus

February 24th 2020

• The Trump administration asks Congress for $1.25 billion for coronavirus response – the US had 35 confirmed cases and no deaths.
• Iran emerges as a second focus point of the virus, with 61 cases and 12 deaths. It is a cause for worry as a place of pilgrimage.

February 26th 2020

• Latin America reports its first coronavirus case, as Brazilian health officials said that a 61-year-old Sao Paulo man, returning from Italy, tested positive for the virus.

February 28th 2020

• 800 people are now infected in Italy,  and cases in 14 other European countries remain an area of concern
• Sub-Saharan Africa records its first infection.
• The first British victim dies of coronavirus onboard the Diamond Princess.
• UK authorities confirm the first case of the illness to be passed on inside the country.
• The worst week for the global stock markets since the 2008 financial crash.
• The WHO raises  the coronavirus alert to the  highest level.

February 29th 2020

• The US records its first coronavirus death and announces travel restrictions of ‘do not travel’ warnings for areas in Italy and South Korea. It also bans all travel to Iran and bars entry to any foreign citizen who had visited Iran in the previous 14 days.

March 4th 2020

• Cases of Covid-19 surge in the UK, as officials announce the biggest one-day increase so far as 34 cases bring the total to 87
• Italy announces it is shutting schools and universities.

March 10th 2020

• Nadine Dorries, a junior health minister, becomes the first MP to test positive for coronavirus.
• 6 people in the UK have now died of the illness, with 373 testing positive

March 11th 2020

• The US blocks travel from European countries other than the UK for 30 days, as the WHO declares the virus a pandemic and stock markets plunge.
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a £12bn package of emergency support to help the UK cope with the expected onslaught from coronavirus

March 13th 2020

• The US declares a national emergency and makes $50 billion in federal funds available to tackle the coronavirus.
• A host of UK sporting events announce their postponement including the London Marathon. Premier League fixtures are suspended.

‍

March 16th 2020

• Latin America imposes restrictions on their citizens to slow the spread of the virus. Venezuela announces a nationwide quarantine to begin on March 17th. Ecuador and Peru implement countrywide lockdowns, and Colombia and Costa Rica close their borders. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro encourages mass demonstrations by his supporters against his opponents in congress.
• Boris Johnson begins daily press briefings, urging everybody in the UK to work from home and avoid pubs and restaurants to give the NHS time to cope with the pandemic.
• The UK’s death toll rises to 55, with 1,543 confirmed cases, though it is believed 10,000 people have already been infected.

March 17th 2020

• France imposes a nationwide lockdown, prohibiting all gatherings and only allowing people to go out for fresh air. France had more than 6,500 infections with more than 140 deaths
• The EU bars most travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days.
• Rishi Sunak unleashes the biggest package of emergency state support for business since the 2008 financial crash, unveiling £330bn-worth of government-backed loans and more than £20bn in tax cuts and grants for companies threatened with collapse.

March 18th 2020

• The UK government announces most schools across England will be shut down from Friday until further notice. Wales and Scotland announce they will also close schools.

March 19th 2020

• For the first time, China reports zero local infections, a milestone in the fight against the pandemic. Experts said the country would need to see at least 14 consecutive days without new infections for the outbreak to be considered over. 34 new cases were confirmed among people who had arrived in China from elsewhere.

March 20th 2020

• The UK government orders all pubs, restaurants, gyms and other social venues across the country to close
• The chancellor announces the government will pay up to 80% of wages for workers at risk of being laid off

March 23rd 2020

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a televised address to the nation, says that Britons should only go outside to buy food, to exercise once a day, or to go to work if they absolutely cannot work from home. Citizens will face police fines for failure to comply with these new measures.
• Worldwide figures stand at more than 270,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.

March 24th 2020

• Tokyo Olympics likely to be postponed – according to a member of the International Olympic Committee, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – set to begin in August – will be postponed. Australia and Canada have already announced that their athletes will not compete

March 25th 2020

• Prince Charles tests positive for the coronavirus.
• In the US, negotiators strike a deal on a $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package intended to assist businesses and millions of Americans amid the halt in the US economy. The bill includes $1,200 for individuals earning up to $75,000, $100 billion for health care providers, and $58 billion for the US airline industry. It would also include $2,400 per month for up to four months to the unemployed. $500 billion goes to industry loans that corporations, cities, and states can apply for.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown of the country’s 1.3 billion residents. India has only recorded 536 cases of COVID-19 so far.
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rails against coronavirus measures being taken in his country, as local officials take preparedness into their own hands.

March 26th 2020

• G20 world leaders meet virtually to discuss the coronavirus crisis. King Salman of Saudi Arabia calls on the world’s richest economies to ‘extend a helping hand to developing countries’.
• Brits across the UK clap, cheer, and ring bells at 8pm to thank the NHS workers for their service in tackling the pandemic.
• UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils a package of measures to help self-employed workers during the economic downturn, giving those earning less than £50,000 a taxable grant equal to 80 percent of their average profits.

March 27th 2020

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for the coronavirus
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says that the coronavirus crisis has exposed the EU’s ‘weaknesses’.

March 28th 2020

• European COmmission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU ‘looked into the abyss’ in the early days of the crisis but now it has the chance to reinvent itself.
• French President Emmanuel Macron issues a plea for European solidarity to fight the coronavirus crisis, saying ‘I don’t want a selfish and divided Europe’
• Belgium extend confinement measures until 19th April
• UK Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, announces he is self-isolating after experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus

March 29th 2020

• The European Commission announces that it will revise its proposal for the EU’s next seven-year  budget
• US announces social distancing measures to continue until 30th April, as the US records the highest number of coronavirus infections in the world, at more than 139,700 cases.

March 30th 2020

• Hungarian Parliament passes a bill that gives PM Viktor Orban power to rule by decree, impose a state of emergency without a time limit, and suspend parliament.
• UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces the government is to spend £75 million on charter flights and airline tickets to repatriate up to 300,000 Britons stranded abroad as countries have closed their borders to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

March 31st 2020

• Spain joins the US and Italy as one of the few countries to surpass China’s coronavirus case total, reporting 85,195 cases and 8,189 deaths.
• Ethiopia announces it has postponed its parliamentary and presidential elections, originally scheduled for August. The elections were to be a big test for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s reformist measures.
• The White House projects 100,000 to 240,000 deaths from COVID-19 in 2020, if current social distancing trends hold.

April 1st 2020

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces that the Commission  will present an unemployment reinsurance scheme to ensure workers keep their jobs during the coronavirus crisis.
• Italy announces it will extend lockdown measures until 13th April. Health Minister Roberto Speranza says ‘data shows that we are on the right path and that the drastic decisions are bearing fruit’.
• The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) summit, due to be held in Glasgow in November, is postponed until 2021.

April 2nd 2020

• The number of worldwide coronavirus cases passes one million.

April 3rd 2020

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel returns to her office after isolating as her physician tested positive for the coronavirus.

April 5th 2020

• The UK Prime Minister  Boris Johnson is admitted to hospital for testing after his coronavirus symptoms persist.
• Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigns from her post after she is pictured visiting her second home, despite urging Scots to stay at home and avoid all but essential travel.

April 6th 2020

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel describes the coronavirus crisis as the biggest test the European Union has faced in its history.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is admitted to an Intensive Care Unit as his coronavirus symptoms worsen.

April 7th 2020

• European finance ministers meet to discuss a range of options to support the bloc’s economy.
• The messaging service WhatsApp announces it is introducing limits to its forwarding service in order to combat disinformation. The application has been a hotbed for the spread of fake news relating to the coronavirus outbreak.
• US stock market indices rise for the second day in a row to hit their highest level since 11th March.
• The airline industry cuts 90% of its flights in Europe.

April 8th 2020

• It is announced that French GDP is set to shrink by 6% in the first quarter of 2020, and German GDP is predicted to shrink by 4.2% this year.
• The US sees the highest one-day death toll from coronavirus.
• The number of cases across the African continent passes 10,000.

April 9th 2020

• The UK records its highest daily death toll at 938 deaths recorded in 24 hours.
• China releases new measures to try to prevent asymptomatic ‘silent carriers’ from causing a second wave of infections.
• Saudi Arabia places its capital Riyadh and other big cities, as well as the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, under a 24-hour curfew.
• Pope Francis holds a mass on Holy Thursday with no public participation.

April 10th 2020

• The US Federal Reserve announces $2.3 trillion program to help for small businesses and state and local governments.
• The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen calls for a new Marshall Plan to help Europe’s economies hit the hardest by COVID-19.
• Number of confirmed deaths worldwide passes 100,000.

April 11th 2020

• Italy extends its lockdown until May 3^rd.
• Yemen records its first case.
• Brazil reports more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths.

April 12th 2020

• Virtual services take place to commemorate Easter Sunday, including the Archbishop of Canterbury leading a service from his kitchen.
• EU chief Ursula von der Leyen claims elderly may have to isolate for the whole year until a vaccine is produced.
• India to extend lockdown till the end of April.

‍

April 13th 2020

• China begins tackling a resurgence of the virus, after the number of daily infections rises to 108, the highest number in nearly 6 weeks, with 90% coming from abroad and significantly the north-eastern border with Russia.
• Spain and India allow certain industries to restart.
• In Africa, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger each have around 500 confirmed cases.

April 14th 2020

• UK prime minister Boris Johnson discharged from hospital in London having recovered from COVID-19.
• Spain eases some lockdown restrictions.
• Russia reports largest daily increase in virus cases, with 2,550 new infections.
• ‘Rice ATMs’ created in Vietnam to provide free rice for countries poorest.

April 15th 2020

• Confirmed COVID-19 infections globally passes 2 million.
• US President Donald Trump cuts WHO funding, claiming the organisation has turned a blind eye to China’s pernicious role in the early stages of the crisis.
• International Monetary Fund says lockdowns could shrink global economy by 3%.
• Denmark becomes first country in Europe to relax education restrictions, with children up to the age of 11 returning to nurseries and schools.

April 16th 2020

• Discovered that nearly 70,000 Spanish nurses could be infected.
• The International Monetary Fund expects Asian economies to see zero growth this year.
• The number of Americans to have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis climbs to 22 million.

April 17th 2020

• US President Donald Trump announces that the US will be reopened in phases.
• The Economist Intelligence Unit announce that the world economy may face a double recession.
• The number of confirmed virus cases in the US reaches 700,000.
• Hospitals in Japan on the brink of collapse due to new wave of infections.
• NHS bosses to ask Doctors and nurses to work without some PPE as supplies begin to run out.
• Ecuador see’s surge in death count, with the Guayas province a hotbed for the virus
• Two men in Tunisia, including a suspected Jihadist, detained over plot to infect members of the security force with COVID-19.

April 18th 2020

• Wuhan officials revise COVID-19 figures, with the death toll rising from 2,579 to 3,869.
• US states without stay at home orders, such as Oklahoma, South Dakota and Iowa see increase in number of virus cases.
• French President Emmanuel Macron says that the EU faces a ‘moment of truth’ in its dealing with the economic problem faced.

April 19th 2020

• EU bailout chief says at least 500 Billion Euros more needed for COVID-19 recovery.
• 99 year old British war veteran Captain Tom Moore raises more than 31 Million Euros for walking 100 laps of his garden.
• Online concert ‘One World: Together at Home’ performed, including singers Elton John, Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones.
• Haitian doctor announces the country is massively unprepared for COVID-19, with only 60 respirators for 11 million people.

April 20th 2020

• US oil prices dip below zero for the first time on record.
• New Zealand and South Korea plan to relax lockdown restrictions.
• Italy and Spain report falls in their daily death tolls.
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro joins anti-lockdown protests.
• Ghana eases lockdown restrictions.
• The Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly beaches in Sydney, Australia have reopened to ‘ease mental strain’, but social distancing rules are still in place.
• Ugandan Independent MP Francis Zaake arrested for distributing food to his constituents in the Mityana district.
• India begins easing some lockdown restrictions, especially on agricultural businesses, in order to ease pressure on farming.

April 21st 2020

• Turkey has seen a rise in cases and will endure a four day curfew later this week.
• ‘Immunity passports’ in Chile will be issued to allow recovered patients to return to work.
• COVID-19 cases in Singapore surge, with over 8,000 recorded infections.
• The UN has warned the world is at risk of widespread famines of ‘biblical proportions’ caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as drought and locust infestations in East Africa and South Asia.

April 22nd 2020

• South Africa announce relief package worth $26bn (£21bn) intended to protect companies and three million workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, President Cyril Ramaphosa has also taken the decision to deploy an extra 73,180 soldiers of the South African national defence force to enforce lockdown.
• Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio to self-isolate over virus fears due to one of his bodyguards testing positive for COVID-19.
• UK human COVID-19 vaccine trials start.
• Italy sees its first drop in active cases, with 127 fewer patients in hospitals.
• US state of Missouri announces it is suing China over the crisis.
• US President Donald Trump announced a 60 day ban on the distribution of green cards to immigrants, an authorisation that allows someone to live and work in the US on a permanent basis.

April 23rd, 2020

• Ukraine seals off Pochayiv after COVID-19 outbreak in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the best-known Orthodox shrines in Ukraine and Russia.
• The United Nations Aviation agency claims that international air passenger traffic could drop by as many as 1.2 billion travellers, or two-thirds, by September 2020
• Egypt amends emergency laws, allowing the state to enforce measures such as suspending schools, banning public or private gatherings and quarantining returning travellers.
• The UK begins human testing for COVID-19 vaccine in Oxford.

April 24th, 2020

• Algeria ease lockdown measures around the capital of Algiers for the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
• The World Trade Organisation reports that 80 countries are limiting the export of face masks and other PPE.
• Costa Rica reports a steady fall in the number of COVID-19 cases, amidst the struggles of fellow South American countries.
• The UK will host a ‘global vaccines summit’ on June 4^thto encourage nations to come together to support the development of a global COVID-19 vaccine.
• At least 150 doctors have died in Italy from COVID-19

April 25th, 2020

• US confirmed death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 50,000.
• India’s mortality rate sees a sharp decrease whilst lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
• Hawaii sees 98% decrease in travellers arriving at airports since quarantine restrictions have been put in place.
• Worldwide COVID-19 deaths reach 200,000.

April 26th, 2020

• Saudi Arabia eases lockdown restrictions cross the country except in the holy city of Mecca and places previously put under isolation restrictions.
• Some mines in South Africa restart operations, with a minimal number of workers.
• Large churches in South Korea have reopened with designated seating measures in place.
• Spanish children under the age of 14 are permitted to go outside for an hour a day, with social distancing laws still in place.

April 27th, 2020

• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to work after recovering from COVID-19.
• France, Italy and Spain all prepare to ease lockdown restrictions.
• French researchers prepare to launch human trial to test whether nicotine helps the body combat COVID-19.
• Ghana plans to build 90 new hospitals in the wake of the pandemic.
• The president of EL Salvador Nayib Bukele claims that criminal gangs are taking advantage of the pandemic, with over 50 people murdered between the 24^thand 26^th of the month.

• April 28^th: US reaches 1 million COVID-19 cases.
• Australia begins to ease lockdown restrictions.
• Greece prepares to ease lockdown restrictions from next week.
• France cancels its 2019-20 football Ligue 1 season.

April 29th, 2020

• US GDP falls 4.8% in worst economic decline since 2008.
• The International Labour Organisation reports that nearly half of the global workforce risk losing their livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is reported that over 12 million Italian workers have requested emergency funds.
• Switzerland to further ease restrictions on May 11^th.
• Ghana lifts lockdown restrictions.

April 30th, 2020

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims that the UK are ‘past the peak’ of COVID-19.
• Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin tests positive for COVID-19.
• Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll passes 5,000.
• Germany further eases lockdown restrictions, but large public gatherings will remain banned until August.

May 1st, 2020

• UK providing 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day.

• Scientists in the US military create COVID-19 test that could identify carriers before they become infectious and can spread the disease.
• The International Energy Agency reports that global carbon dioxide emissions could drop by 8% in 2020.
• India’s lockdown to be extended by 2 weeks.
• US president Donald Trump claims there is evidence that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab.

May 2nd, 2020

• More than 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19 according to figures from John Hopkins University.
• The UN reports that millions of children will miss vaccines due to shipping problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Regulators in the US begin to allow the use of experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir for treatment of patients with COVID-19, with studies showing the drug can cut recovery time by 31%.
• The Kenyan Legal and Ethical Issues Network reports that Kenyan doctors are being forced to reuse PPE.

May 3rd, 2020

• Churches in Germany open for Sunday services for the first time since lockdown began.
• Russia records highest daily rise in COVID-19 cases, with 10,633 new cases.
• The president of Peru Martin Vizcarra approves a supreme decree to reactivate the country’s economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Brazil surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases.

May 4th, 2020

• Italy begins to ease lockdown measures, allowing 4.5 million people to return to work.
• Global COVID-19 death toll passes 250,000.
• The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu announces that markets and malls will reopen on Thursday the 7^thof May.
• Doctors at Paris hospital in France report evidence that a patient had COVID-19 as early as December 2019, a month before the official first cases in the country.

May 5th, 2020

• Australia and New Zealand plan ‘travel bubble’ that would allow quarantine-free flow of people between the two neighbouring countries.
• Spain allows people outside to exercise for the first time in two weeks.
• WHO announces there are 108 potential COVID-19 vaccines in development around the world, with 8 approved for clinical trials.
• Belarus to hold annual military parade commemorating the end of World War 2 on May 9^thdespite the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hong Kong to begin relaxing social distancing measures from Friday the 8^thof May.
• Russia surpasses 150,000 COVID-19 cases.

May 6th, 2020

• The ADP reports that 20.2 million private sector workers in the US lost their jobs in April, the highest figure ever recorded.
• Brazil see’s a spike in COVID-19 cases, with 10,503 new infections, taking the total cases to 125,218.
• India to begin COVID-19 evacuation program to bring home overseas citizens.
• A survey conducted by The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that two thirds of people would run out of food and water if they were put in lockdown for two weeks.

May 7th, 2020

• The Bank of England reports that the UK economy is set to shrink by 14% in 2020.
• The UN warns that the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially cause multiple famines.
• The US records more than 2000 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• The BBC reports that ‘An analysis from the Office of National Statistics has shown that Black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as their white counterparts’. The study took account of age, where people live and some measures of deprivation, disadvantage and health.

May 8th, 2020

• COVID-19 cases in Russia continue to rise, with 10,699 newly recorded cases.

• The Australian Government releases three step plan to allow businesses to reopen, and large gatherings and interstate travel to take part before the end of July.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that COVID-19 has released a ‘tsunami of hate’ across the world, with increased xenophobia and scapegoating.
• Canada records second highest unemployment rate ever recorded, at 13%.

May 9th, 2020

• Confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Italy pass 30,000.
• Research finds that ‘re-infected’ COVID-19 cases are likely false-positives caused by non-infectious sections of the virus that are still in the body.
• COVID-19 death toll in Brazil passes 10,000.

May 10th, 2020

• Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide pass 4 million.
• China reports the first COVID-19 infection in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, In over a month.
• UK Prime Minister announces plans for the easing of lockdown, which includes allowing unlimited exercise and going back to work if you cannot work from home.
• Lebanon reverses decision to ease virus measures after an increase in COVID-19 cases.
• People flying into the UK will be made to quarantine for 14 days.

May 11th, 2020

• Canada announces pay rise for essential workers who have been on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says a COVID-19 vaccine is not guaranteed.
• Turkey records lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since March 26^th.
• Senegal begins to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions.

May 12th, 2020

• US cases surpass 143,000, quadrupling in the past week.
• Lockdown tightens in Australia, with gatherings of over two people banned.
• Russia declares a lockdown in its capital city Moscow.
• Lebanon imposes total lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases increases.
• Wuhan to test its entire 11 million population for COVID-19 in the next ten days.

May 13th, 2020

• US death toll passes 80,000.
• Carbon emissions in India drop for the first time in four decades.
• Belgium to open museums and some school classes from May 18^th.
• Saudi Arabia to reimpose lockdown restrictions on May 23^rd.
• US Embassy in Tanzania claims that the country is at risk of a large growth in COVID-19 cases amidst President John Magalufi’s accusations that the crisis has been exaggerated by health officials.

May 14th, 2020

• World Health Organization Emergencies Director Mike Ryan warns that COVID-19 may ‘never go away.’
• Japan lifts ‘state of emergency’ in 39 out of 47 prefectures.
• Burundi expels the WHO representative in the country as well as three other health experts but has given no reason for the expulsion.
• COVID-19 worldwide death toll passes 300,000.
• A survey of 11,000 has suggested that 1 in 400 people in England are infected with COVID-19.

May 15th, 2020

• Slovenia becomes first European country to declare an end to its COVID-19 epidemic.
• Russia sends 25,000 tonnes of wheat in humanitarian aid to North Korea.
• India announces it will provide free food to domestic migrants for two months.
• The Federal Statistics Office reports that Germanys economy shrank by 2.2% in the first three months of 2020.
• US retail figures plunge by 16.4%, the biggest two month decline on record.

May 16th, 2020

• India’s COVID-19 cases rise to 85,940, surpassing China.
• Italy to reopen shops on May 18^th, and lift travel restrictions from June 3^rd.
• Brazil’s COVID-19 deaths passes 15,000.
• Zhong Nanshan, the top respiratory authority in China, says the country are still at a high risk of a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
• Spain to reopen some public places, including hotels.

May 17th, 2020

• South Africa sees record daily rise in COVID-19 cases, with 1,160 new infections.
• Italy records it’s lowest increase in COVID-19 deaths for two months.
• India extends its lockdown until the end of May.
• South Korea to begin phased reopening of schools.

May 18th, 2020

• Cafes, restaurants and pubs in Denmark begin to reopen.
• US health secretary Alex Azar accuses WHO of allowing the COVID-19 pandemic to ‘spin out of control.’
• first case of coronavirus confirmed in the indigenous Waorani community in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
• Both Spanish footballers and English footballers in the premier league to begin training in small group as prospects of top-level sport returning increase.
• The Czech Republic lifts state of emergency.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron propose a 500 Billion Euro German-French scheme to aid European recovery

May 19th, 2020

• Brazil see’s record raise in both cases at 17,4018, and deaths at 1,179.
• Iraq to reimpose curfew from May 28^thduring Eid al-Fitr holiday.
• COVID-19 lockdowns have reduced global carbon emissions to the lowest level in 15 years.
• Germany announces that over 20,000 health care workers have been infected with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
• Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin released from hospital after treatment for COVID-19.

May 20th, 2020

• The WHO reports largest single day increase in COVID-19 cases, with 106,000 newly recorded infections.
• Cambridge University announce all lectures will be held online in the next academic year.
• Spanish parliament votes to extend the countries state of emergency for another two weeks.
• Greece to reopen the country to foreign visitors from some countries with low infection rates from June 15^th.
• Cuba reports that the country has gone a week without a single COVID-19 related death.
• Switzerland to allow places of worship to reopen from May 28^th.

May 21st, 2020

• COVID-19 cases worldwide passes 5 million.
• Trials of two anti-malarial drugs to see if they can prevent COVID-19 infection begin in the UK.
• South Korean students begin to return to school, with social distancing measures in place.

May 22nd, 2020

• Peruvian president Martin Vizcarra extends the nationwide lockdown until June 30^th.
• COVID-19 cases in Africa pass 100,000.
• US President Donald Trump directs states to reopen places of worship, deeming them ‘essential.’
• The number of active COVID-19 cases in Italy continues to fall, with numbers falling to 59,322.
• Travellers entering the UK will have to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning June 8^th.

May 23rd, 2020

• Chile report more than 3,500 new COVID-19 cases as numbers spike.
• Health officials in Moscow claim that around 12.5% of the city’s residents are likely to have COVID-19 antibodies.
• Spain announces longest mourning period in its history will be dedicated to COVID-19 victims, starting May 26^thand lasting 10 days.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defends senior advisor Dominic Cummings decision to travel to Durham during march, despite widespread outrage over Cummings actions.

May 24th, 2020

• Schools in New South Wales in Australia to reopen from the 31^st.
• US President Donald Trump bans entry to the US for anyone who has been in Brazil 14 days prior to their arrival.
• South Africa to reopen the majority of its economy, with schools beginning to reopen and most sectors to reopen with strict health and safety measures.
• UK schools to begin phased reopening beginning June 1^stwith year one and year six, and then on June 15^th year ten and year twelve.
• White House economic advisor says that US unemployment levels will reach north of 20% by the end of May.

May 25th, 2020

• Peru reports more than 4,000 new COVID-19 cases.
• Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announces that the countries two-month lockdown will end in the coming days.
• UK government announces non-essential retailers may reopen from June 15^th.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Chief Aide Dominic Cummings defends his lockdown breaking actions, despite widespread criticism.

May 26th, 2020

• Protests around Ecuador’s largest cities erupt due to the government’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Russia records highest daily death toll, with 174 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Global worldwide COVID-19 cases pass 5.5 million.
• The WHO warns of ‘second peak’ as countries begin to ease lockdowns.
• The Czech Republic begins to ease border restrictions with Germany and Austria.

May 27th, 2020

• US COVID-19 death toll passes 100,000.
• England to launch ‘test and trace’ system aimed at replacing lockdown restrictions.
• United Nations World Tourism Organization predicts a 70% drop in global tourism this year.
• Global COVID-19 death toll passes 350,000.
• Hospitals in New Zealand cleared of all COVID-19 patients, with only 21 non-hospitalised cases in the country.

May 28th, 2020

• Brazil sees record number of COVID-19 infections with 26,417 new cases.
• Spain to further decrease lockdown restrictions from 1^st June as the country enters its phase two.
• Turkey announces restaurants and cafés to reopen June 1^st.
• Jordan announces plans to reopen places of worship from June 5^th.

May 29th, 2020

• The WHO’s Covid-19 special envoy Dr David Nabarro, warns “this virus has not gone away” despite lockdowns being eased.
• Cases in Seoul, the South Korean capital continue to rise after second outbreak.
• Lockdown restrictions in England continue to ease, with groups of up to six people allowed to meet from June 1^st, whilst maintaining strict social distancing rules.
• English Premier League football set to return from June 17^th.

May 30th, 2020

• UK to allow vulnerable people who fall under the ‘shielded’ category to go outside and meet one person from another family whilst maintaining social distancing.
• Japans COVID-19 cases rise for the fourth day since the state of emergency was lifted.
• The US withdraws from the WHO after President Donald Trump’s criticism of the organisation’s response to the pandemic.

May 31st, 2020

• Global COVID-19 cases surpass 6 million.
• COVID-19 cases in Brazil pass 500,000, the second most of any country behind the USA.
• Pakistan makes face masks mandatory in public.

June 1st, 2020

• Italy records lowest increase in COVID-19 cases since the end of February, with 178 new infections.
• Mexico begins reopening economic sector under ‘new normal’ plan.
• UK records lowest increase in COVID-19 daily deaths and infections since the end of March.
• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tests positive for COVID-19.
• Thailand relaxes some COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

June 2nd, 2020

• Brazil prepares to begin the reopening of Rio De Janeiro despite COVID-19 cases continuing to rise.
• The WHO urges Donald Trump to not terminate the US relationship with the organisation.
• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admits worries that Black Lives Matter protests may risk another COVID-19 outbreak.

June 5th, 2020

• The WHO calls for nations to encourage the increased use of face mask coverings.
• UK COVID-19 death toll surpasses 40,000.
• Mexico sees record increase in COVID-19 cases, with 4,442 new infections.
• UK makes masks compulsory on public transport, starting June 15^th.

June 6th, 2020

• Brazil passes 35,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• Global daily confirmed COVID-19 cases rising at over 100,000 a day
• Oxygen tanks, an important weapon against COVID-19, reportedly in short supply in Peru as cases continue to rise.

June 7th, 2020

• Global COVID-19 deaths passes 400,000.
• China says that it immediately informed the WHO of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Delhi reopens borders as India relaxes national lockdown.
• The US centres for disease control and prevention says that it is closely monitoring Black Lives Matter protests across the US amidst fears they could increase COVID-19 transmission.

June 8th, 2020

• Cuba reports no COVID-19 deaths for 9 consecutive days.
• Canada relaxes some border restrictions for immediate family and citizens, yet those entering must quarantine for 14 days.
• Israel halts its reopening, as COVID-19 cases begin to rise again.
• Globe sees highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases, with 136,000 new cases. 75% of which were in South America.

June 9th, 2020

• Global COVID-19 cases reaches 7 million.
• UK records lowest daily COVID-19 death toll since March 22^nd, with 55 deaths.
• Moscow relaxes lockdown restrictions, allowing free movement around the city.
• All COVID-19 restrictions in New Zealand, except overseas travel, have been relaxed. No new infections have been reported in the country for two weeks.

June 10th, 2020

• Peru and Colombia see steady increase in COVID-19 cases as Latin America remains the hot spot for the virus.
• Brazil has recorded more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases in the past 5 days.
• Saudi Arabia records highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases.
• The global economy will take at least 2 years to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 11th, 2020

• US reaches 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• Russia surpasses 500,000 COVID-19 cases.
• Kenya plans to discharge all asymptomatic patients to increase room.

June 12th, 2020

• French government to lift travel restrictions on internal European borders on June 15^th.
• Chile reports a spike in COVID-19 cases, the country currently has 160,846 confirmed cases.
• UK to review its 14-day quarantine on those travelling into the country on June 29^th.

‍

June 13th, 2020

• US President Donald Trump declares the US will ‘vanquish’ and ‘extinguish’ COVID-19
• Florida researchers say experiments suggest that the COVID-19 pathogen has mutated in a way that makes It infect human cells easier.
• El Salvador announces plans to reopen and restart is economy, beginning June 16^th.

June 14th, 2020

• Worldwide COVID-19 death count surpasses 300,000.
• Over 600,000 people have become unemployed in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Brazil tops 200,000 COVID-19 cases.
• Northern Ireland announces it will begin easing lockdown restrictions from Monday 15^th of June

June 15th, 2020

• Global coronavirus cases hit 8 million.
• Non-essential shops, zoos and places of worship reopen in the UK.
• Over 100 cases reported in new Beijing outbreak.

June 16th, 2020

• A drug trial finds that a cheap and widely available drug, dexamethasone, could significantly reduce mortality among critically ill coronavirus patients.
• Brazil reported nearly 35,000 new cases in 24 hours – its highest daily figure to date.
• Beijing raises its emergency level and shuts schools over new outbreak in the city.
• Hungarian MPs vote to end emergency powers granted to the Prime Minister to fight coronavirus.

June 17th, 2020

• English Premier League football returns behind closed doors.
• New Zealand military takes over border quarantine, after two arrivals were granted an exemption to leave their 14-day quarantine early.
• Honduras President hospitalised after catching coronavirus.
• Germany extends ban on large events in the country until October

June 18th, 2020

• Global death toll passes 450,000.
• Bank of England announces a £100bn stimulus package to aid economic recovery.
• WHO says it hopes millions of vaccine doses can be produced in 2020 and that 2 billion can be produced by the end of 2021.
• Chinese medical expert says the outbreak in Beijing is back under control though the US questions the reliability of China’s reporting on fresh coronavirus cases.

June 19th, 2020

• UK Chief Medical Officers suggest that the threat level should be lowered to Level 3.
• Brazil passes 1 million coronavirus cases.
• WHO warns of ‘new and dangerous phase’ of coronavirus as pandemic hits 150,000 cases in a day – the highest since the start of the pandemic.
• UK Ministers accused of playing down the pandemic after it was revealed the UK death count exceeded 1000 for 22 consecutive days, significantly higher than the figures given to the public during the government’s daily briefings.

June 20th, 2020

• Greta Thunberg says the world must learn lessons from the pandemic and treat climate change with a similar urgency.
• Spain announces that British visitors will be allowed to enter the country without quarantining.
• Australian state of Victoria reimposes strict restrictions over fears of a second spike.
• Coronavirus reproduction rate jumps to 1.79 in Germany

June 21st, 2020

• Survey by the British Medical Association finds that a large proportion of doctors are not confident in their ability to cope with a second wave.
• Trump hosts a large indoor re-election rally in Tulsa where he nicknames coronavirus ‘kung flu’.
• Cases exceed 2 million in Latin America and Caribbean.
• Pope calls for the world to carry on reducing pollution post lockdown.

June 22nd, 2020

• Number of confirmed coronavirus cases hits 9 million.
• WHO records record number of cases in a 24 hour period.
• UK government announces that those who are shielding can meet groups of up to six outdoors and form a support bubble with one other household from the 6th July.
• Health officials in South Korea say they are experiencing a second wave of coronavirus.
• US government data shows that Black Americans four times as likely to be hospitalised for coronavirus.
• Saudi Arabia closes borders to hajj attendees.

June 23rd, 2020

• WHO urges for a rapid increase in production of dexamethasone, a drug proven to reduce mortality from coronavirus.
• Coronavirus reproduction rate continues to soar in Germany, reaching 2.76.
• England announces that pubs, restaurants and hotels will reopen on the 4th July.
• UN report estimates that in the long term over 100 million children could be pushed into poverty in South Asia due to the knock-on effects of coronavirus.

June 24th, 2020

• Volunteers in the UK, Brazil and South Africa begin to receive injections of vaccine developed by Oxford University.
• IMF estimates that the world economy will take a $12tn hit from the pandemic.
• US coronavirus cases hit highest level for two months.
• UK health officials warn of risk of second wave.

June 25th, 2020

• US government experts think 20 million Americans may have contracted coronavirus, ten times official figures.
• 9.5 millions confirmed worldwide.
• Weekly number of cases rises in Europe for the first time in months.
• ‘Major incident’ declared in England after thousands flock to the coast as lockdown eases and temperatures soar.
• Thousands flock to the streets of Liverpool, despite coronavirus warnings, to celebrate Liverpool winning the Premier LEague.

June 26th, 2020

• US records highest single-day increase in cases of coronavirus so far.
• UK government changes quarantine regulations to allow people to holiday in places such as Spain and Greece.
• Global death toll reaches 490,000.
• PM Boris Johnson calls for people to stop ‘taking liberties’ and stop mass gatherings.

June 27th, 2020

• US coronavirus cases hit 2.5 million.
• Huge demonstrations hit 60 cities in Spain calling for collective rebuilding in the aftermath of the pandemic.
• Global fundraising meeting raises $6.9bn to fight covid-19.
• NHS calls for BAME pregnant women to receive extra coronavirus checks and support due to their higher vulnerability to coronavirus.

June 28th, 2020

• Confirmed coronavirus cases hit 10 million as death toll passes 500,000.
• UK scientists warn of second wave if people do not “sensibly” over the summer months.
• US Health Secretary warns that the “window is closing” on being able to stop the spread of coronavirus.

June 29th, 2020

• 10 new clusters of coronavirus identified in Italy in the last week.
• Lockdown reimposed on Leicester after surge in local infections.
• Boris Johnson says coronavirus has been “an absolute nightmare for the country”.
• Daily cases in India hit 20,000 as lockdown is extended.

June 30th, 2020

• Broadway theatres to remain closed until January 2021.
• WHO states that the pandemic is “not even close to being over”.
• Cases in the US increase 80% in two weeks.

July 1st, 2020

• Global tourism expected to lose up to $3.3tn according to UN report.
• UK businesses cut 11,000 jobs in 2 days.
• United States buys up the majority of supplies of remdesivir, a drug that helps coronavirus patients recover more quickly.
• Brazil death toll passes 60,000.

July 2nd, 2020

• Coronavirus cases in India pass 600,000
• United States records 55,000 cases in one day, the highest daily increase in any country to date.
• Face coverings in shops to become compulsory in Scotland from 10th July.
• Facebook announces it will promote the wearing of masks via Facebook and Instagram alerts.

July 3rd, 2020

• Confirmed coronavirus cases hit 11 million worldwide.
• UK releases list of 50 ‘reduced-risk’ countries which people will not have to quarantine for two weeks after returning from, from the 10th July.
• Tokyo reports over 100 daily case increase for the second day in the row, the largest daily count since the start of May.
• Data reveals cases of coronavirus increased seven-fold in Iraq in June.

July 4th, 2020

• Pubs, restaurants, barbers and places of worship reopen in the UK in what is dubbed ‘Super Saturday’.
• Coronavirus cases increase by 200,000 in 24 hours globally.
• Donald Trump uses his 4th July speech to celebrate America’s impending ‘victory’ over the virus
• Local lockdowns ordered in Melbourne and Northern Spain.

July 5th, 2020

• UK Government announces £1.57bn in support for UK arts industry.
• India reverses plans to reopen the Taj Mahal as country’s infections rise at the fastest rate for three months.
• Kazakhstan reimposes country-wide lockdown after cases surge again.

July 6th, 2020

• Report reveals 13 UK Universities could face insolvency unless they receive a government bailout.
• Brazil hit 1.6 million cases.
• Death toll in the United States hits 130,000.

July 7th, 2020

• Three England pubs close after positive coronavirus tests.
• International students in the US are told they may face deportation if Universities move to online learning.
• Anti-lockdown protestors storm Serbian Parliament.
• US officially notifies the UN of its withdrawal from the WHO.

July 8th, 2020

• UK government unveils £30bn plan to prevent mass unemployment including giving businesses a £1000 bonus for every member of staff they keep on, cutting VAT of food, accommodation and attractions to 5% and providing 50% discounts for the public to eat out in August.
• Brazil’s president tests positive for coronavirus.
• Coronavirus cases in the US hit 3 million.

July 9th, 2020

• Infections worldwide pass 12 million.
• WHO appoints committee to evaluate response to coronavirus pandemic.
• Serbia considers new lockdown as riots continue.

July 10th, 2020

• Hong Kong closes schools earn for Summer after a fresh outbreak.
• UK rejects offer to join the EU’s coronavirus vaccine programme.
• Australia to halve the number of arrivals to the country to 4000 a week to prevent second wave.

July 11th, 2020

• US President, Donald Trump, appears in public wearing a face mask for the first time.
• Large scale protests hit Israel over the government’s handling of the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic.
• Florida’s Walt Disney World reopens despite a surge in cases in the state.

July 12th, 2020

• Oxfam warns that the hunger crisis, which has worsened during the pandemic, could kill more people each day than infection itself.
• Cases worldwide rise by 230,370 in 24 hours, a new record.
• 200 farm workers quarantined in Herefordshire outbreak.
• Hungary implements strict border controls including banning visitors from most of Asia and Africa.

July 13th, 2020

• Beauticians, spas and tanning salons reopen in the UK.
• UN report suggests 130m may go hungry because of coronavirus.
• Wearing face masks in shops to become compulsory in the UK from the 24th July.

July 14th, 2020

• Angela Merkel says the EU summit may not agree on €750bn coronavirus recovery fund.
• Hong Kong tightens social distancing as cases rise once again.
• Coronavirus cases hit 13 million globally.

July 15th, 2020

• Ireland delays easing of lockdown and makes masks compulsory in shops.
• Iran says that 5000 healthcare workers have been infected in the country leading to 140 deaths.
• 160,000 Catalans return to lockdown.
• South Africa passes 300,000 confirmed cases.

July 16th, 2020

• UK claims that Russia has hacked UK, USA and Canadian organisations developing a coronavirus vaccine.
• China’s economy returned to growth in the second quarter.
• Spain reports steepest daily rise in cases for two months.
• Brazil surpasses 2 million cases.

July 17th, 2020

• Cases in India reach 1 million.
• Israel reimposes lockdown measures.
• Study confirms that coronavirus was the direct cause of 9 out of 10  coronavirus related deaths in Italy.

July 18th, 2020

• World Health Organisation records greatest 24 hour increase in coronavirus cases.
• India becomes the third country to reach 1 million coronavirus cases.
• Hong Kong reports 50 locally transmitted cases furthering concerns of a third wave.

July 19th, 2020

• South Africa passes 5000 fatalities.
• UN issues urgent appeal for $283million to help Sudan tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
• Testing numbers half in Bangladesh after a scandal reveals some hospitals issued fake certificates to thousands of patients saying that they were virus free without testing them.

July 20th, 2020

• Major breakthrough in the search for a vaccine as  vaccine from the University of Oxford found to provide immunity.
• Trump calls leading US medical expert Dr Anthony Fauci ‘alarmist’ and seeks to block billions of dollars in funding for coronavirus testing.
• Concerns about the rising number of cases in Belgium as the number of new infections increases 66% from 10th-16th July.

July 21st, 2020

• EU leaders announce a £750bn pandemic recovery fund and long term spending plans after days of tense debate.
• US officials charge two Chinese men for allegedly spying on US companies doing coronavirus research.
• Iran records daily death toll of 229, the highest so far in the country.

July 22nd, 2020

• Global cases pass 15 million.
• US daily coronavirus cases pass 1000 for the first time since June.
• European Central Bank Chief, Christine Lagarde, says that women leaders have been better at tackling Covid-19.
• US agrees to pay Pfizer $2bn to recieve 100million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by December.

July 23rd, 2020

• Donald Trump blames Black Lives Matter protests for surge in cases in America, despite experts saying their is limited evidence to support the claim.
• South Korea falls into recession, recording their worst economic performance for 20 years.
• Australia posed to post largest budget deficit since after World War Two.

July 24th, 2020

• Cases in Europe, including France, Spain and Germany, rise sharply.
• 103 year old man recovers from Coronavirus in make-shift hospital in Pakistan.

July 25th, 2020

• UK Government advises against all but essential travel to Spain and reimposes 14 day self-isolation for those returning from Spain.
• Covid-19 hospitalisations in New York hit lowest levels since the pandemic began.
• Israel’s infections continue to surge, hitting 60,000.
• Sage professor admits the UK will never know the true scale of how many died from coronavirus due to a lack of testing in the early stages of the pandemic.

July 26th, 2020

• WHO says there have been 1 million reported cases weekly for the past five weeks.
• Investigation suggest Spain’s coronavirus death toll could be 60% higher than official figures.
• 500 workers quarantined  on a large Bavarian farm after 174 seasonal workers tested positive for the virus.

July 27th, 2020

• Vietnam evacuates 80,000 tourists from Danang.
• UK could impose ‘handbrake restrictions’ on arrivals from countries beyond Spain.
• Warnings issued that the UK economy’s recovery from covid-19 could take 18 months longer than initially predicted.
• Indonesia confirms its 100,000th coronavirus case.

July 28th, 2020

• Data reveals that the number of covid-19 cases doubled in the last six weeks.
• Italy extends its state of emergency until October.
• Twitter restricts Donald Trump Jr’s twitter account for spreading misinformation on covid-19.
• Outbreak in Xinjiang sparks concerns that coronavirus could spread throughout Uighur internment camps in the region.
• The International Monetary Fund approves $4.3bn in aid to South Africa to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic.

July 29th, 2020

• US coronavirus deaths pass 150,000.
• France sees its highest daily increase in cases in over a month.
• Guetemalan hospitals admit they are having to bury unidentified dead bodies.

July 30th, 2020

• UK imposes local lockdown on a number of areas in the North of England.
• Data reveals that the US economy shrank 32.9% between April and June.
• France rules out a second national lockdown despite a surge in cases in Europe.

July 31st, 2020

• Hong Kong postpones its elections for a year.
• UK reverses decision to ease lockdown further on Saturday, postponing the reopening of casinos and bowling alleys for at least two weeks

August 1st, 2020

• Thousands protest in Berlin against coronavirus restrictions.
• Health experts warn that the UK may need to choose between keeping pubs or schools open in order to limit infection rates.
• India reports its highest daily increase in cases with 57,000 new infections in 24 hours.

August 2nd, 2020

• Reports suggest that Boris Johnson has ordered officials to draw up plans for a second national lockdown.
• Australian state of Victoria calls a ‘state of disaster’ as cases in the state continue to soar.

August 3rd, 2020

• UK’s ‘Eat out to help out’ initiative begins, offering 50% off food in participating restaurants, up to the value of £10, every Monday-Wednesday in August in a bid to save the restaurant industry.
• HSBC accelerates plans to cute 35,000 jobs globally and DW Sports enters administration putting 1700 jobs at risk.

August 4th, 2020

• UK Government announces £1.3billion funding for a green economic recovery.
• Scientists warn that improvements in track and trace capabilities are needed for UK schools to reopen.

August 5th, 2020

• Facebook and Twitter remove social media content from Donald Trump which claimed that children are ‘almost immune’ to coronavirus.
• France and Spain record highest number of increase in cases since June.
• Research shows that one American dies every 80 seconds from coronavirus.

August 6th, 2020

• 50 million masks bought for the NHS by the UK Government will not be used due to safety concerns.
• US State Department lifts its advice against travelling during coronavirus pandemic.
• Spain’s health ministry denies it is facing a second wave.

August 7th, 2020

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases passes 1 million in Africa, though true scale of the outbreak in the area is unknown.
• Lockdown measures are reintroduced in Preston in a local lockdown.
• India becomes the third country to reach 2 million cases.
• Mexico’s death toll hits 50,00.

August 8th, 2020

• Face coverings must now be worn in museums, cinemas and places of worship in England and Scotland.
• Hundreds in the UK march for fair pay for NHS workers.

August 9th, 2020

• US passes 5 million confirmed cases.
• Brazil hits 100,000 confirmed deaths.
• Nearly 1800 companies in the UK plan to cut 20 or more jobs.

August 10th, 2020

• Number of coronavirus deaths in the UK drops 99% since peak of the pandemic according to the Office for National Statistics.
• Northern Ireland reports first death in almost a month.

August 11th, 2020

• Data shows that the number of employed people in the UK fell by 730,000  between March and July.
• Russia approves rollout of a coronavirus vaccine despite it not yet passing all conventional testing phases.

August 12th, 2020

• UK economy shrank by 20.4% between April and June, the biggest slump on record.
• UK death tolls drops by over 5000 as Government changes the way deaths are counted.
• New Zealand locks down Auckland after 4 new cases found, ending a 102 day streak without local infection.
• India sees record one-day rise in cases.

August 13th, 2020

• Study by Imperial College London suggests 3.4 million people in England have had coronavirus, 10 times higher than official figures.
• UK announces France and the Netherlands will be added to two-week quarantine list from the 15th, causing chaos for holidaymakers

August 14th, 2020

• Lockdowns in the North West of England extended
• Data shows 1 in 4 young people in the US have experienced suicidal thoughts during the pandemic.
• UK fines for refusing to wear a face mask increase to £3200

August 15th, 2020

• South Korea tightens social distancing measures in the capital as cases reach 5 month high.
• UK recommenced the easing of lockdown with indoor play centres, indoor performances and wedding receptions given the go ahead.

August 16th, 2020

• UK Government plans to scrap Public Health England (PHE) and replace it with a specialist pandemic unit due to dissatisfaction with the performance of PHE.
• Trump blocks additional funding for the US postal service despite concerns that the surge in mail-in voting due to the pandemic could mean some ballots do not arrive in time to be counted.

August 17th, 2020

• A-Level and GCSE Students in England given their Centre Assessed Grades after outcry over results given by algorithm which was designed to replace exams after school shutdowns.
• New Zealand delays election for a month due to coronavirus fears.

August 18th, 2020

• WHO warns against ‘vaccine nationalism’
• Australia announces it will manufacture a coronavirus vaccine and give it for free to all citizens.
• Figures show depression among British adults has doubled during pandemic.
• France to make face masks compulsory in all workplaces from the 1st September.
• Ireland tightens coronavirus restrictions until the 13th September as cases surge in the country.

August 19th, 2020

• Australia announces it will provide vaccines to its ‘Pacific family’ and regional partners in South East Asia.
• World Bank calls for greater debt relief for poorer countries during the pandemic.

August 20th, 2020

• First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon announces that Scotland will remain in phase three of its lockdown easing whilst the country manages flare ups of the virus.
• France reports 4,711 new Covid cases over the last 24 hours, a post-lockdown record high.
• The ICRC announces that Covid-19 is significantly worsening the Libya crisis, with an increase from 571 known cases in June to over 9000 on Thursday 20th of August.

August 21st, 2020

• New data from Johns Hopkins University reveals that the global total of Covid-19 cases has surpassed 22.5 million, whilst deaths have increased to over 792,000.
• Irish Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary resigns for breaking Covid guidelines with his attendance to a golf society dinner.
• The World Health Organisation publishes updated guidance on mask-wearing, recommending that children over the age of 12 should comply with the same mask rules as adults.

August 22nd, 2020

• Global Covid death toll reaches 800,000 as cases surmount 23 million.
• China approves human testing for a potential Covid vaccine which is cultivated in insect cells.
• South Korea brings in new nationwide restrictions including bans on large gatherings and churches, as the country struggles to contain its worst Covid resurgence in six months.

August 23rd, 2020

• US President Donald Trump announces emergency authorisation for a new blood plasma treatment for Covid patients, despite as of yet inconclusive evidence about its effectiveness.
• UK chief medical officers publish a statement reaffirming that children are at a low risk of contracting and dying from Covid-19, as the UK government prepares to open schools next month amidst criticism from parents and teachers.

August 24th, 2020

• In Japan, Tokyo reports a decline in new Covid cases to 95, the lowest daily amount since July 8th.
• One of President Donald Trump’s longest serving advisers, Kellyanne Conway, announces that she is leaving the administration at the end of August in order to spend more time with her family.
• The Czech government announces that it is extending its furlough scheme until the end of October.

August 25th, 2020

• The World Health Organization’s Continental Chief for Africa announces reports that Africa’s Covid outbreak could be past its peak, citing a general decline in the number of new cases.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announces that $320 billion has been lost in exports in the global tourism industry due to the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
• American Airlines announces that it will cut 19,000 jobs in the US in October, unless the US government extends its stimulus package for the airline industry.

August 26th, 2020

• The Jordan government announces it will impose a 24-hour lockdown in the capital of Amman in a bid to slow the spread of Covid.
• In response to rising numbers of Covid cases in Germany and Liechtenstein, Norway announces that it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all those arriving from those countries from August 29th.
• The World Economic Forum postpones the 2021 Davos summit from January to next summer, amid fears that the WEF would be unable to host the summit safely in January 2021.

August 27th, 2020

• The World Health Organization’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announces that an international team of experts will visit Wuhan in China to study the origins of Covid-19.
• Germany announces that mass public events in the country will remain banned until the end of the year, following talks between Germany’s State leaders and the Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• Several US States, including California, Florida and Texas, reject new guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggesting that asymptomatic people exposed to Covid should no longer be tested.

August 28th, 2020

• Covid cases in Latin America surpass 7 million
• Human Rights Watch reports that the Venezuelan security services have been targeting dissenters critical of the Maduro government’s handling of the pandemic.
• The Danish government announces that it will provide financial support to cultural organisations such as sports clubs and theatres.

August 29th, 2020

• Far-right extremists attempt to storm the German parliament after a day of protests over Germany’s coronavirus restrictions.
• Costa Rica annonces it has requested £1.3bn in support from the IMF to deal with the economic fallout of coronavirus in the country.
• Thousands of Israelis protest in Jerusalem calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation over his handling of the pandemic.

August 30th, 2020

• Globally the number of confirmed cases pass 25 million.
• India sets world record number of daily increases in case with 78,761 confirmed cases in 24 hours.
• University and College Union (UCU) warns against UK University campuses reopening in September.

August 31st, 2020

• US passes 6 million confirmed cases.
• Hong Kong announces it will begin mass coronavirus testing in a bid to tackle a third coronavirus wave.
• India’s former President, Pranab Mukherjee, dies of coronavirus.

September 1st, 2020

• Russia passes 1 million confirmed cases.
• Hungary closes its borders and implements stricter restrictions than at the height of the pandemic.
• Household gatherings banned in parts of Glasgow.
• Residential evictions cease in US until 31st December.

September 2nd, 2020

• US refuses to join COVAX, an international effort organised by the WHO, to collectively create and distribute a vaccine.
• Victoria state in Australia extends its state of emergency for another six months.
• Germany rules out a winter lockdown.
• Turkey’s health minister says it is seeing a second peak of coronavirus cases.
• Italy’s former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, tests positive for coronavirus.

September 3rd, 2020

• France announces €100 billion recovery package.
• US health officials plan for an October vaccine rollout.
• Thailand reports its first locally transmitted case of coronavirus for 100 days.
• Brazil hits 4 million confirmed cases.

September 4th, 2020

• WHO warns that widespread vaccination will not be possible until mid 2021.
• Italy’s former PM, Silvio Berlusconi admitted to hospital after contracting coronavirus earlier this week.
• EU calls for member states to contribute more to boost the funds available for vaccines.

September 5th, 2020

• Infections in India reach 4 million.
• Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine found to generate antibodies and doesn’t have side-effects according to latest trials.
• Thousands join ‘Covidiot’ rally in Croatia against coronavirus measures.

September 6th, 2020

• A poll in Greece shows that 44% of Greeks would refuse to be vaccinated though in Brazil a similar poll showed only 5% of Brazilians would refuse a vaccine.
• Pope Francis declares that gossip is a ‘plague worse than covid’.

September 7th, 2020

• India overtakes Brazil to become country with the second highest number of coronavirus infections.
• Confirmed cases pass 27 million globally

September 8th, 2020

• Three migrant camps near Athens placed under quarantine
• Spending watchdog declares that the UK’s coronavirus bill has cost the UK Government £210 billion
• OECD suggests that skill losses emerging from the disruption to education could result in a 1.5% decline in global output for the rest of the century

September 9th, 2020

• UK bans gatherings of more than 6 people over fears about a second wave.
• France records over 8500 new cases, its second highest daily increase.
• Leaked documents suggest UK Government is pinning hopes on “Operation Moonshot”, a £100billion mass testing programme, to avoid a second lockdown.
• Facebook states that it won’t remove anti-vaccine posts.

September 10th, 2020

• UN urges countries to find $15billion for its ACT-Accelerator programme in order to find a global solution to the pandemic.
• Global coronavirus death toll passes 900,000.
• Mexico signs deal to buy 32 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine

September 11th, 2020

• Brazil’s death toll passes 130,000.
• France rules out another national lockdown despite cases continuing to surge.

‍

September 12th, 2020

• Oxford University resumes vaccine trial.
• Daily coronavirus cases in Scotland hit a 4 month high.

September 13th, 2020

• Israel announces it will reimpose a three week national lockdown.
• 4000 healthcare workers protest in Brusells calling for more spending on healthcare.
• WHO reports record single-day global increase in coronavirus cases.

September 14th, 2020

• Jordan closes schools, places of worship and restaurants as cases rise.
• Panama lifts 5 month long rule that only allowed men and women outside on different days.
• WHO predicts that Europe will see a rise in coronavirus cases in October and November.

September 15th, 2020

• Unicef reports that half the world’s children are still unable to attend school due to the pandemic.
• South African health minister states that as many as one-fifth of South Africans may have contracted coronavirus.
• The Netherlands hits a daily record of new coronavirus cases.

September 16th, 2020

• Trump claims that coronavirus will just ‘go away’ due to ‘herd mentality’.
• India passes 5 million coronavirus cases.

September 17th, 2020

• France sees new record for the country of over 10,000 daily cases.
• New York delays schools return again.
• WHO warns about “alarming rates of transmission” across Europe.

September 18th, 2020

• France hit another new record of over 13,000 daily cases.
• Trump says he expects to have enough vaccine doses for every American to receive the vaccine by April.
• Coronavirus cases hit 30 million worldwide.

September 19th, 2020

• Doctors in England urge for tighter restrictions.
• Scaled-down version of Oktoberfest goes ahead in Munich.

September 20th, 2020

• US performs one million tests in a day.
• Demonstrators gather in Jerusalem calling for Netanyahu to resign despite national lockdown being in force.

September 21st, 2020

• Pubs in England to shut at 10pm to halt rise in cases.
• 156 countries agree to a covid vaccine allocation deal to ensure equitable access.
• Fears over second UK lockdown wipe £50bn off the FTSE 100.

September 22nd, 2020

• US coronavirus death toll passes 200,000.
• UK records highest daily tally of cases since May as new measures are introduced including encouraging working from home and limiting weddings to 15 people.
• EU Council postponed after its President goes into quarantine after his bodyguard tested positive.

September 23rd, 2020

• France tightens coronavirus measures and introduces new “danger zones” map.
• 600 students at Glasgow University told to self-isolate after outbreak.
• UK PM says climate crisis must not be overshadowed by coronavirus.

September 24th, 2020

• Portugal extends coronavirus measures until mid-October.
• Study finds that coronavirus is continuing to mutate.
• Students in Scotland banned from socialising this weekend to avoid spread of the virus.

September 25th, 2020

• US passes 7 million cases.
• Rio de Janeiro’s carnival postponed for the first time in 100 years.
• Official figures show the UK borrowed £35.9bn in August to tackle economic fallout of coronavirus.

September 26th, 2020

• Anti-lockdown protestors clash with protestors in London.
• Coronavirus cases in Colombia pass 800,000.
• Scotland announces record rise in cases.

September 27th, 2020

• Greece records its first coronavirus death in its migrant community.
• Protests in Madrid over lockdown measures.
• Wales announces a number of local lockdowns.

September 28th, 2020

• Lockdown tightened in North-East England as cases continue to surge.
• Data reveals children 44% less likely to catch coronavirus than adults.
• WHO that rapid covid-19 tests will be rolled out across the world.

September 29th, 2020

• Global death toll passes one million
• World Bank announces $12bn to help poorer countries buy covid-19 vaccines.
• Disney lay off 28,000 staff across its parks.
• Boris Johnson apologises for ‘misspeaking’ after accidentally contradicting government regulations in a press briefing.

September 30th, 2020

• Czech Republic enters state of emergency to try and control a surge in cases.
• Italian senate suspended after two members contract coronavirus.
• Projections by Air Transport Action Group suggest that 46 million jobs could be lost globally due to the reduction in global travel.

October 1st, 2020

• Covid cases have continued to double in areas of the UK under local lockdowns.
• SNP MP Margaret Ferrier suspended after she took a train from London to Scotland despite testing positive for coronavirus.
• France records 9% daily increase in infections

October 2nd, 2020

• US President Donald Trump and the first lady test positive for coroanvirus.
• Denmark to cull 1 million mink after coronavirus infections found among animals in mink farms.
• Lebanon orders lockdown of 100 towns and villages as cases rise.
• EU launches safety review of remdesivir after some patients being given the drug report severe kidney problems.

October 3rd, 2020

• Donald Trump releases video message saying he is “doing well” after being taken to hospital with covid-19.
• France reports 16,972 new cases, another daily record for the country.
• Thousands of Israelis protest lockdown measures, despite new regulations designed to limit anti-government demonstrations.
• Tunisia bans all public gatherings and reduces working hours for those in the public sector.

October 4th, 2020

• Global cases pass 35 million.
• UK reports 22,961 cases in 24 hours but blame attributed to backlogs in case reporting.
• All bars in Paris to close from Tuesday.
• Donald Trump briefly leaves the hospital to make a drive-by appearance waving at supporters from his car.

October 5th, 2020

• President Trump leaves hospital.
• Contact tracing error means that 50,000 contacts may not have been traced.
• Irish government rejects recommendations by health chiefs to go into lockdown and instead tightens restrictions.

October 6th, 2020

• Finland records its highest daily number of covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.
• Facebook and Twitter take action on posts by Trump that compared covid-19 to the flu.

October 7th, 2020

• Brazil hits 5 million coronavirus cases.
• Italy makes masks compulsory outdoors.
• Brussels closes cafes and bars.
• Scotland bans drinking indoors in licensed premises for 16 days.
• Singapore offers financial incentive to encourage pregnancies due to concerns over the impact of the pandemic on the country’s already low birth rate.

October 8th, 2020

• WHO reports record one-day rise in global case numbers.
• Partial lockdowns rejected by courts in Spain because it “impacted on the rights and fundamental freedoms” of residents.
• Hospitals in Paris postpone non-essential operations due to a rise in hospital admittances.

October 9th, 2020

• Justin Trudeau warns that Canada has reached a ‘tipping point’ in its second wave of the pandemic.
• Europe records 100,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time.
• Spain declares state of emergency to allow it to keep Madrid in partial lockdown.

October 10th, 2020

• Brazil hits 150,000 coronavirus deaths.
• France reports 26,000 new cases in one day.

October 11th, 2020

• India passes 7 million cases.
• Russia records its highest daily increase in cases.

October 12th, 2020

• UK announces a new three-tier system for covid restrictions in England, with many regions in the North of England immediately entering the higher tiers of restrictions.
• WHO calls herd immunity “scientifically and ethically problematic”
• France reports 3 month high in ICU admissions for covid-19.
• Johnson and Johnson temporarily pause trials due to unexplained illness in the study.

October 13th, 2020

• President Trump holds a large outdoor rally in Florida after recovering from covid-19.
• Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, calls for the UK Government to impose a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown on the UK.
• Russian regulator gives approval for the use of Sputnik V vaccine on over 60s.

October 14th, 2020

• France imposes 9pm curfew on nine French cities including Paris.
• Youtube announces it will remove anti-coronavirus vaccine content from the site.
• Spain closes bars and restaurants in Catalonia for 15 days.
• Northern Ireland announces 4 week closure of pubs and restaurants.

October 15th, 2020

• MPs in the North-West of England reject being moved into ‘Tier 3’ due to concerns about the regional economic impact.
• Infections in France increase by over 30,000 in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
• President of the European Commission goes into self-isolation after a colleague tests positive.

October 16th, 2020

• US surpasses 8 million cases.
• Anthony Fauci tells Americans to rethink their traditional Thanksgiving plans.
• Belgium announces closure of all its cafes and restaurants for four weeks.
• UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, claims Russia is trying to sow seeds of confusion over UK vaccine.

October 17th, 2020

• Coronavirus deaths in Iran exceed 30,000.
• World sees record 400,000 cases in one day.
• Leaked letter suggests Wales will enter a two-week circuit breaker lockdown from the 23rd October.
• London, Essex and York enter Tier 2 restrictions.

October 18th, 2020

• Europe passes 250,000 coronavirus deaths.
• Twitter removes anti-mask tweet by top US coronavirus adviser.

October 19th, 2020

• Ireland imposes touch coronavirus restrictions, including banning people from travelling more than 5km from their home.
• Wales announces two week ‘firebreak’ lockdown
• Chief scientific advisor warns that the UK won’t get a covid-19 vaccine until spring.
• Live coronavirus found on food packaging in China

October 20th, 2020

• UK Government forces tighter restrictions on Greater Manchester after failing t reach an agreement with local politicians
• UK to try the first coronavirus ‘challenge trials’, infecting young people with the virus to speed up vaccine development.
• Iran and Russia report record high in coronavirus cases.

October 21st, 2020

• Spain surpasses one million coronavirus cases.
• German health minister tests positive for coronavirus.
• US claims it will have enough doses of successful coronavirus vaccines to vaccinate most vulnerable Americans by the end of the year.
• Scotland announces a five-tier coronavirus system, mirroring England’s three-tier system.

October 22nd, 2020

• Greece announces it will impose a curfew in a number of high risk areas.
• Wales announces that supermarkets in Wales will only be allowed to sell essentials during their firebreak lockdown.

October 23rd, 2020

• AstraZeneca resumes vaccine trial in the US after it was paused on the 6th September after a UK participant suffered a serious neurological illness.
• Scientists warn that US is on track to hit 500,000 deaths by the end of February.
• Dr Anthony Fauci, US infectious disease expert, says Whitehouse meetings about coronavirus have become less frequent, despite cases rising in much of the US.

October 24th, 2020

• France, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg and Austria all hit record daily increases in coronavirus cases.
• Health Minister in Czech Republic announces that the number of coronavirus deaths has doubled in two weeks.
• Tens of thousands of anti-lockdown protestors march in London leading to 18 arrests.
• University and College Union (UCU) send pre-action letter to the UK Government arguing that keeping Universities open for face-to-face teaching is illegal.

October 25th, 2020

• Italy introduces a raft of new coronavirus restrictions with people strongly advised not to leave their homes unless it is for work, health or education purposes.
• Spain declares a nationwide state of emergency.

October 26th, 2020

• Protests and looting in Italy against new coronavirus restrictions are met with teargas by police.
• Belgian health officials warn that intensive care unit in the country will be overrun within a fortnight if the current rate of infection continues.
• President Trump says claims that US cases are rising is a ‘fake news conspiracy’ and is down to extensive testing in the US.
• China tests 4.7million people in a city in Xinjiang, discovering 137 asymptomatic cases.

October 27th, 2020

• Airport Councils Europe warns that 193 European airports could face insolvency within months if passenger traffic doesn’t rebound by year-end.
• Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, is hospitalised with coronavirus.
• Italy hits highest 24 hour death toll since May.

October 28th, 2020

• 11 European countries hit their highest 24 hour case number or death tolls since pandemic began.
• France and Germany both impose month long national lockdowns.
• White House lists ‘Ending the covid-19 pandemic’ as one of President Trump’s accomplishments, despite nearly half a million Americans testing positive for coronavirus in a week.

October 29th, 2020

• EU announces it will finance the transferring of patients between nations in the bloc to stop hospitals being overwhelmed.
• West Yorkshire moves into Tier 3 restrictions.
• Greece imposes regional lockdowns in 3 areas.
• India passes 8 million cases.

October 30th, 2020

• US passes 9 million coronavirus cases.
• Belgium tightens lockdown restrictions, closing non-essential retail and restricting household visits from Monday.
• WHO declares that “Europe is at the epicenter of this pandemic once again”.
• Brazil health minister hospitalised after testing positive for covid-19.

October 31st, 2020

• UK announces 4 week national lockdown in England with non-essential retail closed and pubs and restaurants closed except for takeaways. Schools, universities and courts will remain open.
• UK passes 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases.
• Number of coronavirus related hospitalizations hit new highs in 14 European countries this week.
• Austria announces night-time curfew and the closure of cafes, bars and restaurants.
• US hits new world record of almost 90,000 new daily coronavirus cases to take it passed 9 million coronavirus cases.

November 1st, 2020

• US infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, warns that the US should prepare for a ‘whole lot of hurt’, predicting that the country will see 100,000 cases a day over winter.
• Spain sees a weekend of violent protests and looting after it announced a six month state of emergency.
• The UK’s Brexit party announces it will rebrand as ‘Reform UK’, an anti-lockdown party.
• Iran’s medical council wants that its coronavirus death toll is likely 3 times higher than official figures suggest.
• Research suggests that President Trump’s rallies have led to 30,000 extra coronavirus cases in America and 700 additional deaths.
• Slovakia test almost half of its population, in a two day mass testing programme to bring coronavirus under control.

November 2nd, 2020

• Head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, enters self-isolation after being in contact with someone with covid-19.
• President Trump breaks coronavirus curfew at his rally in Florida and threatens to fire Anthony Fauci after the US election, claiming ‘he’s been wrong on a lot’.
• Global death toll passes 1.2 million.

November 3rd, 2020

• Europe passes 11 million coronavirus cases.
• Hungary to close bars and entertainment venues and impose night-time curfew.
• The Netherlands bans public meetings of more than two people not from the same household.
• China works positive coronavirus narrative into the school curriculum.
• Denmark suspends parliamentary voting after lawmakers test positive.

November 4th, 2020

• France records over 40,000 new cases in 24 hours.
• Lithuania announces 3 week national lockdown.
• Cyprus imposes night time curfew.

November 5th, 2020

• UK extends its furlough scheme until the end of March.
• UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab goes into self-isolation.
• Irish health officials declare that it is on track to have the virus under control by the end of November.
• Outbreak at a mink factory leads to tightening of restrictions in Northern Denmark.
• WHO warns that covid-19 is having a knock-on effect on health services in Africa.

November 6th, 2020

• France (60,486) and Italy (37,809) record huge new record daily increases in cases.
• Portugal declares a state of health emergency.
• European coronavirus-related deaths pass 300,000.

November 7th, 2020

• France surpasses 40,000 coronavirus related deaths.
• Hospitals in Greater Manchester suspend non-urgent care.
• President Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, tests positive for coronavirus.
• The Queen wears a maskin public for the first time.

November 8th, 2020

• Global coronavirus infections pass 50 million.
• Hundreds of protestors gather in Manchester to protest England’s national lockdown.
• Nigel Farage relaunches the ‘Brexit Party’ as Reform UK in opposition to lockdowns.

November 9th, 2020

• Pfizer announces that its vaccine is 90% effective.
• US President-elect announces a coronavirus advisory board to manage the US’ response to coronavirus.
• UK vaccine expert says life should return to normal by Spring.

November 10th, 2020

• Senior Tory backbenchers form rebel group to oppose any move to extend England’s national lockdown beyond the 2nd December.
• UK reports its highest daily death toll since May.
• Brazil passes 5.7 million coronavirus cases.

November 11th, 2020

• Texas becomes the first US state with more than 1 million coronavirus cases.
• Italy passes 1 million coronavirus cases.
• South Africa opens up travel to all countries despite having the highest number of coronavirus cases in the region.

November 12th, 2020

• First cruise ship to sail the Caribbean since the pandemic announces it has 5 coronavirus cases onboard
• US hits 10.5 million coronavirus cases.
• French PM announces that one in four deaths in France are coronavirus related.

November 13th, 2020

• The number of coronavirus cases hits 50 million worldwide.
• Economists at Deutsche bank propose that people should pay a 5% tax for each day they work from home to get economies moving.
• Data from Public Health England suggests that people with learning difficulties are 6 times more likely to die from coronavirus in England.

November 14th, 2020

• Global death toll reaches 1.3 million with over 53 million cases.
• Anti-lockdown protests in Bristol result in 14 arrests.
• Iran imposes new lockdown restrictions with non-essential businesses to shut and cars banned from leading 100 towns and cities, including Tehran.
• Lebanon starts new two-week national lockdown.

November 15th, 2020

• Boris Johnson forced to self-isolate after being contacted by NHS test and trace app after coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.
• India flies doctors from other parts of the country to New Delhi to control the spread of coronavirus in the capital.
• Greece bans public gatherings of more than four people and closes schools.
• US passes 11 million coronavirus cases.

November 16th, 2020

• Moderna claims research shows its vaccine is 94.5% effective.
• Norwegian politicians agree on a £1.84 billion economic support package to help the country recover from coronavirus.
• Data shows the US recorded 1 million coronavirus cases last week.
• Amnesty International claims Belgium “abandoned” elderly people who died in care homes during the pandemic.

November 17th, 2020

• US President-elect Joe Biden states that Donald Trump’s refusal to cooperate with the White House transition will cost lives because of coronavirus.
• UK records 598 deaths, the highest since the 12th May.
• British Airways announces it is trialling a coronavirus testing system for passengers travelling to the UK from three American airports.

November 18th, 2020

• New data shows the Pfizer vaccine to be 95% effective.
• Switzerland’s ICU beds reach full capacity.
• Research hospital in Minnesota announces that 900 employees have caught covid-19 in two weeks.

November 19th, 2020

• Brexit negotiations are suspended after an EU negotiator tests positive for covid-19.
• US Centre for disease control warns people not to travel for Thanksgiving celebrations.
• Northern Ireland announces it will go into a tougher two week lockdown with non-essential shops shutting from the 27th November.

November 20th, 2020

• UK Health Minister, Matt Hancock, states that Pfizer vaccine could be rolled out from next month.
• Portugal approves 15 day extension of state of emergency.
• California imposes curfew on the majority of its residents as the US records its highest daily number of deaths since May.
• Canadian Prime Minister warns that rise it is seeing in covid-19 cases could overwhelm the healthcare system.

November 21st, 2020

• Portugal bans domestic travel and closes schools around two national holidays to try and halt the spread of coronavirus before Christmas.
• Hundreds of people in Merthyr Tydfil given rapid coronavirus tests in a pilot mass testing scheme.
• Observer/Opinium poll shows Christmas in lockdown is preferred by UK citizens over new January restrictions.

November 22nd, 2020

• G20 leaders pledge to “spare no effort” in ensuing equitable distribution of vaccines globally but make no concrete commitments on how to achieve this.
• Public health advisors warn that rising coronavirus cases in the Gaz strip could overwhelm health services by next week.
• Ministers across the UK endorse a shared objective of  “some limited additional household bubbling for a small number of days” over Christmas.
• Lab-confirmed coronavirus cases pass 1.5 million in the UK.

November 23rd, 2020

• UK Government says it hopes to innoculate all those most at risk from Covid-19 by Easter.
• Boris Johnson details his “Covid Winter Plan” to the UK which includes a tightened three-tier system in England post-lockdown.
• Spain’s King Felipe VI goes into self-isolation after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
• Italy records 630 new Covid-19 deaths bringing total to over 50,000.

November 24th, 2020

• UK announces plans that families can bubble in three-household groups from the 23rd-27th December for Christmas.
• France announces a three-stage easing of restrictions beginning with the opening of non-essential businesses.
• 13 African countries come together to launch the largest clinical trial of Covid-19 treatments on the continent

November 25th, 2020

• Coronavirus cases pass 60 million globally while the Americas report 1.5 million in 7 days, the highest weekly number since the start of the pandemic.
• Analysis suggests the UK trace-and-trace system reached 58% of close contacts of people in the west affected areas for Covid-19 since September.
• A senior leader of India’s Congress party, Ahmed Patel, dies of Covid-19.

November 26th, 2020

• France reports 13,563 new coronavirus infections down from 21,150 a week ago, following weeks of lockdown measures.
• British stocks fall after Matt Hancock announces that over a third of the population will remain under tough Covid-19 restrictions at the end of the national lockdown.
• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warns that mass vaccination against Covid-19 is unlikely to start in Africa until midway through 2021.
• US President Donald Trump announces that deliveries of a coronavirus vaccine will begin in the US next week.

November 27th, 2020

• Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, states that half of Canadians will have the coronavirus vaccine by September.
• Hospitals in England are told to prepare for a rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in 10 days.
• Denmark plans to exhume 17 million mink slaughtered to curb the spread of a mutant strain of coronavirus.
• South Korea’s intelligence agency claims it foils attempts by North Korea to disrupt developments of a coronavirus vaccine.
• More than 1300 people in the UK wrongly told they have coronavirus after a lab error.

November 28th, 2020

• Boris Johnson appoints Nadhim Zahawi as the minister in charge of the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• UK secures another 2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine while more than 150 people are arrested in London at an anti-lockdown protest.

November 29th, 2020

• WHO delivers 15 ventilators to hospitals in Gaza as cases soar.
• Doctors and nurses in Spain protest aginst cuts which they say have left them unable to cope with the pandemic.
• Children in Iraq return to school for the first time since February while New York prepares to reopen schools on the 7th December.

November 30th, 2020

• Final results show the Moderna vaccine to be 94% effective and nobody who was given the vaccine in test trials developed severe disease.
• Pus, bars and restaurants in wales are banned from serving alcohol and forced to shut at 6pm.
• Croatia’s PM Andrej Plenković tests positive for Covid-19.
• WHO warns that spending time with loved ones at Christmas is “not worth putting them or yourself at risk”.

December 1st, 2020

• MPs approved the UK government’s plan for a tougher tiered system for England with 78 MPs, including 53 Tory MPs, voting against the Government.
• BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna file for EU approval of Covid-19 vaccine.

December 2nd, 2020

• European Medicines Agency criticises the UK’s decision to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arguing that the UK has prioritised speed over public faith in the vaccine.
• Interpol warns that organised crime networks may attempt to sell fake Covid-19 vaccines or to steal real ones.
• Germany extends its coronavirus restrictions until the 10th January.

December 3rd, 2020

• Global coronavirus toll passes 1.5 million and UK death toll passes 60,000 (according to UK government statistics)
• US President-elect Biden states that in his inauguration speech he will ask Americans to wear face masks for his first 100 days in office.
• Facebook announces that it will remove false claims about coronavirus vaccines from its sites.
• Former US Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush pledge to take coronavirus vaccine, and potentially take it on TV, to increase faith in the vaccine.

December 4th, 2020

• WHO warns against complacency generated by the creation of successful vaccines, warning that the pandemic still has a long way to go.
• Bahrain becomes the second country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

December 5th, 2020

• Russia delivers its Sputnik V vaccine to 70 clinics to begin mass immunisation programme.
• Iran’s death toll passes 50,000.
• UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, states that a coronavirus vaccine could lead to loosening of coronavirus restrictions by March.
• UK Labour Leader, Keir Starmer, enters self-isolation.

December 6th, 2020

• Italy’s death toll passes 60,000.
• US hits record daily increase in coronavirus cases for the third day running.
• Tunisia extends night-time curfew until the end of the year as cases rise.

December 7th, 2020

• Italy’s interior minister, Luciana Lamorgese, discovers during a cabinet meeting that she has coronavirus.
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announces that the Government will provide a free Covid-19 vaccine to all Brazilians.

December 8th, 2020

• UK administers its first does of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine outside of clinical trials.
• Hong Kong imposes new coronavirus restrictions.
• US deaths surge to 2,200 a day, reaching the levels seen in April.

December 9th, 2020

• Canada becomes the third country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
• Study suggests that Covid-19 was circulating in Italy in November 2019.
• Russian official warns against drinking alcohol in the weeks following receiving the Sputnik V vaccine.

December 10th, 2020

• US records more than 3000 deaths in 24 hours for the first time.
• Israel abandons plans for a curfew which would have been in place over Hannukah.
• London hits 191.8 cases per 100,000 people, the highest rate for any area in England.
• Concerns raised that the decomposing bodies of the mink culled in Denmark over coronavirus fears may have contaminated the groundwater.

December 11th, 2020

• Portugal hits its highest number of deaths in 24 hours since the pandemic began.
• World Health Organisation argues that Christmas celebrations could turn to ‘sadness’ if people fail to be vigilant over the Christmas period.
• Preliminary data suggests that rapid coronavirus tests rolled out in Liverpool missed half of cases.
• Scientists identify mutations in five genes associated with the development of life-threatening illness from Covid-19 which could help the development of drugs to reduce the effects of the disease.

December 12th, 2020

• The United States records nearly 250,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.
• Polling shows that 22% of Brazilians would not take the coronavirus vaccine.
• Peru suspends trials for China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine after participant experiences ‘serious adverse event’ although it is not known whether it is linked to the vaccine.
• Italy overtakes the UK as the European country with the highest coronavirus death toll.

December 13th, 2020

• Greenwich council asks all schools to close early for Christmas to curb the spread of infections.
• Spanish health minister states that Spain could hit herd immunity by Summer 2021.
• Bahrain approves China’s Sinopharm vaccine.
• Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini passes away four weeks after testing positive for Covid-19.

December 14th, 2020

• WHO declares that Santa Claus is immune to coronavirus.
• Canada begins its vaccination programme.
• Polish health minister warns that Poland could face a third wave of coronavirus.

December 15th, 2020

• Eight European states announce that they will coordinate the start of their Covid-19 vaccination campaigns.
• Turkey records 235 deaths in 24 hours, its highest number since the pandemic began.

December 16th, 2020

• Germany announces that it will begin to roll out BioNTech/Pfizer Covid vaccine on 27 December.
• Twitter bans harmful false claims about Covid-19 vaccinations.
• Internal documents suggest that the ‘COVAX’ scheme, designed to ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccine, faces a “very high risk” of failure.
• The number of confirmed cases in Brazil hits 7 million.

December 17th, 2020

• French President, Emmanuel Macron, tests positive for Covid-19 forcing a number of European leaders into self-isolation.
• Northern Ireland announces a 6 week lockdown from Boxing day.
• King of Sweden condemns Sweden’s ‘failed’ response to coronavirus.

December 18th, 2020

• Italy announces new national lockdown between 24-27th December and December 31st- January 3rd, while Austria announces that it will reintroduce lockdown from the 26th December.
• Frances coronavirus death toll passes 60,000.

December 19th, 2020

• A new strain of coronavirus identified in South East England and date suggests it could be 70% more transmissible.
• The total number of coronavirus cases globally passes 75 million.
• The UK announces changes to planned relaxation of rules over Christmas with relaxation period cut to just Christmas day and much of London and the South East being moved into a new Tier 4 in which rules will not be relaxed over Christmas.
• Scotland announces travel ban with the rest of the UK.

December 20th, 2020

• A significant number of countries including Turkey, Iran, France and Sweden impose travel restrictions on passengers from the UK to avoid the spread of the new strain of coronavirus.
• Italy records its first case of the mutated virus.

December 21st, 2020

• US President-elect Joe Biden receives the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on live television.
• A number of airlines announce that they will require passengers from the UK to provide proof of negative Covid-19 tests before allowing them to travel.
• The number of people in the UK who have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine reaches 500,000.
• UK supermarkets warn that there may be food shortages if border issues with France are not resolved quickly.
• The EU approves the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

December 22nd, 2020

• AstraZeneca states that it believes its vaccine should be effective against the new strain of coronavirus.
• Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is forced to apologise for breaching coronavirus regulations by removing her face covering at a funeral.
• NHS leaders raise concerns that the vaccine rollout is not happening quickly enough.

December 23rd, 2020

• UK Government announces that more areas of the UK will be moved into Tier 4 from Boxing Day.
• Argentine becomes the first Latin American company to approve Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
• Northern Ireland identifies a case of the new mutated strain of Covid-19.

December 24th, 2020

• Another new variant of Covid-19 is discovered in Nigeria.
• Study suggests that England could face more Covid-19 deaths in the next six months than in the whole of 2020 unless restrictions are increased.
• London confirmed as the UK’s Coronavirus hotspot with more than 2% of Londoners having the virus. Meanwhile, infection rates increase in every region of England.
• Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica begin vaccination programmes.
• Italy passes 2 million coronavirus cases.

December 25th, 2020

• Queen Elizabeth praises the British people for ‘rising magnificently to the challenges of the year’ in her Christmas day message while another 570 deaths are recorded on Christmas day taking the overall UK death toll over 70,000.
• Pope Francis uses Christmas day message to urge countries to share vaccines.
• Ireland confirms that the mutated virus first identified in the UK has been found in Ireland.

December 26th, 2020

• Data shows that 1 in 1000 Americans have died from Covid-19 in less than a year.
• Global coronavirus cases pass 80 million.
• Japan bans foreign nationals from entering the country from Monday until the end of January after multiple cases of the new strain of the virus were found in the country.
• Sweden identifies its first case of the new strain of coronavirus.

December 27th, 2020

• EU launches its vaccination programme.
• Beijing begins testing 800,000 residents after two locally transmitted cases of coronavirus are identified.
• Norway and Canada both identify cases of the new strain of Covid-19 first sequenced in the UK.

December 28th, 2020

• President Trump signs $900 billion coronavirus relief package into law avoiding a partial government shutdown. He had previously refused to sign the bill criticising it for “wasteful spending”.
• Uk reports over 40,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
• Russia announces that its coronavirus death toll is three times higher than previously recorded.
• Hundreds of Britons flee a Swish ski resort after a mandatory quarantine was imposed after the new Covid variant was identified in the area.

December 29th, 2020

• UK records over 50,000 infections in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
• India reports six cases of the new COVID variant first identified in the UK.
• South Africa bans the sale of alcohol and extends its nighttime curfew as it battles its own variant of COVID-19.
• Spain announces it will maintain a registry of those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine.

December 30th, 2020

• Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for use in the UK.
• UK announces plans to delay second-stage vaccinations and prioritise giving more people their first vaccine in order to curb the spread of the virus more quickly.
• China administers 3 million doses of the vaccine in two weeks and approves its first homegrown vaccine developed by Sinopharm.

December 31st, 2020

• World Health Organisation lists Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use, enabling countries to approve vaccine use more quickly.
• Brazil detects two cases of the new variant of Covid-19 first found in the UK.
• Wisconsin police arrest a hospital employee for deliberately spoiling 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

January 1st, 2021

• US passes 20 million coronavirus cases.
• Large crowds gather in Wuhan to celebrate the New Year while New Years celebrations are cancelled in much of Europe and America.

January 2nd, 2021

• US announces it won’t follow the UK’s decision to delay the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
• More than 1000 fines are issued after illegal New Years rave in the French countryside.
• Vietnam reports its first case of new strain of Covid-19, first found in the UK.

‍

January 3rd, 2021

• UK death toll passes 75,000.
• Brazil approves import of 2 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine though the vaccine is not yet approved for use in the country.
• 6 people re-entering Greece from the UK identified as having the new strain of Covid-19.
• Ireland passes 100,000 cases.
• India approves use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and a locally developed vaccine.

January 4th, 2021

• England enters third national lockdown with schools closed and people allowed to leave their homes once a day for exercise for the next six weeks at least.
• BioNTech and Pfizer warn that the safety and efficacy of the vaccine cannot be guaranteed if booster shots are given later than was tested in trials.
• UK becomes the first country to administer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

January 5th, 2021

• GCSEs and A-Level examinations cancelled in the UK for 2020/21 as the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty announces that 1 in 50 people in the UK has coronavirus.
• Germany extends its national lockdown until the end of January.
• The UK records over 60,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

January 6th, 2021

• European Medicines Agency approves use of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.
• China blocks arrival of WHO officials sent to investigate the origins of coronavirus, claiming that their visas had not yet been approved.
• Japan hits newly daily record of coronavirus cases (6001) in 24 hours.
• Portugal extends its state of emergency.
• Ireland tightens lockdown restrictions, closing schools and construction for at least three weeks.
• Arizona declared Covid-19 ‘hot spot of the world’ by health officials, recording the highest levels of coronavirus cases in the United States.

January 7th, 2021

• Europe passes 25 million coronavirus cases.
• Israel Prime Minister claims that all over-16s in the country will be vaccinated by March.
• UK records 1162 coronavirus deaths, the highest figure since April.
• Russia passes 60,000 coronavirus deaths.

January 8th, 2021

• NHS England announces that NHS health and social care staff will be given immediate priority on receiving the vaccine, with the majority vaccinated before February.
• United States records 290,000 coronavirus cases in 24 hours, a new record.
• Iran bans the import of vaccine produced by the US and the UK because “it’s not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations”.
• ‘Major incident’ declared in London as cases soar.

January 9th, 2021

• US reports over two million new coronavirus cases in the first 9 days of 2021.
• Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh receive the coronavirus vaccine.
• UK passes three million coronavirus cases as deaths pass 80,000.

January 10th, 2021

• US lawmakers urged to get tested for Coronavirus after concerns they may have been exposed to coronavirus during the attack on the Capitol.
• Modelling suggests that 1 in 5 people in England may have had coronavirus.
• Russia detects its first case of the UK variant of coronavirus, while Japan identifies a new coronavirus strain among travellers from Brazil.

January 11th, 2021

• Portugal’s President tests positive for coronavirus and cancels all public engagements two weeks before the Presidential election.
• Two gorillas at San Diego zoo test positive for Covid-19.
• Dubai removed from UK’s travel corridor.
• Coronavirus rate in Spain hits 436 in 100,000 over the last 14 days, its highest since the start of the pandemic.
• World Health Organisation warns that herd immunity will not be achieved in 2021, despite vaccine rollout.

January 12th, 2021

• The Netherlands extends coronavirus restrictions until the 9th February, while Angela Merkel warns that Germany’s hard lockdown could last another 8-10 weeks.
• China’s Coronavac vaccine proves 50% effective in Brazil.
• Switzerland approves the Moderna vaccine.
• Portugal’s President tests negative for coronavirus after an earlier positive test.
• Ukraine requests help from the EU in procuring coronavirus vaccines.

January 13th, 2021

• The UK passes 100,000 coronavirus deaths.
• African Union announces it has secured 270 million coronavirus vaccines across three vaccine suppliers.
• Switzerland announces the closure of non-essential shops and encourages people to work from home, warning that the mutated British version of the virus has taken root in Switzerland.
• Portugal announces new coronavirus measures including the closure of non-essential businesses (except restaurants open for takeaway) to be introduced from the 15th.

January 14th, 2021

• Israel hits two million coronavirus vaccinations.
• The UK bans flights from a number of South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
• The Vatican announces that Pope Francis and former Pope Benedict have received their first coronavirus vaccine.
• Lebanon begins 11 day, 24 hour curfew with supermarkets shut and residents required to get special permission to leave the house.

January 15th, 2021

• Coronavirus death pass 2 million globally.
• US President-elect, Joe Biden’s chief of staff warns that US will hit 500,000 coronavirus death by the end of the month.
• Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, says there is little he can do about the pandemic, stating that he “should be at the beach”.

January 16th, 2021

• Statistics show Japan saw a 16% increase in the suicide rate during its second wave of coronavirus.
• Data from John Hopkins University shows the most recent 500,000 Coronavirus deaths occurred in the space of six weeks, at the start of the pandemic it took six months to reach the first 500,000 deaths.
• France implements 6pm curfew as its death toll hits 70,000.
• India begins its Covid-19 vaccination programme.

January 17th, 2021

• South Africa delays reopening schools as the new variant of Coronavirus first found in South Africa continues to spread throughout the country.
• Israel announces it will begin vaccinating Palestinians, amidst pressure from human rights groups and Palestinian officials.
• UK announces it will begin vaccinating over 70s and the clinically vulnerable people this week.

January 18th, 2021

• UK had the highest death toll in the world in the week ending 17th January, with 16.3 deaths per 1 million people.
• Czech Republic and Morroc confirm first cases of the new variant of coronavirus first identified in the UK.
• South African variant of coronavirus found to be more infectious.
• Trump announces that the US will lift travel ban on Brazil and much of Europe, including the UK, from the 26th January.

January 19th, 2021

• Germany extends national lockdown until the 14th February.
• UK records 1610 deaths in 24 hours, the highest since the pandemic began.
• European Commission states that the EU will agree on the creation of a common vaccination certificate by the end of the month but that certification would not give travel rights.
• Denmark announces that homeless people will be among the groups prioritised in vaccine distribution.

January 20th, 2021

• US President Joe Biden signs a number of executive orders on his inauguration day, including mandating mask wearing and social distancing in federal building and lands.
• India’s vaccination programme hampered by low turnout as misinformation deters people from taking the vaccine.
• Italy prepares to take legal action against Pfizer for delays in vaccine delivery.

January 21st, 2021

• Hungary licenses Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.
• Portugal bans all flights from the UK to stop spread of new Covid-19 variant.
• Pfizer cuts vaccine deliveries to some European countries by up to a half in some countries.

January 22nd, 2021

• Germany detects its first case of the Covid-19 variant first detected in Brazil.
• International Olympic Committee confirms that the Olympic Games in Tokyo are still expected to go ahead in July,
• 150 blocks in Hong Kong placed under lockdown for the first time during the pandemic.
• AstraZeneca warns that a glitch in production means there will be delays to initial vaccine deliveries to the EU.

January 23rd, 2021

• Today marks one year since Wuhan entered lockdown, confining its 11 million citizens to their homes.
• British Medical Association writes to Chief Medical officer Chris Whitty calling for the gap between vaccinations to be shortened.
• Spain’s top general resigns over allegations of vaccine queue jumping.

January 24th, 2021

• Israel cancels all passenger flights for two weeks to prevent importing mutated versions of Covid-19.
• Protests in Amsterdam over new curfew met with water cannons.

January 25th, 2021

• Moderna confirms that its vaccine works against mutated versions of the virus first found in the UK and South Africa.
• Oxfam reveals that the combined wealth of world’s ten richest men increased $400bn during the pandemic.
• Riots continue in Amsterdam for the third night in a row over the introduction of a night time curfew.
• Iceland announces plans for a system of vaccination certificates which will enable those who have been vaccinated to avoid quarantine requirements.

January 26th, 2021

• AstraZeneca announces that it will prioritise its delivery of vaccines to the UK, over delivering vaccines to the EU, as it signed its contract with the UK first.
• Lebanon sees its highest daily death toll (73) as protests continue over lockdown measures.

January 27th, 2021

• Pan American Health Organisation announces that 1 million people have died from Covid-19 across North and South America.
• UK announces compulsory hotel quarantine for those arriving firm ‘high-risk’ countries. Those seeking to leave the UK will need to make a written declaration of their need to travel.
• Norway announces plans to close borders in two days time.
• Israel announces that anyone over 35 will now be eligible for vaccines.

January 28th, 2021

• Europe faces vaccine shortages as France announces that supplies of the Moderna vaccine expected in February will be reduced by 25%.
• UN announces that the covid-19 pandemic has cost the tourism industry $1.3trillion.
• Man dies in Lebanon after clashes with police over coronavirus restrictions.

January 29th, 2021

• EU triggers, and then retracts, a Brexit clause which would have blocked vaccine exports to Northern Ireland.
• EU authorises the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for use on over 18s.
• Germany bans travellers from the UK, Ireland and Portugal.

January 30th, 2021

• Man charged after a suspicious package was sent to a vaccine production plant in Wales.
• EU and UK agree to a reset in relations, following a widely condemned attempt to override part of the Brexit agreement.
• Data reveals the UK’s daily death toll averaged over 1000 in January, the deadliest month of the pandemic in the UK so far.
• WHO urges Britain to pause Covid-19 vaccinations after it finishes vaccinating the most vulnerable, to allow those in poorer countries to receive the vaccine.
• Germany threatens legal action against laboratories failing to deliver vaccines to the EU on schedule.
• US records half of its 26 million coronavirus cases in the last two months.

January 31st, 2021

• Hundreds arrested during protests in both Brussels and Hungary over lockdown restrictions.
• Israel’s cabinet votes to extend lockdown by another five weeks, pending parliamentary approval, as Covid-19 mutations set back progress made by vaccine rollout.
• UK delivers nearly 600,000 vaccines in one day, its highest number to date.

February 1st, 2021

• BioNTech and Pfizer pledge to deliver an extra 75 million vaccines doses to the EU in the Spring.
• EU tightens travel restrictions on those outside of the block, with only travellers from countries with very low case numbers, and very few cases of the new Covid-19 variants, allowed to enter the EU.
• Germany sends 20 doctors and nurses to Portugal to help deal with overwhelmed hospitals.
• First doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrive in hard-hit South Africa.

February 2nd, 2021

• Poland announces that it will not give the AstraZeneca vaccine to over-65s.
• Trials suggest Russia’ Sputnik V vaccine has 91.6% effiacy.
• French President Emmanuel Macron announces that all French people will have been offered the vaccine by the end of summer.
• Nicola Sturgeon announces a phased return to school for the youngest school children from the 22nd February.
• Study suggests the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine provides sustained protection against Covid-19 for at least three months and cuts transmission of the virus by two-thirds.

February 3rd, 2021

• Sweden announces plans to require all foreign travellers to show a negative coronavirus test taken within the last 48 hours, upon arrival in Sweden, as of the 6th February.
• Vets in Germany announce they have trained sniffer dogs to detect coronavirus in human saliva with 94% accuracy.
• Switzerland withholds approval for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine pending further data and Belgium limits usage to under-55s.

February 4th, 2021

• Paraguay signs contract for Sputnik V vaccine.
• China will donate 100,000 vaccines to the Republic of Congo and writes off $13million in debt.
• Peru secures 20million Pfizer vaccines.
• Netherlands limits use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to under 65s.

February 5th, 2021

• Greece limits AstraZeneca vaccine to under 65s.
• US will deploy 1100 troops to help deliver America’s vaccination programme.
• Israel begins to ease coronavirus restrictions.

February 6th, 2021

• AstraZeneca warns that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has significantly reduced efficacy against the South African variant of coronavirus.
• The Netherlands passes 1 million cases.
• Protests erupt in Demark over Covid-19 restrictions and plans for a digital vaccination certificate.

February 7th, 2021

• South Africa suspends use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns about its effectiveness against the South African variant of Coronavirus.
• Hungary approves of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
• Tensions grow in Greece over allegations the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended a dinner that exceeded the size limit on gatherings.

February 8th, 2021

• WHO tells states not to dismiss the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• UK records 333 deaths, the lowest figure for six weeks.

February 9th, 2021

• WHO states that its investigation into the origin of the virus had uncovered new information but not dramatically changed understanding of the outbreak.
• Spain passes 3 million coronavirus cases.
• Ghana suspends many of its parliamentary activities after 17  MPS and 151 staff members were infected with coronavirus.

February 10th, 2021

• WHO experts endorse the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on over-65s with a gap of 8-12 weeks, after a wave of European countries restrict use of the vaccine to under-65s over concerns about efficacy.
• Israel announces plans to open up leisure facilities to those who are documented as being immune to coronavirus.
• Germany extends lockdown until the 7th March.

February 11th, 2021

• Portugal extends its lockdown until the 1st March as cases in the country surge.
• China donates 600,000 BioNTech vaccines to the Philippines.
• Ireland announces it expects to tend its lockdown until April.

February 12th, 2021

• R-value drops below 1 for the first time since July.
• Czech Republic parliament refuses to tend state of emergency despite dealing with a new, highly contagious coronavirus variant.
• French health authority recommends single vaccine shot for those who have already had Covid-19.

February 13th, 2021

• President of Iran warns that it is approaching a fourth wave of Covid-19.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that he is optimistic that his announcement of his roadmap out of lockdown on the 22nd February will include easing of restrictions.
• Poland’s agricultural minister warns that a coronavirus strain found on a Polish mink farm can be transmitted from humans to animals.
• Venezuela receives 100,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

February 14th, 2021

• 15 million Britons have now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
• Average daily number of cases in the United States drops below 100,000 for the first time in months.
• Approximately 1000 people found breaking the Covid-19 restrictions in a Belgrade nightclub, where the maximum size for gatherings is 5.
• Rwanda becomes the first African country to begin its vaccination programmes.

February 15th, 2021

• Greece, Cyprus and Israel agree to allow those with vaccination certificates to travel unimpeded between the three countries.
• Colombia receives its first Covid-19 vaccine doses.
• New WTO head warns against vaccine nationalism.

February 16th, 2021

• Scotland announces plans for phased schools reopening from Monday.
• Court rules that the Dutch Government must end its night time curfew due to a lack of legal basis for the measure. The Dutch Government plans to appeal.
• The Dominican Republic begins vaccinating healthcare workers.
• South Africa offers its doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to the African Union after suspending its use of the vaccine due to efficacy concerns.

February 17th, 2021

• Research suggests that 1 in 5 people with diabetes admitted to hospital with Covid-19 die within 28 days.
• Study shows that the pandemic added $24trillion to global debt in 2020
• German authorities raise concern over public reluctance to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and seek to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe and effective.

February 18th, 2021

• Globally, coronavirus infections fall to their lowest level since mid-October
• One in 5 people in Australia state that they are unlikely to get the coronavirus vaccine.
• WHO urges countries producing Covid-19 vaccines to donate them to the COVAX scheme.

February 19th, 2021

• Court rules that the UK Government broke the law by failing to publish details of PPE spending within the legally required 30 days of contracts being awarded.
• The Philippines records 157 Covid-19 related deaths, its highest for 5 months.
• Ireland identifies three cases f the variant of Covid-19 first identified in Brazil.
• Dutch senators approve legislation to maintain the country’s nighttime curfew until at least March, despite court ruling against the curfew earlier in the week.

February 20th, 2021

• 200 million Corovairus vaccines delivered globally.
• UK announces that all UK adults will be offered a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of July 2021.
• Morocco detected a further 21 cases of the variant of Covid-19 first detected in the UK.
• Ireland rules out reopening its hospitality sector until mid-summer.

February 21st, 2021

• One in three adults in the UK have now received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
• People living with HIV in England will no longer have to disclose their status in order to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine.
• Gaza receives 20,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from the UAE.

February 22nd, 2021

• US hits 500,000 coronavirus deaths.
• UK announces 4 stage plan to lift England out of lockdown over a period of several months, with schools reopening and outdoor socialising with one other person allowed from the 8th March.
• UK data shows a 70% drop in Covid-19 transmissions among healthcare workers who have received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

February 23rd, 2021

• Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announces plans to ease lockdown from the 5th April.
• Ireland announces plans to start reopening schools next week.
• Greek hospital doctors go on strike over ‘suffocating’ conditions in hospitals.

February 24th, 2021

• Evidence shows Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been 94% effective in Israel
• Switzerland announces plans to ease lockdown from 1st March, opening shops, museums, and libraries.
• Israel passes a law allowing the government to share the names of those who have not been vaccinated with other authorities such as local governments, education and welfare ministries.
• Danish study suggests that the Covid-19 variant first found in the UK may result in a higher number of hospitalisations than the original variant.

February 25th, 2021

• Queen Elizabeth II urges those hesitant about getting the vaccine to “think about other people than themselves”.
• Brazil’s death toll hits 250,000.
• Israel suspends plans to send Covid vaccines abroad due to criticism of perceived prioritisation of ‘vaccine diplomacy over providing vaccines to Palestine.
• African Union backs calls for drugmakers to waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines to enable access to vaccines in developing countries.
• 80% of AstraZeneca vaccines in the EU remain unused due to high levels of skepticism in the Oxford vaccine among the public.

February 26th, 2021

• Israel’s R rate rises, despite much of the population being vaccinated, as Israel eases lockdown restrictions.
• Czech Republic announces a month-long state of emergency as Covid-19 cases rise.
• Greece extends lockdown to more regions of the country.

February 27th, 2021

• UK records lowest number of cases in 5 months.
• US approves Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine.
• Three police officers are injured and 20 arrests made at anti-lockdown protests in Dublin.

February 28th, 2021

• UK hits 20 million first dose vaccinations.
• South Africa lowers its alert level from 3 to 1 as cases fall in the country.
• UK detects its first cases of the coronavirus variant first identified in Brazil.

March 1st, 2021

• Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo becomes the first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax scheme.
• France approves AstraZeneca vaccine use on over-65s with existing medical conditions.
• Czech Republic tightens coronavirus restrictions as cases surge.

March 2nd, 2021

• Tunisia detects first case of the coronavirus variant first identified in the UK.
• Venezuela receives 500,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine.
• Nigeria receives its first Covid-19 vaccines through the Covax scheme.
• Italy closes schools and increases restrictions on businesses in regions worst hit by the Covid-19 variant first found in the UK.

March 3rd, 2021

• Police in China and South Africa seize thousands of fake Covid-19 vaccinations.
• Rwanda becomes the first African nation to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
• Greece extends its lockdown to the 16th March.

March 4th, 2021

• Survey results from the ONS show that 49% of over-80s who had received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had broken lockdown rules since having the vaccine.
• Germany and Sweden recommend Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for over 65s.
• Italy halts a shipment of Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccines headed for Australia.
• Italy and Germany announce plans to give just one Covid-19 vaccine dose to those who have had Covid-19 in the last six months, in order to save scarce vaccine supplies.

March 5th, 2021

• Russia’s Rosstat statistics agency says 200,000 Russians have died since the start o the pandemic, twice the official figure.
• Saudi Arabia announces plans to reduce restrictions, including reopening entertainment venues, from the 7th March.
• Germany expresses concerns over the EU’s vaccine export band which has blocked a shipment to Australia.

March 6th, 2021

• US passes President Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan.
• Ireland hits 500,000 first vaccinations.
• The Dalai Lama receives a Covid-19 vaccination.

March 7th, 2021

• France donates 150,000 vaccinations to Slovakia.
• Rangers football fans gather in Glasgow to celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership, despite lockdown restrictions.
• Police use tear gas of protestors in Athens, protesting police violence during a coronavirus lockdown patrol.
• England invites those aged 55-59 for vaccinations.

March 8th, 2021

• Federal health officials in the US announce that fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other fully vaccinated Americans indoors without masks or social distancing.
• Italy approves use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on over-65s.
• Italy passes 100,000 coronavirus deaths.

March 9th, 2021

• Greece announces that people who have had a Covid-29 vaccine, have Covdi-19 antibodies or who test negative for the virus can travel to Greece this summer.
• 17 European countries who have received AstraZeneca vaccines from a batch that resulted in a death in Austria have paused use of a batch of the vaccine while the death is investigated.
• UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, write to the European Council denying claims that the UK has issued an “outright ban” on vaccine exports.
• Scotland announces relaxation of outdoor household mixing.

March 10th, 2021

• Brazil hits over 2000 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours for the first time since the pandemic began.
• European Medicines Agency states there is nothing so far to suggest that the Covid-19 vaccine was responsible for two deaths in Austria.
• Austria, Estonia, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Latvia suspend use of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

March 11th, 2021

• Portugal announces plans to gradually ease lockdown from next week.
• Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspend use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Two-week state of emergency declared in São Paulo.
• European Medicines Agency recommends conditionally approving the Johnson and Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine.

March 12th, 2021

• Boost in vaccine supply means all over-40s will be offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by Easter.
• Cyprus halts plans to reduce Covid-19 restrictions after the UK variant of Covid-19 causes a surge in cases.
• France hits 4 million Covid-19 cases.

March 13th, 2021

• US delivers 4.5 million coronavirus vaccines, exceeding its previous highest 24 hour total of 2.9 million doses.
• Colombia suffers first death from the Covid-19 variant first identified in Brazil.
• Italy announces plans to deliver 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines a day and to vaccinate 80%of its population by September.

March 14th, 2021

• Netherlands suspends use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Head of the Office for National Statistics that there is “no doubt” that there will be a new wave of Covid-19 cases in autumn.
• Irish health regulators recommend deferring the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Ireland.
• France announces plans to evacuate 100 Covid-19 patients from intensive care units around Paris to ease pressure on services.
• Police in the Netherlands use water cannons to disperse anti-lockdown protestors in the Hague.

March 15th, 2021

• Italy, France, Portugal, Slovenia and Cyprus suspend use of th AstraZeneca vaccine pending an assessment by the EU’s medicine regulator.
• Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, tests positive for Covid-19.
• brazil strikes deal with Pfizer for 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

March 16th, 2021

• European Medicines Agency announces it is investigating 30 cases of unusual blood disorders among 5 million recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Sweden pauses use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Two cases of a new variant of Covid-19 first identified in the Philippines recorded in the UK.
• Number of Covid-19 deaths passes 900,000 in Europe.

March 17th, 2021

• NHS Trusts warned that supply issues will lead to a significant cut in the number of vaccines available from the end of March.
• Poland announces national lockdown as cases surge.
• Brazil records over 90,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest 24 hour total to date.

March 18th, 2021

• European Medicines Agency declares the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine safe to use, declaring that the benefits outweigh the risks.
• As a result, a number of European countries including Germany, Italy and France resume use of the vaccine.
• Ukrainian capital Kyiv to enter three-week lockdown from the 20th March.

March 19th, 2021

• Covid-19 related deaths in Europe pass 1 million.
• British PM, Boris Johnson, receives his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Parisians criticised for fleeing Paris on packed trains to avoid new lockdown of the city.

March 20th, 2021

• India reports the biggest surge in new infections in four months.
• European Commission President, Von der Leyen issues warning to AstraZeneca over reduced vaccine supply.
• British MPs urge home secretary to allow protests in England, despite lockdown.

March 21st, 2021

• UK sets new record of 873,784 daily vaccinations.
• Turkey passes 30 million Covid-19 cases.
• South Africa sells one million AstraZeneca vaccines to the African Union.
• Irish PM, Micheal Martin warns that vaccine export ban would be ‘retrograde step’.
• Germany and Austria extend lockdown measures.

March 22nd, 2021

• UK lights candles in remembrance of the lives lost on the anniversary of the first lockdown.
• Brazil reports a record number of 3,251 daily Covid-19 deaths.
• Norway tightens Covid-19 restrictions, including banning public serving of alcohol.

March 24th, 2021

• Caribbean nations appeal to US President Joe Biden to share vaccines with the US’ ‘third border’.
• Brazil surpasses 300,000 deaths from Covid-19.
• Iceland tightens coronavirus restrictions, lowering cap on public gatherings from 50 to 10.

March 25th, 2021

• Mexico’s Covid-19 death toll passes 200,000.
• Sweden to resume AstraZeneca vaccine rollout for over-65s.
• UK’s emergency Covid regulations extended for another six months.

March 26th, 2021

• Czech government extends state of emergency to April 11th.
• European Medicines Agency approves two factories for production of Covid-19 vaccines.
• Germany issues travel warnings for a number of EU countries.

March 27th, 2021

• NHS England passes 25 million first vaccine administrations.
• Facebook freezes the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s Facebook account for 30 days for promoting Covid-19 misinformation.
• Turkey records over 30,000 coronavirus cases for the first time this year.

March 28th, 2021

• UK hits 30 million coronavirus vaccinations.
• Kosovo receives its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines via the Covax scheme.
• French resident Emmanuel Macron claims that France’s vaccination campaign will have caught up to the UK within a few weeks.
• Swedish officials say they will miss its target to vaccinate all adults by the 30th June due to delays to vaccine deliveries.

March 29th, 2021

• US President Biden announces that 90% of adults will be eligible for Covid-19 vaccine by 19th April.
• France records its highest number of patients in intensive care since November s it fights a third coronavirus wave.
• A spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson declares that there are no surplus vaccines for the UK to share with other countries.

March 30th, 2021

• Germany’s vaccine regulator advises against giving under 60s the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Turkey records over 37,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic.
• Greece records 4340 coronavirus cases, it’s the highest tally since the start of the pandemic.

April 1st, 2021

• German President receives the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in an attempt to increase public confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Data shows that 65,000 died of Covid-19 in Brazil in March, twice the previous highest monthly total.
• France bans drinking alcohol outdoors and closes schools as cases continue to rise.

April 2nd, 2021

• 7 deaths reported among those who have received the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination in the UK.
• Netherlands halts use of the AstraZeneca vaccine among under 60s.

April 3rd, 2021

• US sets new record by delivering 4 million Covid-19 vaccinations in one day.
• Argentinian president, Alberto Fernández, tests positive for coronavirus.
• The Philippines extends its national lockdown.

April 4th, 2021

• Bangladesh announces a 7 day national lockdown including the closure of non-essential retail.
• Frustration grows as Kuwait prioritises vaccinating its citizens over foreign nationals, who make up 70% of the population.
• Greece records 79 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest daily number in 2021.

April 5th, 2021

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that the UK’s easing of lockdown will go ahead as planned on the 12th April.
• UK Government announces plans to offer Britons twice-weekly Covid tests from the 9th April
• Saudi Arabia announces that only those who are vaccinated or who have recovered from the virus will be allowed to perform the umrah pilgrimage.
• At least 3 people shot in Bangladesh during protests over police enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions.

April 6th, 2021

• Turkey records nearly 50,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest since the pandemic began.
• US President Joe Biden announces that all US adults will be eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccination by April 19th.
• Brazil records over 4000 deaths in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

April 7th, 2021

• Belgium announces plans to restrict use of the AstraZeneca vaccination to over 55s.
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rules out national lockdown in Brazil.
• German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, backs calls for a short national lockdown as cases rise.
• UK advises against giving the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine to under 30s.

April 8th, 2021

• Australia recommends that under 50s should be given the Pfizer rather than the AstraZeneca vaccination while the Philippines suspends use of the vaccine on under 60s.
• Coronavirus death toll passes 10,000 in Scotland.

April 9th, 2o21

• WHO declares that the risks from Covid-19 are much higher than the risks associated with Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• johnson &Johnson acknowledges rare blood clotting cases found in the US but states that there is no clear causal relationship with the vaccine.

April 10th, 2021

• Iran imposes 10-day national lockdown.
• Libya officially launches its vaccination programme.
• Tunisia announces a 7pm curfew until the end of April.

April 11th, 2021

• Sicilian official warns that 80% of Sicilians are refusing to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Iran records its highest detail toll in 4 months.

April 12th, 2021

• The UK begins vaccinating over-40s, while non-essential shops, gyms and pubs reopen in England.
• Ireland restricts use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 60.
• Brazil’s President Bolsarano is expected to face inquiry into his handling of coronavirus crisis.

April 13th, 2021

• Johnson & Johnson decide to delay the rollout of its vaccine in Europe as the European Medicines Agency announces it will review cases of rare blood clots in women who have had the vaccine. Canada, the US and the EU all pause use of the vaccine.
• Turkey announces ‘partial closure’ over the first two weeks of Ramadan as cases in the country rise.
• Sweden now has the highest new Covid cases per person in Europe.

April 14th, 2021

• Sweden pauses their rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until EMA findings are given.
• WHO warns that the number of Covid-19 cases has climbed for 7 weeks in a row.
• Anthony Fauci says Australia should make Covid-19 vaccination a ‘top priority’.

April 15th, 2o21

• 77 cases of a Covid-19 variant first identified in India found in the UK.
• France becomes the eighth country to pass a 100,000 person death toll from Covid-19.
• India’s number of Covid-19 doubles in 10 days.
• World leaders, including former UK PM Gordon Brown, call for US President Joe Biden to waive intellectual property rules for Covid-19 vaccines.

April 16th, 2021

• Pregnant women in the UK will be offered a Covid-19 vaccination after data from the US produced no safety concerns.
• Health Minister in Kyrgyzstan announces they will use herbal tonic to treat Covid-19 despite warnings that it contains a potentially lethal poison.
• Latvia offersAstraZenecavvacine to anyone who wants it to clear backlog of the vaccine due to hesitancy over the AstraZeneca vaccine among older people.

April 17th, 2021

• Covid-19 death toll hits 3 million globally according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.
• India records 24,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours.
• France announces plans for a strict 10-day quarantine for all travellers arriving from Brazil from 24 April.
• Israel will lift rules requiring wearing masks outdoors following success of its vaccination programme.

April 18th, 2021

• Turkey records its highest daily death toll since pandemic began.
• Saudi Arabia announces that those performing the Umra pilgrimage to Mecca must be vaccinated.
• Half of the US adult population has received at least one vaccine dose, with nearly a third fully vaccinated.

April 19th, 2021

• Ireland records its first three cases of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
• Greece suspends rollout of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, pending review by European Medicines Agency.
• The US widens its vaccine rollout to anyone aged 16 or above.
• Boris Johnson cancels his trip to India due to the Covid-19 situation in the country.

April 20, 2021

• European Medicines Agency declares that despite a “possible link” between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and rare blood clots, the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.
• Yemen begins its vaccine rollout.
• Sweden to give under-65s who had the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose a different vaccine for their second dose.

April 21st, 2021

• Greece announces plans to reopen for tourism from the 15th May.
• France will begin rollout of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from next week.
• Syria receives its first Covid-19 vaccines courtesy of the COVAX scheme.

April 22nd, 2021

• UK identifies 55 new cases of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
• European Commission asks EU states to consider legal action against AstraZeneca over failure to meet its contractual obligations in delivery of its Covid-19 vaccine.
• Netherlands records 9000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest since January.

April 23rd, 2021

• Canada secures an agreement with Pfizer for 35 million booster shots next year and 30 million in 2023.
• Austria announces plans to loosen Covid-19 restrictions including reopening restaurants, hotels and theatres on 19th May.
• Cyprus announces plans for a two week partial lockdown from Monday.

April 24th, 2021

• Half of the UK population has now had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.
• Germany, Kuwait and Iran ban travellers from India due to growing crisis in the country.
• 23 people die and 44 are injured after a fire in a hospital in Iraq.

April 25th, 2021

• Italy announces a Covd-19 recovery package worth €222 billion (£193 billion).
• UK announces plan to send 600 pieces of equipment including ventilators to India.
• A Spanish man who coughed on colleagues and told them he’d give them coronavirus charged after infecting 22 people.

April 26th, 2021

• Portugal reports no Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours for the first time in nearly 9 months.
• United States announces plans to share up to 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines with other countries.
• Turkey announces plans to enter full lockdown from the 29th April.
• EU launches legal action against AstraZeneca for failure to fulfil its Covid-19 vaccine contracts. The move is backed by all 27 EU member states.
• The Philippines exceeds 1 million Covid-19 cases.

April 27th, 2021

• Belgium bans travel from India, Brazil and South Africa.
• Ireland approves use of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for people over 50.
• Germany delays plans to open up the country for fully vaccinated people.
• Spain, the Philippines and Cambodia impose tighter restrictions on travel from India.

April 28th, 2021

• UK secures 60 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be used as booster shots from autumn.

• Poland announces plans to ease lockdown restrictions with schools, restaurants and hotels all reopening by the end of May.
• India records its worst day yet in the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching record 24 hour numbers of new cases (360,960) and deaths (3,293).

April 29th, 2021

• All over 40s in the UK will now be offered the Covid-19 vaccine.
• Brazil passes 400,000 deaths from coronavirus.
• EU legislators approve the creation of an ‘EU-Covid-19 certificate’ enabling those with a Covid-19 vaccine or who have a negative Covid-19 test to travel across the bloc.
• France announces plans to ease its Covid-19 curfew from 19th May from 7pm to 9pm.

April 30th, 2021

• Turkey records 394 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, its highest daily toll.
• Fire breaks out at a Covid-19 centre in Gujarat, India.
• US bans non-citizens to enter the US from India from the 4th May.

May 1st, 2021

• Daily cases in India top 400,000 for the first time, after ten days of recording over 300,000 new cases a day.
• Belgian police fire water cannons and tear gas on crowd protesting Covid-19 restrictions.
• Spain announces that travellers arriving from India must quarantine for ten days.

May 2nd, 2021

• UK announces plans to send another 1000 ventilators to India.
• Liverpool hosts a trial music festival for 5000 people to test whether mass events cause the virus to spread.
• India records 3689 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, another daily record.

May 3rd, 2021

• Denmark becomes first country to state that it won’t use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in its vaccination programme over its links to a rare blood clot.
• Morocco and Algeria detect their first cases of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
• Trinidad and Tobago tightens lockdown restrictions for three weeks as cases surge and the country faces a shortage of hospital beds.

May 4th, 2021

• India passes 20 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
• Argentina’s Supreme Court overrules President Fernandez’ decree forcing the closure of schools designed to suppress the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
• Spain will allow the country’s regions to decide their own Covid-19 restrictions once the country’s state of emergency expires on the 9th May.
• Pfizer predicts a £19bn turnover in Covid-19 sales this year.

May 5th, 2021

• United States declares it’s support for patent waiver on Covid-19 vaccines.
• Canada authorises the use of the Pfizer vaccine on 12-15 year olds.
• Norway announces that it will introduce vaccine certificates, allowing people access to certain events, from June.

May 6th, 2021

• France joins the US in endorsing the waiver of  patents on Covid-19 vaccines.
• Brazil hits 15 million Covid-19 cases.
• England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, warns that Covid-19 is unlikely to ever be eradicated.

May 7th, 2021

• World Health Organisation approves China’s Sinopharm vaccine, making it the fifth vaccine to be approved by the WHO.
• England announces green list of twelve countries for travel to from May 17th.
• WHO warns that 46 million displaced people, including refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people, have been excluded from national Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

May 8th, 2021

• Pope Francis backs Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver but German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposes the move, claiming it could impact the quality of vaccinations.
• Italy announces plans to remove quarantine restrictions on travellers from European countries, including the UK.
• The Covid-19 variant first identified in India is found in South Africa.

May 9th, 2021

• Data shows a third of UK adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• European Commission says it will not renew its order for Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccines after June.
• Laos records its first Covid-19 related death.

May 10th, 2021

• England, Scotland and Northern Ireland report no Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours for the first time since July.
• US regulators approve use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on adolescents.
• WHO classifies the B.1.617 variant first identified in India as a ‘variant of global concern.’

May 11th, 2021

• EU opens second court case against AstraZeneca over failure to deliver vaccine supplies.
• Pfizer asks UK medical regulator for permission to use its Covid-19 vaccine on 12-15 year olds in the UK.
• Data shows that more Covid-19 patients died in care homes during the second wave of Covid-19 than in the first.
• Brazil suspends the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine among pregnant women after a pregnant women dies of a stroke after receiving the vaccine.

May 12th, 2021

• United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention says there is a ‘plausible causal association’ between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and potential blood clots.
• Norway announces that it will not resume use of the Astrazeneca vaccine and will delay decisions over the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Malaysia record 39 Covid-19 related deaths, its highest figure since the pandemic began

May 13th, 2021

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warns that the Indian variant is of concern, as UK cases of Indian strain more than double.
• The United Arab Emirates approves the emergency use of Pfizer vaccines on children.
• Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez says the nation is on track for herd immunity.

‍

May 14th, 2021

• The Lithuanian Government announces that it will donate 200,000 vaccines to its Eastern European neighbours.
• Stocks in Singapore fall as new guidelines restricting gatherings and public activities were announced.
• World Health Organisation chief warns that the second year of the coronavirus is set to be more deadly.

May 15th, 2021

• Taiwan raises its Covid-19 alert level in Taipei.
• Trinidad and Tobago declare state of emergency as hospitals reach capacity.
• The UK Government said it is responding “coolly” and “calmly” to the Indian variant.

May 16th, 2021

• Health experts warn that people should ignore Monday’s easing of lockdown and avoid socialising indoors to stop the spread of the Indian variant.
• Italy’s daily death toll falls below 100 for the first time since October.
• Health Secretary Matt Hancock says a decision will be made on the 14th June as to whether all legal restrictions can end in England.

May 17th, 2021

• Malaysia records its highest daily Covid-19 death toll.
• Germany announces it will offer vaccines to all citizens aged over 16 from June and scrap their Covid-19 vaccine priority list.
• Italy extends their nationwide nighttime curfew from 10pm to 11pm.

May 18th, 2021

• Singapore approves Covid-19 vaccines for use in 12-15 year olds.
• Egypt announces they will prioritise vaccination of tourism workers.
• Mexico aims to ensure its population has had at least one Covid-19 shot by October.

May 19th, 2021

• Pfizer invests 40 million dollars in a vaccine centre in Ireland.  
• EU announces it will allow fully vaccinated UK holidaymakers to visit the bloc.
• India hits record number of 4,529 daily deaths since the start of the pandemic.

May 20th, 2021

• Canada announces they will renew non-essential travel restrictions to the United States.
• Public Health England shows that two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is 85-90% effective against symptomatic Covid-19.
• G20 leaders announce they will back Covid-19 vaccine voluntary licensing but not a patient waiver.
• EU reaches deal on Covid-19 passes to allow tourism across the bloc over summer.

May 21st, 2021

• Germany declares the UK as a virus variant region.
• Deaths from covid-19 reach 1 million in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The IMF have propose a $50 billion project to end the pandemic by vaccinating 40% of the world’s population by the end of 2021.
• Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson announce at the G20 Health Summit that they will supply approximately 3.5 billion vaccine doses at cost price or heavily discounted to low and middle income countries.
• Indian IT Ministry requests all social media companies remove any content that refers to the ‘Indian variant’ of Covid-19.

May 22nd, 2021

• The UK’s health secretary confirms that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are almost as effective against the ‘Indian’ variant as they are against the ‘Kent’ variant.
• Italy hits 30 million vaccine doses administered, with 10 million fully vaccinated.
• A climbing guide confirms outbreak of Covid-19 on Mount Everest, with 100 infected.

May 23rd, 2021

• Israel announces plans to to remove all local Covid-19 restrictions in early June.
• France records 70 Covid-19 deaths, its lowest figure for 7 months.
• UK hits 60million vaccine doses administered.

May 24th, 2021

• Malta becomes first EU country to have 70% of its adult population receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• Wall Street Journal report alleges that staff in a virus laboratory in Wuhan fell ill before the first person with Covid-19 type systems was admitted to hospital. China denies the claims.
• Bahrain and Malaysia both report record numbers of deaths from Covid-19.

May 25th, 2021

• EU countries agree to donate at least 100 million Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries by the end of the year.
• Trial finds that the Moderna vaccine is effective against transmission in 12 to 18 year olds.
• Vietnam extends lockdown restrictions in the north of the country as it suffers its largest Covid-19 outbreak to date.

May 26th, 2021

• President Biden orders US intelligence service to report within 90 days into the origins of Covid-19.
• Belgium limits use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those over 41 after a woman dies after receiving the vaccine.
• France imposes mandatory quarantine on travellers from the UK due to concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
• Slovakia becomes the second EU country to approve use of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
• European Commission seeks court order to force Astrazeneca to deliver millions more vaccines to the bloc.

May 27th, 2021

• President Biden states that he will likely release US intelligence report into the origins of Covid-19 in full when the report is complete.
• Argentina hits record 41,080 new cases of Covid-19 in one day.
• Ireland’s health minister said it is currently unclear as to whether enough vaccines would arrive by the end of June to meet Government targets.
• Sweden’s Prime Minister has said they will ease restrictions from June 1.

May 28th, 2021

• European Medicines Agency endorses Cominarty vaccine for use on children aged over-12.
• Japan extends Tokyo’s coronavirus state of emergency status for 20 days.
• Johnson & Johnson ‘one-dose’ vaccine approved for use in the UK.
• Greece unveils the first EU Covid-19 passport to be up and running before July 1.

May 29th, 2021

• Data shows more than half of people in their 30’s in England received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in the second half of May.
• India records its lowest daily rise in Covid-19 cases for 45 days.
• The Duchess of Cambridge receives her first Covid-19 vaccine.

May 30th, 2021

• Scientists warn ministers that a third wave may have already started in the UK.
• Data shows that only 1% of the 1.3 billion vaccines injected globally have been administered in Africa.
• Vietnam identifies a new coronavirus variant which is a combination of Covid-19 variants first identified in the UK and in India.
• Kenya extends its nightly curfew by 60 days.

May 31st, 2021

• The football tournament, Copa America, moves from Argentina to Brazil following a surge in infections.
• Peru revises its official Covid-19 death toll to nearly triple the previous figure.
• WHO reveals names of Covid-19 variants to avoid international stigma.
• France opens vaccines to all adults.

June 1st, 2021

• Britain records no new deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test for the first time since July 2020.
• The World Health Organisation approves the Chinese Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.
• India sets a target to reach 10 million Covid-19 vaccinations per day by July.

June 2nd, 2021

• Mexico sees 3,000 new cases in one day, however, separate Government data suggests their death toll is at least 60% higher than the confirmed figure.
• Germany announces plans to build reserve vaccine capacity to fight future pandemics.
• EU Governments agree to add Japan to list of countries allowed for non-essential travel.

June 3rd, 2021

• UK reports its highest number of new cases in one day since March 2021.
• Wales announces plans to ease lockdown restrictions on June 7.
• France’s average daily Covid-19 deaths fall below one hundred for the first time since October 2020.
• The US commits to donating 75% of its unused vaccines to COVAX.
• Portugal removed from the UK Government’s ‘green list’ of destinations.

June 4th, 2021

• Argentina and Serbia announce plans to start production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
• UEFA announces that it is in talks with the UK Government about easing restrictions for overseas supporters during the knockout stages of the Euro 2020 championships.

June 5th, 2021

• UK Government advisor has says it would “foolish” to go ahead with reopening on June 21.
• France announces it will allow tourists from the UK if they have had two vaccine doses.
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge G7 leaders at the Summit to commit to global vaccination by the end of 2022.
• NHS boss says that the Delta variant is ‘not significantly increasing hospital numbers’.

June 6th, 2021

• UK Health Secretary says that Ministers are open to delaying the reopening date of June 21 if the spread of the Delta variant worsens.
• The US announces that it will donate 750,000 vaccine doses to Taiwan.
• World Health Organisation official says that eradicating Covid-19 is now no longer a “reasonable target”.

June 7th, 2021

• Norway announces plans to shorten vaccine intervals from 12 to 9 weeks.
• Spain reopens borders to vaccinated international travellers.
• Indian Prime Minister Modi announces free vaccines for all adults over-18.

June 8th, 2021

• Vaccine passports to be used for the first time in the UK at sporting events for England’s Euro 2020 group games at Wembley.
• World Bank rejects vaccine patent waivers claiming it would hamper innovation on the pharmaceuticals sector.
• Pfizer begins testing its Covid-19 vaccine on a larger cohort of children under 12.

June 9th, 2021

• ONS estimates that 80% of adults in the UK have Covid-19 antibodies.
• US announces plans to buy 500 million more doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to share through the COVAX scheme.
• Spain scraps plans to reopen nightlife, just a week after introducing it.

June 10th, 2021

• Ukraine reiterates that it will not allow those vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine into the country unless they also provide a negative Covid-19 test.
• Bulgaria announces plans to lift compulsory wearing of face masks in certain indoor spaces where all workers are vaccinated.
• Singapore announces plans for a phased easing of Covid-19 restrictions from Monday.

June 11th, 2021

• Germany announces it is set to ift its virus travel warning for tourists to most countries from 1st July.
• Province in Pakistan province announces it will boc the mobile phones of those refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Government data suggests Covid-19 cases in England are rising at their fastest rate since the winter wave.

June 12th, 2021

• Covid-19 cases in Russia reach a three-month high.
• Saudi Arabia bans foreign visitors from the Hajj pilgrimage.
• Prime Minister Johnson warns that the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 is of ‘serious serious concern’.

June 13th, 2021

• G7 leaders call for an investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Portugese President pledges not to return to Covid-19 restrictions, despite surging cases of Covid-19 in the country.
• Peru passes two million Covid-19 cases.
• Moscow Mayor offers citizens a chance to win a car if they get vaccinated.
• G7 pledges 870 million vaccine doses to COVAX.

June 14th, 2021

• England delays the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions by four weeks.
• South Africa bins 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a possible contamination of ingredients.
• WHO says Africa will get priority treatment for the 870 million vaccine doses pledged by the G7.

June 15th, 2021

• Over-18s set to be eligible for Covid-19 vaccine in England by the end of the week.
• First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, says further relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions likely to be delayed by three weeks.
• Slovenia ends its state of emergency after eight months.

June 16th, 2021

• MPs in England approve regulations to delay to easing of lockdown restrictions to 19th July.
• Taj Mahal reopens as India starts to reopen to try and revive its economy.
• France announces plans to end mandatory mask wearing outside and moves its curfew lifting forwards by 10 days.
• Germany’s CureVac vaccine fails a late-stage trial.

June 17th, 2021

• Wales postpones relaxation of coronavirus restrictions by four weeks, as Delta variant causes cases to surge.
• UN warns that drought could be the next pandemic.
• Disneyland Paris reopens as France’s tourism industry beings to return to normality.
• 350 Indonesian doctors have contracted Covid-19 despite receiving China’s Sinovac vaccine.
• Germany announces it will reopen its borders to non-EU nationals who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in late June.

June 18th, 2021

• Netherlands announces it will relax regulations around wearing face masks and lifts most regulations around group sizes from June 26th.
• WHO Chief Scientist says the Delta variant of Covid-19 is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease.
• Uganda imposes ban on the movement of all vehicles except for essential workers.

June 19th, 2021

• Brazil passes 500,000 Covid-19 related deaths, as protestors take to the streets over President Bolsonaro’s handling of the pandemic.
• Belgium announces plans to ban entry to non-EU travellers from the UK to help stop the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
• Cambodia reports 20 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, it’s highest figure since the pandemic began.

June 20th, 2021

• China hits one billion vaccines delivered.
• Mandatory mask-wearing and nightly curfew ends in France today.
• Member of Uganda’s olympic team denied entry to Japan after testing positive for Covid-19.

June 21st, 2021

• President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte threatens to jail anyone who refuses to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
• Indonesia passes 2 million Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began.
• UK confirms it is working on a booster vaccination programme.
• Every adult in India now eligible for a free vaccine paid for by the federal government.

June 22nd, 2021

• Poland imposes mandatory 7-day quarantine on travellers from the UK to stop the spread of the Delta variant.
• Cuba announces that its three shot Abdala vaccine is 92% effective against Covid-19 but doesn’t provide details of clinical testing.

June 23rd, 2021

• Angela Merkel says travellers from the UK should have to quarantine wherever they arrive in the EU, amid concerns about the Delta variant.
• Australian federal government announces it will stop delivering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from October.
• Switzerland announces it will end most of its Covid-19 restrictions by the weekend.

June 24th, 2021

• Malta and the Balearic Islands to be added to the UK’s green list.
• Mexico’s health regulator approves use of the Pfizer vaccine on children over 12.
• Japan’s emperor raises concerns over the possible spread of Covid-19 during the Tokyo Olympic games.

June 25th, 2021

• UK records over 15,000 new cases in 24 hours as positive cases rise more than 50% in a week.
• Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Hichem Mechich, is diagnosed with coronavirus.
• Germany imposes strict travel restrictions on travellers from Russia and Portugal to help reduce the spread of the Delta variant.

June 26th, 2021

• Sajid Javid appointed Health Secretary following Matt Hancock’s resignation.
• UK records 18,270 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, the highest daily rise since February.

June 27th, 2021

• Half of under-30s in the UK have now received their first vaccine.
• Luxembourg Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, tests positive for Covid-19.
• South Africa imposes new Covid-19 restrictions including school closures and a curfew to stop the spread of the Delta variant.

June 28th, 2021

• Hong Kong bans all flights from the UK over fears about the Delta variant, while Spain reimposes requirement that UK travellers show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid result.
• Italy removes mask wearing requirements outdoors.

June 29th, 2021

• Scottish Health Minister, Maree Todd, tests positive for Covid-19.
• Guatemala demands refund from Russia after it fails to deliver promised Sputnik V vaccines.
• Ireland announces plans to restrict indoor dining to those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or who have already had the virus.

June 30th, 2021

• Switzerland donates 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the Swiss regulator yet to approve use of the vaccine in Switzerland.
• Bangladesh deploys soldiers to enforce a strict lockdown as cases of the Delta variant rise.
• Putin reveals he was vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

July 1st, 2021

• Germany’s vaccine committee recommends that all those who were given the AstraZeneca vaccine are given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second dose.
• Kazakhstan orders mandatory vaccinations for workers in a number of key sectors.

July 2nd, 2021

• South Africa records 24,270 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest figures since the pandemic began.
• Slovakia sells bak most of its doses of the Sputnik V vaccine after low take up rate.
• US announces plans to donate 4 million Moderna vaccines to Indonesia.

July 3rd, 2021

• NHS celebrates its 73rd birthday.
• Phase 3 trials for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine show it is 93.4% effective against severe disease.
• Russia reports its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began for the fifth day in a row.

July 4th, 2021

• Luxembourg Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, admitted to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 last week.
• A zoo in California administers an experimental Covid-19 vaccine to its most at-risk animals.
• Bangladesh records 153 deaths in 24 hours, its highest daily total since the pandemic began.

July 5th, 2021

• England confirms plans to remove all regulations on face masks and social distancing on July 19th.
• The Duchess of Cambridge enters self-isolation after coming into contact with someone with Covid-19.
• Africa sees more Covid-19 cases in the last week than at any other time during the pandemic.

July 6th, 2o21

• Latvian news reports that employers will be allowed to sack employees who have not had their Covid-19 vaccines by the 15th September.
• Zimbabwe re-enters lockdown as Covid-19 cases rise.

July 7th, 2021

• Turkmenistan announces it will make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for over-18s.
• UK’s weekly Covid-19 case levels double those of the week before.
• Data shows that 40% of cases in France are the Delta variant of Covid-19.

July 8th, 2021

• Olympics organisers ban spectators from the Tokyo Olympic Games.
• English holidaymakers travelling to Amber list countries will not have to quarantine on return if they are fully vaccinated from the 19th July.
• Zimbabwe received 2 million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine.

July 9th, 2021

• European and UK drugs regulators identify a possible and very rare link between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and heart inflammation.
• Malta closes its borders to anyone who has not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• France’s health regulator recommends compulsory vaccinations for those who regularly work with people who are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.
• North ore rejects planned shipment of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine offered through the Covax scheme.

July 10th, 2021

• G20 finance ministers warn that new Covid-19 variants could threaten the global economic recovery.
• Russia records 752 deaths in 24 hours, its highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

July 11th, 2021

• Israel to deliver Pfizer booster shots this week.
• 600 medical workers in Thailand who received two doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine have been infected with Covid-19.
• Protests break out in Cuba over the country’s handling of the pandemic.

July 12th, 2021

• European Medicines Agency announces it is investigating rare cases of a nerve disorder emerging from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Greece announces that people visiting indoor restaurants, cafes and bars will have to prove they have been vaccinated.
• Bangladesh announces it will lift its national lockdown for Eid al-Adha, even as cases continue to rise.

July 13th, 2021

• Scotland announces it will move to level 0 Covid-19 restrictions from 19th July, although some restrictions will remain.
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces that face masks will remain mandatory on TfL services after July 19th.

July 14th, 2021

• Spain’s Constitutional Court rules that elements of the national state of emergency declared during the first wave of the pandemic were unconstitutional.
• EU decides not to add the UK to its travel green list this week, but adds Ukraine.
• Russia reports 786 Covid-19 related deaths, its highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.
• United States donated 500,000 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to Costa Rica.

July 15th, 2021

• WHO calls on China to cooperate more with the next phase of the investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Over 3 million people in France book Covid-19 vaccines in the space of 72 hours after learning vaccines would soon be required for participation in many aspects of daily life.
• Covd-19 related deaths in Africa increase 43% in a a week.

July 16th, 2021

• 1,200 scientists call England’s Covid-19 unlocking an ‘unethical experiment’, describing it as a threat to the world.
• Canada announces it hopes to open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers by September.
• UK confirms over 50,000 new cases of Covid-19 for the first since January.

July 17th, 2021

• UK Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, tests positive for Covid-19.
• First case of Covid-19 identified in Tokyo’s Olympic village.
• Thailand imposes a nationwide ban on public gatherings after reporting over 10,000 new cases in 24 hours.

July 18th, 2021

• Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak u-turn and decide to self-isolate after coming into contact with Health Secretary Sajid David who later tested positive for Covid-19.
• UK scientific advisor warns that cases could get hit 100,000 a day over summer.

July 19th, 2021

• England removes the vast majority of Covid-19 restrictions including social distancing and
• United States advises Americans not to travel to the UK, moving its risk level for travel to the UK to “very high”.
• Research by the International Labour Organisation finds that women have been hit hardest by the pandemic globally, with only men’s employment expected to return to 2019 levels by the end of the year.

July 20th, 2021

• Tokyo Olympics Chief declines to rule out cancelling the games if Covid-19 cases increase significantly.
• Covid-19 infections increase 150% in a week in France.
• UK reports 96 deaths in 24 hours, its highest death toll since March.

July 21st, 2021

• 800 people in Uganda given fake Covid-19 vaccines in scam by doctors.
• Chile approves emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
• Nearly 50,000 Covid-19 patients in India suffer from deadly black fungus which follows the Covid-19 spread.

July 22nd, 2021

• Half of adults in the EU have now been fully vaccinated
• Workers from 16 key sectors in the UK will no longer have to isolate if they get pinged by the UK’s track and trace app.
• German pharmacies stop issuing digital Covid-19 passports after hackers create fake passports.

July 23rd, 2021

• United states purchases another 200 million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for potential use as booster vaccines or on children.
• New Zealand suspends quarantine free travel with australia as New South Wales declares a national emergency.
• Indonesia reports 1,566 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, its highest levels since the pandemic began.

July 24th, 2021

• Another athlete at the Tokyo Olympics tests positive for Covid-19.
• Tunisia reports 317 deaths in 24 hours, the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.
• Vietnam records its highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began.

July 25th, 2o21

• Malaysia passes 1 million Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.
• Protests break out in Tunisia over the country’s health, economic and social situation.

July 26th, 2021

• Russia approves clinical trials combining the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines.
• Tunisia orders a month long nighttime curfew.
• Tanzania receives its first shipment of vaccines through the Covax scheme.

July 27th, 2021

• Kuwait announces that only citizens who are vaccinated will be allowed to travel abroad.
• EU announces that it has reached its target of administering a Covid-19 vaccine to 70% of adults by the end of July.
• Covid-19 case numbers in the UK fall for the seventh consecutive day.

July 28th, 2021

• Data suggests that the Pfier vaccine reduces to 84% efficacy after six months.
• France announces plans for a health pass to be used in cafes and for travel from the 9th August.
• Centre for Disease Control and Protection warns that evidence shows that vaccinated people can spread the Covid-19 Delta variant to others.

July 29th, 2021

• Pakistan announces it will ban air travel for anyone without a Covid-19 vaccine certificate from August.
• Phillippine President Duterte declares that officials should detain those who refuse to get a Covid-19 vaccine inside their homes.
• Israel to begin offering a booster vaccine to Over-60s.

July 30th, 2021

• Walt Disney Company makes vaccination mandatory for its employees in the United States.
• Thailand bans sharing news that “causes public fear” even if reports are true.
• UK begins process of delivering 9 million Covid-19 vaccines abroad.

July 31st, 2021

• Department for Education rules out bringing in vaccine passports for university students.
• Berlin bans planned anti-lockdown protests in the area.

August 1st, 2021

• Thousands of protestors take to the streets of Berlin to protest Germany’s Covid-19 restrictions, despite a ban on the gatherings.
• Tunisia receives 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccines from Italy.
• Dr Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s Chief Medical Adviser, says he does not expect that the United States will return to lockdowns.

August 2nd, 2021

• Germany announces plans to benign administering boosting shots and to offer vaccines to children over 12 from September.
• Over 70% of adults in the United States have now received at least one Covid-19 vaccine.
• Two arson incidents reported at vaccination centres in Poland.

August 3rd, 2021

• UK reports 138 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, the highest number of daily deaths since the 17th March.
• China plans to test all 11 million of Wuhan’s residents after 8 cases were identified in the region.
• Pakistan hits its target of delivering one million vaccines a day.
• New York announces it will require vaccination for indoor dining, concerts and gyms.

August 4th, 2021

• UK will offer Covid-19 vaccines to 16 and 17 year-olds.
• WHO calls for nations to pause delivering Covid-19 vaccine boosters until at least 10% of the population in every country is vaccinated.
• China limits domestic travel in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19.

August 5th, 2021

• Italy announces that teachers will need proof of immunity from Covid-19 from September.
• Wales announces it will replicate changes to international travel restrictions implemented in the rest of the UK from Saturday.
• France’s constitutional court rules that its proposed health pass for access to bars and restaurants is lawful.

August 6th, 2021

• One in twoAmericans now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Daily Covid-19 cases in the United States rise above 100,000 for the first time since February.
• Prime Minister of St Vincent and Grenadines hit by a stone at a protest against a bill proposing mandatory vaccination for frontline public-sector workers.

August 7th, 2021

• Police fire teargas and rubber bullets on protestors in Bangkok, protesting the country’s slow vaccine rollout.
• France sees a fourth weekend of protests over plans for a new health pass.

August 8th, 2021

• Vietnam reports 9,690 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest daily increase since the pandemic began.
• Democratic ReUK public of Congo makes not wearing a mask in Lubumbashi punishable by up to seven days in jail.

August 9th, 2021

• Anti-vaccine protestors storm what they believed to be BBC news headquarters, though the building is now primarily rented to ITV for filming of its daytime shows.
• Police warn that fake Covid-19 ‘green passes’ are circulating in Italy just days after benign introduced.
• Frances’s controversial health pass comes into effect.
• Iranian State TV announces that one person is dying every two minutes in Iran fro Covid-19.

August 10th, 2021

• Thailand reverses plans to introduced regulations over circulation of news that may “cause public fear”.
• UK records 146 deaths in 24 hours, its highest figure since MArch.
• Over 75% of adults in the UK now fully vaccinated.
• Germany announces it will scrap free Covid-19 testing in a bid to encourage more people to get vaccinated.

August 11th, 2021

• China approves its first mixed-vaccine trial as concerns rise over the efficacy of domestically produced vaccines.
• UK scientific advisor warns that Covid is unlikely to be eradicated as no vaccine is 95% effective.

August 12th, 2021

• Israel announces plans to require Covid-19 tests for children to entr schools, hotels  and other public spaces.
• New Zealand reaffirms its commitment to continuing its Covid-19 elimination strategy indefinitely.
• Data suggests that anxiety and depression may have double among young people globally during the pandemic.

August 14th, 2021

• Iran orders a week-long lockdown to try and limit a Covid-19 surge in the country.
• Russia records 819 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, its highest levels since the pandemic began.

August 15th, 2021

• Iran reports over 600 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, for the first time since the pandemic began.
• Department for Health announces that all 16 and 17 year-olds will be offered a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by Monday 23rd August.

August 16th, 2021

• Paralympic organisers announce that the Tokyo Paralympics won’t have spectators, in line with the Olympics held earlier in the summer.
• UK health regulator denies any link between Covid-19 vaccines and both miscarriages and changes to menstrual periods.

August 17th, 2021

• UK gives emergency authorisation for the use of Moderna’s Covid vaccine on 12 to 17 year-olds.
• Consultation put to residents in Scotland to make temporary powers to impose lockdowns and close schools permanent.

August 18th, 2021

• Ireland announces that 90% of adults in the country have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• WHO says it is confident China will cooperate with investigations into the origins of Covid-19 after an official suggested a Wuhan lab worker may have been patient zero.
• United states announces it will begin offering Covid-19 booster shots in late September.

August 19th, 2021

• Covid-19 related hospitalisations among under 50s hit their highest levels in the US since the pandemic began.
• New Zealand extends its national lockdown for another four days.

August 20th, 2021

• Sri Lanka announces a nationwide lockdown.
• United States extends its requirement that people wear face masks on planes, buses and trains.
• Vietnam reports a record number of daily Covid-19 infections.

August 21st, 2021

• Vietnam hits record number of daily Covid-19 infections for second day in a row.
• Anti-lockdown protestors clash with police in Australia.

August 22nd, 2021

• Australia announces its strict lockdown restrictions will remain in place until at least 70% of the country is fully vaccinated.
• New Government Covid-19 antibody testing programme to launch in the UK next week.

August 23rd, 2021

• Israel to offer Covid-19 vaccines to students on school grounds.
• US gives full approval for use of the Pfizer vaccine.
• China reports no new locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 for the first time since July.

August 24th, 2021

• Five billion Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered globally.
• Nigeria approves of China’s Sinopharm vaccine.
• Edinburgh fringe launches £7.5m emergency appeal after loss of income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

August 25th, 2021

• Taiwan reports zero community cases of Covid-19 for the first time since May.
• US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin says military troops must get vaccinated immediately after the Pfizer vaccine gets approved.

August 26th, 2021

• Number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 in the United States hits 100,000 for the first time since January.
• Survey finds that a third of UK social care managers have quit or are considering quitting by Autumn over mandatory vaccinations.

August 27th, 2021

• Denmark to lift all Covid-19 restrictions by 10th September.
• Study finds that half of those admitted to hospital with Covid-19 still have symptoms a year later.

August 28th, 2021

• India administers over 10 million vaccines in one day.
• President Biden accuses China of withholding critical information on the origins of Covid-19.

August 29th, 2021

• Israel offers booster vaccinations to anyone over the age of 12 who is fully vaccinated.
• UAE requires residents in Abu Dhabi who received the Sinopharm vaccine more than 6 months ago to get a booster vaccine.

August 30th, 2021

• The Philippines records 22,366 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest levels since the pandemic began.
• South African scientists detect a new variant of Covid-19 which may be more transmissible.
• France announces it will provide 10 million Covid-19 vaccines to Africa over the next three months.

August 31st, 2021

• UK Government says it is following through on plans to introduce vaccine passports for nightclubs and other similar venues from the end of September.
• Israel records 11,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest levels since the pandemic began, despite high vaccination levels in the country.
• 70% of adults in the EU now vaccinated against Covid-19.

September 1st, 2021

• UK announces plans to give third vaccines to half a million severely immunocompromised people.
• France begins administers booster shots to over-65s.

September 2nd, 2021

• Vaccines produced in a South African plant will now remain in Africa, rather than being sent to Europe.
• India reports nearly 50,000 new cases, its highest increase in almost two months.

September 3rd, 2021

• UK Government vaccines watchdog declares that there is not enough evidence for it to recommend the use of Covid-19 vaccines on 1-15 year olds.
• North Korea rejects offer of vaccines from the COVAX scheme.

September 4th, 2021

• Brazil’s heath regulator suspends the use of 12 million Chinese Sinovac vaccines produced in an unauthorised plant.
• Bahrain becomes the first country to authorise the use of the Sputnik V vaccine as a booster vaccine.

September 5th, 2021

• The UK’s vaccine minister confirms that vaccine passports will be compulsory for mass events and large venues by the end of September.
• Russia passes 7 million Covid-19 cases.

September 6th, 2021

• Philippines records a new high of 22,415 new Covid-19 infections in 24 hours.
• UK announces it will allocate £5.4billion to the NHS to help address backlog caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

September 7th, 2021

• 80% of over-16s in the UK are now fully vaccinated.
• UK records 209 deaths in 24 hours, its highest levels since March.
• Climate action groups call for COP26 to be postponed over concerns about quarantine restrictions on delegates from red-list countries.
• Sweden announces it will remove almost all Covid-19 restrictions on the 29th September.

September 8th, 2021

• Australia endorses waiving vaccine patents.
• Covax scheme set to receive 575 million less Covid-19 vaccines than previously expected.
• Switzerland announces that people will need to show Covid-19 status to enter bars and restaurants from Monday.

September 9th, 2021

• Scotland announces plans to require Covid-19 vaccine passports for night clubs and mass events from 1st October.
• UK medicines regulator approves use of Covid-19 vaccines as booster shots.

September 10th, 2021

• 92% of local areas in the UK see a week-on-week rise in Covid-19 cases.
• Greece approves fines of €5000 for each fake vaccination, recovery or test certificate issued after country flooded by fake vaccine passports.

September 11th, 2021

• 120,000 people join protests in France to protest against Covid-19 health passports.
• Former Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott fined $500 for failing to wear a mask.

September 12th, 2021

• UK Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, confirms that plans for Covid-19 passports in the UK are being scrapped.
• New Zealand purchases 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines from Denmark to help tackle a cluster of infections in Auckland.
• Iraq receives 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines from Italy via COVAX.

September 13th, 2o21

• The UK’s Chief Medical Officers decide children aged 12-15 will be offered Covid-19 vaccines.
• UK pulls out of a deal with with French pharmaceutical Valneva to purchase its Covid-19 vaccination.

September 14th, 2021

• Russian President Putin self-isolating after Covid-19 cases detected in his entourage.
• Sierra Leone ends its curfew in place which had been in place since early July.
• Turkey reports its highest number of cases since May.

September 15th, 2021

• EU commits to providing an additional 200 million Covid-19 vaccines to other countries by the middle of next year, on top of 250 million already pledged.
• Italy announces plans to make Covid-19 “green pass” mandatory for certain workers in an attempt to increase vaccine uptake.

September 16th, 2021

• France suspends 3000 healthcare workers for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine.
• 1 billion people in China now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

September 17th, 2021

• Amber travel list scrapped in the UK and replaced with a red or green traffic light system.
• Slovenian Government announces that public employees must be vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Cuba begins vaccination children as young as two against Covid-19.
• France hits 50 million people who have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine.

September 18th, 2021

• Singapore reports over 1000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours for the first time since April 2020.
• Half-term holiday bookings increase by 200% after relaxation of England’s travel restrictions.

September 19th, 2021

• England to send out invitations for Covid-19 booster vaccines to 1.5 million people this month.
• 13 African countries have now reached the WHO’s target of fully vaccinating at least 10% of their citizens by the end of September.

September 20th, 2021

• Pfizer and BioNTech say trial results show their Covid-19 vaccines are safe for 5-11 year olds.
• United States announces that it will allow fully vaccinated passengers from the UK and EU to travel into the United States from November.

‍

September 21st, 2021

• Official figures show 100,000 children were off school for at least one day last week with either suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19.
• United States reaches an average of 1,900 Covid-19 related deaths a day for the first time since March.

September 22nd, 2021

• The UK temporarily donates 1 million Covid-19 vaccines to South Korea, on the condition that South Korea sends back the same number later in the year.
• The United States announces plans to buy 500 million more Covid-19 vaccines to share with the rest of the world.
• Italy announces plans to donate 45 million Covid-19 vaccines by the end of the year, an additional 30 million from a previously pledged 15 million vaccines.

September 23rd, 2021

• Covid-19 causes life expectancy for men in the UK to fall for the first time since records began.
• Novavax applies to WHO for approval for emergency usage.
• Portugal announces plans to lift almost all its Covid-19 restrictions on the 1st October.

September 24th, 2021

• France and Germany nominate incumbent WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyseus for a second term.
• Tunisia announces plans to lift its night time curfew from Saturday.

September 25th, 2021

• France pledges to double the number of vaccines it sends to poorer nations to 120 million.
• Ireland ends its policy of mandatory hotel quarantine for travellers to the country.

September 26th, 2021

• Violent clashes erupt in Norway as people celebrate the end of Covid-19 restrictions in the country.
• Alex Cole-Hamilton, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats calls for the Scottish Human Rights Commission to investigate whether plans for vaccine passports go against human rights.

September 27th, 2021

• The White House confirms that President Biden has had the Covid-19 booter vaccine.
• Japan announces that the state of emergency will be lifted in all regions at the end of September.
• South Korea announces plans to vaccinate 12-17 year olds.

September 28th, 2021

• Data suggests that 1 in 10 secondary school students and 1 in 3 school staff who have contracted Covid-19 have suffered long Covid symptoms.
• FederalAppeals panel in the United States rules that New York City can mandate that teachers are vaccinated against Covid-19.

September 29th, 2021

• Lithuania experiences its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since January, while Latvia sees its highest since February.
• Slovenia temporarily suspends use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the death of a 20-year-old woman.

September 30th, 2021

• Singapore reports 2478 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest figures since the pandemic began.
• Slovenia’s Constitutional Court blocks a vaccine mandate for public sector workers as potentially unconstitutional.
• South Africa reduces its Covid-19 restrictions to their lowest alert level.
• Russia records its highest death toll since the pandemic began for the third day running.

1st October, 2021

• World Bank approves $400 million in financing to procure and deploy Covid-19 vaccinations.
• India announces that Britons will have to undertake a 10-day mandatory quarantine when arriving in the country.

2nd October, 2021

• Total global deaths from Covid-19 pass 5 million.
• Covid-19 death toll in the United States surpasses 700,000.

3rd October, 2021

• Scientists in the UK warn there may be worse to come in the Covid-19 pandemic as winter approaches.
• Israel announces that only those who have had a Covid-19 booster vaccine or who have recently recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in indoor venues.
• Russia records highest daily death total since the pandemic began, with 890 casualties in 24 hours.

4th October 2021

• England’s traffic light system for foreign travel is scrapped from today and replaced with a single red list of countries.
• The EU’s drug regulator recommends that all those with weakened immune systems should be given booster vaccines.

5th October, 2021

• Spain approves Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for booster vaccinations in over-70s.
• Over 100,000 children off school in England with confirmed Covid-19 cases.

6th October, 2021

• Sweden pauses use of the Moderna vaccine in those under 30 due to concerns about rare side effects.
• UK lifts its guidance to avoid non-essential travel to 32 countries.
• Lithuanian government proposes paying €100 to over 75s to get vaccinated.

7th October, 2021

• England’s travel ‘red list’ reduced to 7 countries.
• Pfizer-BioNTech announce they have submitted an application to the US Food and Drug Administration for approval for a Covid vaccine for those aged 5-11.
• Finland announces it will pause use of Moderna’s vaccine for men under 30 due to a rare cardiovascular side effect.

8th October, 2021

• Iceland suspends use of the Moderna vaccine.
• Statistics show 1 in 14 school age children in the UK had Covid-19 last week.

9th October, 2021

• England hits 2 million Covid-19 booster vaccines administered.
• Brazil passes 600,000 Covid-19 related deaths.
• United States passes 40o million Covid-19 vaccines administered.

10th October, 2021

• Malaysia lifts travel restrictions for fully vaccinated adults after reaching its target of vaccinating 90% of the adult population.
• Leaders of the Italian far-right party Forza Nuova arrested after anti-vax protests in Rome.
• Sydney Australia comes out of lockdown

11th October, 2021

• WHO recommends that immunocompromised people are offered booster vaccines.
• Thailand announces plans to reopen its borders to vaccinated tourists from the 1st November.
• From today, people in Wales must show an NHS Covid Pass or demonstrate proof of vaccination to enter nightclubs or attend large scale events.
• From today, people in Germany have to pay for lateral flow tests, in order to increase vaccination rates.

12th October, 2021

• IMF warns that Covid support has left the world vulnerable to a financial crisis.
• Russia confirms plans to trial a nasal spray version of the Sputnik V vaccine on volunteers.

13th October, 2021

• WHO announces a team of 26 experts to lead an investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• NHS Covid Passport goes down.
• Survey shows 15% of scientists globally experienced death threats and 22% had been threatened with assault over speaking publicly about the pandemic.

14th October, 2021

• US Food and Drug Administration endorses booster vaccines for older and at risk American adults who received the Moderna vaccine.
• Latvian President Egils Levits contracts Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated.
• Government announces that lateral flow tests will replace PCR tests for travellers to England.

15th October, 2021

• United States announces plans to lift restrictions for travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from the 8th November.
• From today, Covid-19 tests will no longer be free in France unless prescribed by a doctor.
• Australia announces its outbound travel ban will be lifted from the 1st November.

16th October, 2021

• Russia reports 1,002 Covid-19 related deaths, setting a record for the fifth day in a row.
• New Zealand successfully vaccinates 2.5% of its population in one day.

17th October, 2021

• Melbourne Australia announces it will lift its stay-at-home order this week.
• England now expected to launch walk-in vaccination centres for children aged 12-15 within weeks, as cases remain highest among this age group.

18th October, 2021

• New study finds that the Valneva vaccine may be as effective as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
• President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announces the EU has now exported 1 billion vaccines worldwide.
• Latvia closes schools, restaurants and entertainment venues for a month after Covid-19 cases spike.
• Italian police use teargas and water cannons on a sit-in opposing the introduction of Covid-19 passes.
• WHO requests Bharat BioTech provide more evidence before it approves its vaccine for emergency use.

19th October, 2021

• A draft report from a senate inquiry into Brazil’s Covid-19 crisis recommends President Bolsnoaro face murder charges for his handling of the pandemic.
• South African drug regulator rejects Sputnik V vaccine due to safety concerns.
• Research in the United States finds that the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is 93% effective in preventing hospitalisations among 12-18 year olds.

20th October, 2021

• British Medical Association calls on the Government to enact ‘plan B’ in England to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
• New York city announces that all municipal workers must be vaccinated or face unpaid leave.
• Latvia becomes the first European country to reimpose lockdown amidst Europe’s latest wave of Covid-19.

21st October, 2021

• Daily new Covid-19 cases in the UK pass 50,000 for the first time since July.
• Moscow announces a one week lockdown as Covid deaths rise.
• Melbourne ends its sixth lockdown.

22nd October, 2021

• UK Health Security Agency announced that an offshoot of the Delta variant has been designated as a new variant as it becomes increasingly common in the UK.
• Pfizer says children’s doses of its vaccine are 91% effective at preventing infection in primary school children.
• Mass Friday prayers resume in Tehran for the first time in 20 months.

23rd October, 2021

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak rules out shutting shops, pubs and restaurants again.
• Romania announces plans to make health passes mandatory for entry to most public venues from Monday as it records record Covid-19 cases.
• Namibia suspends use of the Sputnik V vaccine.

24th October, 2021

• UK announces almost £6 billion funding to tackle England’s record long NHS waiting list.
• Data suggests that the UK is lagging behind all other G7 nations, except Japan, in sharing surplus Covid vaccines with poorer nations.
• Russia reports 1,000 daily Covid-19 related deaths.

25th October, 2021

• European Medical Agency approves use of the Moderna booster vaccine.
• Children as young as three will now begin receiving Covid-19 vaccines in China.
• Russia reports 37,930 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest single-day tally since the start of the pandemic.

26th October, 2021

• US Food and Drug Administration recommends approval of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11.
• Belgium to reintroduce Covid-19 restrictions including mask working, just weeks after rules were relaxed.

27th October, 2021

• Novavax files for authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccine in the UK.
• Israel announces it will welcome vaccinated tourists from 1st November.
• Australia destroys thousands of expired Astrazeneca vaccines.

28th October, 2021

• World Health Organisation warns that only 5 African countries are likely to meet the target of vaccinating 40% oft their populations against Covid-19.
• Russia increases its Covid-19 restrictions as cases continue to rise.

29th October, 2021

• G20 commits to taking steps to ensure 70% of the world’s population are vaccinated by mid 2022.
• Poland passes three million Covid-19 cases.
• Statistics show nearly 45,000 died from Covid-19 causes in Russia in September.

30th October, 2021

• Tonga records its first case of Covid-19.
• Thailand bans rallies and other mass events to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as the country prepares to reopen to international tourists.
• UK to send 20 million Covid-19 vaccines doses to developing countries by the end of the year.

31st October, 2021

• United States to give 4 million Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan.
• US Food and Drug Administration delays its assessment of use of the Moderna vaccine on adolescents aged 12-17 while it investigates a rare heart inflammation side effect.

1st November, 2021

• Cambodia declares itself open after hitting its vaccination targets.
• Greece records 5,449 new cases of Covid-19, its highest levels since the pandemic began.
• Putin wants that the army may need to be used to help build field hospitals for Covid-19 patients.

2nd November, 2021

• UK records 293 Covid-19 related deaths in 24 hours, the highest number since late February.
• Netherlands reintroduces face masks in an attempt to stop rising covid-19 cases.
• Romania breaks its daily death toll record, recording 591 deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours.

3rd November, 2021

• Covid-19 related deaths hit 28 million globally.
• World Health Organisation approves India’s Bharat BioTech’s Covaxin vaccine for emergency use.
• Latvia announces a three month state of emergency as Covid-19 cases rise in Europe.

4th November, 2021

• World Health Organisation declares that Europe is at the centre of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• UK becomes the first country to approve an oral antiviral pill to reduce the effects of Covid-19.
• Latvia announces that businesses will be able to fire workers that refuse to get vaccinated or to transfer to remote work from the 15th November.

5th November, 2021

• Romania passes 50,000 Covid-19 related deaths since the pandemic began.
• Austria announces plans to only allow those vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 to frequent restaurants and hotels.
• 11 US States launch legal action to challenge a new federal vaccine requirement.

6th November, 2021

• Costa Rica becomes the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccines compulsory for children.
• New Zealand records over 200 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, for the first time since the pandemic began.

7th November, 2021

• UK hits 10 million Covid-19 booster vaccines delivery target.
• Australia to begin administer Pfizer booster vaccines from tomorrow.

8th November, 2021

• United States travel ban lifted from today.
• Australia pledges to donate 3 million Covid-19 vaccines to Cambodia.
• Denmark proposes reintroducing its digital Covid-19 pass as cases rise once again.

9th November, 2021

• Canada authorises the Pfizer/BioNtech booster vaccine for adults over the age of 18.
• Singapore announces that Covid-19 patients who remain unvaccinated by choice will have to pay for their hospitalisation bills.

10th November, 2021

• Russia passes 250,000 Covid-19 related deaths.
• 10 US states announced a lawsuit against the federal government over its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.
• French Health Minister warns that the country is at the start of a fifth wave of Covid-19.

11th November, 2021

• The UK’s vaccine mandate for care home workers comes into effect, with 50,000 workers no longer eligible to work.
• Germany and the Netherlands record their highest levels of Covid-19 case numbers since the pandemic began.
• Australia hits target of 90% of those aged over 16 receiving their first dose of the vaccine.

12th November, 2021

• Latvia bans unvaccinated politicians from voting on legislature and docks their pay.
• Netherlands announces a partial lockdown, the first lockdown in Western Europe since summer.

13th November, 2021

• Germany prepares to mobilise 12,000 troops by Christmas to help overrun healthcare services.
• UK announces plans to allow people to have their Covid-19 booster vaccine after 5 months rather than 6, in an effort to stop healthcare services being overrun.

14th November, 2021

• Austria announces nationwide lockdown for those not fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
• China donates 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines to Syria.
• Brazil reports its lowest weekly Covid-19 related death toll for a year.

15th November, 2021

• UK extends its Covid-19 booster vaccine programme to those aged 40-49.
• Ukraine to offer a US$40 incentive for those who get double vaccinated.
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns that a new wave of Covid-19 is affecting our neighbours in Europe and the UK can not be complacent.

16th November, 2021

• Germany announces plans to implement tighter restrictions for those unvaccinated.
• Pfizer strikes a deal with the Medicines Patent Pool which will mean its possible anti-viral pill will be available more cheaply in developing countries.

17th November, 2021

• Belgium announces that from the 20th November, masks must be worn indoors and people should work from home.
• Ministers in Northern Ireland vote to introduce vaccine passports, while Sweden announces it will introduce vaccine passports for gatherings of more than 100 people.

18th November, 2021

• Hungary announces plans to make booster vaccines mandatory for healthcare workers.
• India approves the export of 20 million Novavax vaccines to Indonesia.
• Florida bans schools and businesses from requiring vaccinations.

19th November, 2021

• Austria becomes the first European country to make Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory and announces its fourth national lockdown.
• Canada authorises use of Pfizer vaccine on children aged between 5 and 11.
• Bavaria, Germany will cancel their Christmas markets and local lockdowns will be imposed.
• Covid-19 protests erupt in the Netherlands over vaccine passports, leaving two injured.

20th November, 2021

• Hong Kong authorises use of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine on children aged between 3 to 17.
• World Health Organisation warns that another 500,000 people in Europe could die of Covid-19 by March unless immediate steps are taken.
• Three people are hospitalised after police in the Netherlands fir shots at those protesting against Covid-19 passports.

21st November, 2021

• Delta variant, which is now the dominant Covid-19 variant globally, discovered a year ago today.
• Austria enters its fourth national lockdown.

22nd November, 2021

• Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte condemns anti-lockdown protestors as “idiots” after 100 arrested in a series of violent protests.
• France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex tests positive for Covid-19, hours after returning from a visit to Belgium.
• New research shows that 2/3rds of people in wealthier nations are now fully vaccinated, while less than 1/20 of those in developing nations have received a first dose of the vaccine.

23rd November, 2021

• India records its lowest daily increase in Covid-19 cases in 18 months.
• The Netherlands begins transporting Covid-19 patients to Germany, to ease pressure on hospitals.

24th November, 2021

• Italy announces stricter vaccination rules, banning the unvaccinated from cinemas, restaurants and sporting events from the 6th December and requiring all school staff, police and military personnel to be vaccinated.
• Covid-19 cases increase 23% in the Americas in the space of a week.

25th November, 2021

• Turkovac, Turkey’s domestically developed Covid-19 vaccine seeks emergency approval.
• European Medecines Ancy recommends approval of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for children as young as 5.

26th November, 2021

• The new B.1.1.529 Covid variant, which has caused much global alarm, is designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization and given the name Omicron.
• UK suspends flights from six African nations over concerns over new variant.

27th November, 2021

• UK announces that face coverings will become compulsory on public transport and in shops and that all new arrivals to the UK will have to isolate until they receive a negative PCR result.
• Israel’s Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, announces proposals to ban all foreign travellers from entering Israel, pending government approval.
• UK detects its first two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

28th November, 2021

• World Health Organisation urges nations not to impose blanket bans on travel from Southern African nations over concerns about the economic impact of such actions.
• Morocco announces plans to stop all flights into the country for two weeks to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.

29th November, 2021

• Omicron variant detected in at least 12 nations.
• UK outlines ambition to administer 500,000 Covid-19 booster vaccinations a day in a bid to tackle spread of the Omicron variant.

30th November, 2021

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that all adults in the UK should be offered the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of January.
• Austrian officials vote to extend its lockdown to 20 days.
• Greece announces it will fine over 60s €100 per month if they have not received the Covid-19 vaccine by 16th January.
• Brazil identifies the first cases of the Omicron variant in Latin America.

1st December, 2021

• United States detects its first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
• UK secures new contract to buy 114 million additional Covid-19 vaccines over the next two years.

2nd December, 2021

• UK records 53,4945 Covis-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest daily total for more than four months.
• UK drugs watchdog approves use of ‘Xevudy’ drug which reduces vulnerable adults’ risk of hospitalisation and death by 79%.
• Germany announces it will ban unvaccinated people from non-essential shops and events from February.

3rd December, 2021

• South Africa hits 3 million Covid-19 cases after cases surge due to the Omicron variant.
• Two hippos at Belgian Zoo test positive for Covid-19.

4th December, 2021

• The WHO reports that there have been no deaths from the Omicron variant so far, despite it being present in at least 38 countries.
• Australia provisionally approves use of the Pfizer vaccine on children aged 5-11.

5th December, 2021

• Data shows that the Omicron variant is present in at least 15 United States’ states.
• US Health Officials suggest that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 may be less dangerous than the Delta variant.

6th December, 2021

• Czech Republic announces a vaccine mandate, requiring a range of public sector workers and those over 60 to be vaccinated.
• France announces plans for a four week closure of night clubs.
• UK Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, confirms that no one with Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been hospitalised in the UK so far.
• Nigeria accuses the UK  of “travel apartheid” after the UK bans travel between the two countries.

7th December, 2021

• Video leaked of Senior No.10 officials joking about holding a Christmas party last year, during a tight UK lockdown.
• Northern Ireland confirms its first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
• Sweden announces plans to reintroduce home-working and the use of masks on public transport.

8th December, 2021

• Prime Minister Boris Johsnson advises people to work from home from the 13th December.
• South Africa has approves use of Pfizer’s coronavirus booster shots for over-18s.

9th December, 2021

• Slovakia announces plans to give cash to over 60s who get vaccinated or have their booster vaccine.
• Australia announces plans to offer vaccines to children aged 5-11 from January.

10th December, 2021

• The UK reports 58,194 cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours, its highest number since January 2021.
• Data presented by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) predicts that Omicron will be the dominant variant of Covid-19 in the UK by mid-December 2021.

11th December, 2021

• Brazil’s Supreme Court rules that proof of vaccination must be provided by visitors upon arrival to the country.
• Israeli researchers announce that tests of a three-jab course of the Pfizer vaccine show significant protection is provided against the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

12th December 2021

• Research by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that while the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy, the symptoms it causes tend to be milder.
• Austria announces an easing of lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people – while unvaccinated people will still be subject to lockdown restrictions and won’t be allowed leave home except for essential trips.
• Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that Scotland aims to offer booster vaccines of Covid-19 vaccine to all eligible adults by the end of 2021.

13th December, 2021

• Chinese state media announces the nation’s first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, in the northeastern city of Tianjin.
• Lateral flow tests are unavailable online and NHS England advises people to wait until Tuesday to book Covid-19 booster appointments as the NHS website is overwhelmed and crashes.
• Norway bans the sale of alcohol in an attempt to reduce the spread Covid-19 within the country.

14th December, 2021

• United States passes 800,000 Covid-19 related deaths since the pandemic began.
• MPs in England back the Government’s Plan B, which mandates NHS Covid Passes at certain venues, makes face masks compulsory in most indoor settings, and encourages working from home where possible.
• Pfizer announces that its Covid-19 antiviral drug has a 90% efficacy in preventing deaths and hospitalisations in high-risk patients.
• Italy extends its state of emergency to 31^st March 2022.

15th December, 2021

• The UK reports 78,610 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours, its highest ever daily rise in Covid-19 infections.
• The Crown Princess of Denmark tests positive for Covid-19.

16th December, 2021

• For the second day in a row, the UK records its highest number of Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with almost 90,000 new infections.
• New Zealand and Poland detect their first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
• France announces that it will ban the majority of British travellers from entering the country from 11pm (GMT) on 17th December 2021, in light of the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK.

17th December, 2021

• UK hits landmark, with 50% of UK having now received their Covid-19 booster vaccine.
• The UK reports another Covid-19 daily record, with 93,045 new cases.
• Ireland announces new measures to counter the spread of the Omicron variant to come into force on the 19th December 2021, including an 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and a 50% limit on capacity for events.

18th December, 2021

• Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, announces a ‘major incident’ in London in light of rising numbers of Covid-19 infections in the city.
• All non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums, and theatres in the Netherlands are told to shut from 19th December 2021 until 14th January 2022, in an attempt to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
• From 11pm (GMT) on 18th December 2021, there will be a ban on travel from the UK to Germany, with exceptions for German nationals, residents, and passengers in transit.

19th December 2021

• Sri Lanka announces that it will impose Covid-19 passports from New Year’s Day.
• Iran detects its first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

20th December 2021

• The European Union drugs regulator approves the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine for use.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns that further restrictions are possible and that data on the spread of the Omicron variant is being monitored ‘hour by hour’.
• It is confirmed that Queen Elizabeth will celebrate Christmas at Windsor Castle instead of staying at her residence in Sandringham, as is the usual practice for her Majesty at Christmas, due to Covid-19 concerns.
• NHS England says it administered more than 1.5 million booster vaccines over the course of the weekend, the largest weekend total in the UK’s vaccination programme so far.

21st December, 2021

• The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that no new restrictions will be put in place in England before Christmas, citing a lack of evidence to justify such a decision.
• The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announces £1bn of bailout funding for businesses struggling to deal with the impact of the Omicron variant.
• Israel announces plans for over-60s to be given a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

22nd December, 2021

• The UK hits over 100,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours for the first time since the pandemic began.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues emergency use authorisation for a pill by Pfizer that treats mild-to-moderate Covid-19 infection at home.
• Spain announces plans to make face masks compulsory outdoors at all times.

23rd December, 2021

• Greece bans public Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations and mandates mask-wearing in open spaces, while Italy also bans New Year celebrations.
• The Chinese city of Xi’an goes into lockdown after 127 new Covid-19 cases are registered.
• Australia reintroduces strict Covid-19 restrictions after a surge in cases, mandating mask wearing indoors, as well as QR code check-ins and capacity limits at venues.

24th December, 2021

• South Africa starts offering booster shots of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine.
• Figures show that 1 in 35 people had Covid-19 in the UK in the last week.

25th December, 2021

• France (104,611) and Italy (54,762) both record their highest daily increase in Covid019 cases.
• Israel orders 100,000 units of Pfizer’s Covid-19 antiviral pill.
• India announces that children under 15 can now receive vaccines and booster vaccines will be available for healthcare and frontline workers.

26th December, 2021

• Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all reintroduce new Covid-19 restrictions, but England does not.
• Iran bans travellers from Britain, France, Norway and Denmark from entering the country for 15 days.
• The first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is reported in the Gaza strip.

27th December, 2021.

• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says those who contract Covid-19 only need to isolate for 5 days.
• Paraguay records its first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

28th December, 2021

• In response to the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, France reduces the waiting period between the second and booster vaccine doses from 4 months to 3 months.
• The first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is registered in Indonesia.
• The Chinese city of Yan’an is locked down in response to rising cases in the region.

29th December, 2021

• France records 208,000 new cases in 24 hours, setting a European and national record for daily infections.
• World Health Organisation warns governments to be ‘careful’ when cutting Covid-19 isolation periods.
• Data released by the UK Health Security Agency indicates that over 90% of community Covid-19 cases in England are the Omicron variant.
• Spain cuts its Covid-19 self-isolation period from ten days to seven days.

30th December, 2021

• Israel approves a fourth Covid-19 vaccine for vulnerable and immunocompromised people.
• Eastern Europe reaches 1 million Covid-19 fatalities since the pandemic began.

31st December, 2021

• Estimates from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) state that 1 in 25 people in England were infected with Covid-19 before Christmas.
• The antiviral drug Paxlovid, designed by Pfizer, has been approved for use with at-risk patients by UK regulators.

1st January, 2022

• Health Secretary Sajid Javid warns that the UK will have to live alongside Covid-19 in 2022, with further restrictions being an absolute last resort.
• Cases of Covid-19 in Guadeloupe quadruple in four days.
• Unvaccinated citizens living in the United Arab Emirates will be banned from travelling abroad from the 10th of January 2022.

2nd January, 2022

• France hits a record seven day average for new Covid-19 cases.
• Israel announces that it will offer a fourth vaccine for those over 60 and medical staff.
• The UK’s Department for Education advises schools to combine classes into larger groups to mitigate the impact of staff shortages.

3rd January, 2022

• The UK’s weekly Covid-19 cases double relative to last week.
• NHS trusts declare critical incidents as staff absences increase from Covid-19 causing a crisis situation.
• Florida’s Covid-19 rates increases by almost 1000%  in two weeks.

4th January, 2022

• The United States hits a record of almost 1 million new Covid-19 cases in one day.
• The World Health Organisation states that the Omicron variant causes milder symptoms than that of previous Covid-19 variants.
• Germany relaxes travel restrictions from those coming from the UK and eight African nations.

5th January, 2022

• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the requirement for pre-departure tests for people travelling to England will be scrapped from 7 January 2022.
• Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, receives a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine, becoming the first world leader to do so.
• The Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, tests positive for Covid-19 for a second time.

6th January, 2022

• In the Philippines, president Rodrigo Duterte makes violating stay-at-home orders an arrestable offence for unvaccinated citizens.
• Brazil reports its highest daily infection total since September 2021, with 35,826 new cases of Covid-19.
• The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, announces that the country will become the first in Latin America to offer a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable people from 10 January 2022.

7th January 2022

• Germany tightens its Covid-19 restrictions at bars and restaurants, requiring people to show a negative test result in addition to proof of vaccination or recovery prior to entry, as well as shortening its Covid-19 isolation period from 14 to 10 days.
• Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer is asymptomatic and continues to work remotely after catching Covid-19 from an member of his security staff.
• A number of senior political officials in Hong Kong have been sent into quarantine after attending a delegate’s birthday party, going against government guidance on large gatherings.  

8th January, 2022

• UK hits 150,000 Covid-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
• In response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to “piss off” France’s unvaccinated population, anti-vaccine protesters gather in cities across the country.
• Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden tests positive for Covid-19.

9th January 2022

• Greece sets 1 February 2022 deadline for its citizens to receive a booster jab, after which those without a booster will be restricted from entering most indoor spaces.
• Africa passess 2 million Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.

10th January 2022

• Tennis player Novak Djokovic is  released from immigration detention, after winning an appeal against a decision to cancel his Australian visa. The world’s no. 1 ranked player had previously claimed ‘medical exemption’ from Australia’s vaccination requirements.
• A deal is agreed between NHS England and private healthcare providers to treat NHS patients who cannot receive care due to excess pressures at hospitals.

11th January 2022

• 145,982 hospitalisations due to Covid-19 have been reported in the United States, a record number for the country.
• The former UK health secretary Matt Hancock contracts Covid-19.
• The World Health Organisation warns that, with Covid-19 spreading at its current rate, more than half the European population could be infected within 2 months.

12th January 2022

• A Spanish court rules that Valencia failed to protect physicians’ health during the pandemic’s initial three months and that compensation of over £40,000 should be awarded to each doctor in Valencia.
• Denmark announces it will offer vulnerable people a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
• A high court judge in the UK rules that the Government’s operation of a ‘VIP lane’ for manufacturers and suppliers of personal protective equipment, which expedited the process by which a company received a contract, was illegal.
• The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson admits that he attended a Downing Street garden drinks event on 20 May 2020, at a time of strict Covid-19 restrictions.

13th January 2022

• Hungary announces that it will make a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine available to its citizens.
• Teachers across France stage a mass strike in protest against the government’s handling of the pandemic.
• Greece announces a $114 monthly fine for any citizen over 60 who refuses to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.

14th January 2022

• The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologises to the Queen for two parties held in Downing Street on the evening before Prince Philip’s socially-distanced funeral in April 2021.
• Two-thirds of Poland’s pandemic advisory board resign over concerns the government is not following the science.
• The Netherlands reports a daily record of 35,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours.
• The Australian government has rejected Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time, in the latest development of the tennis player’s fight to remain in the country despite being unvaccinated, in contravention of Australia’s rules on international travellers.

15th January 2022

• COVAX, the scheme to promote equitable vaccine access across the world, delivers its billionth Covid-19 vaccine.
• Iran records its first deaths from the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
• Mexico records 47,113 new Covid-19 infections in 24 hours, its highest daily raise in cases since the start of the pandemic.

16th January 2022

• The French parliament passes new Covid-19 measures, including the requirement of proof of vaccination for entry into public spaces such as cafes and cinemas.
• In the Netherlands, thousands of protestors gather in Amsterdam in opposition to the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, as daily infections reached a new record of over 36,000.
• Thailand registers its first death from the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

17th January 2022

• Israel announces that it will shorten its compulsory isolation period for those infected with Covid-19 from seven to five days.
• The organising committee for the Beijing Winter Olympics says that tickets will not be available for the general public and will instead be sold to ‘targeted’ groups, citing worsening Covid-19 infection rates in China.

18th January 2022

• New Zealand temporarily closes its border to all international arrivals who have not already booked a place in the country’s managed isolation and quarantine system, in response to the risk posed by the Omicron variant.
• France reports its highest ever daily rise in Covid-19 infections, with 464,769 cases in 24 hours.
• Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant will be lifted from 24 January 2022; large indoor events will resume and nightclubs will reopen.

19th January 2022

• In the United States, Starbucks suspends its compulsory vaccination or regular testing requirement for staff after Supreme Court ruling.
• Northern Ireland cuts its compulsory self isolation period for Covid-19 from seven days to five.
• The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that all restrictions introduced to limit the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 are to end on 26 January 2022.

20th January 2022

• Japan records its highest daily total of Covid-19 cases, with 41,377 new infections.
• The Austrian government announces a national vaccine lottery initiative in an attempt to increase the nation’s immunisation uptake, with gift vouchers to be given out randomly to citizens who take up a vaccine.
• The French President Emmanuel Macron announces that the country’s Covid-19 restrictions will be relaxed from February 2022 onwards.

21st January, 2o22

• Australia reports 80 fatalities from Covid-19 in one day, the highest figure recorded in the country since the start of the pandemic.
• In Brazil, the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine is approved for use with children aged 6 to 17.
• China reports its lowest daily total of Covid-19 cases for 2 months.

22nd January, 2022

• Nationwide lockdowns are announced in Samoa and Kiribati, after infected international travellers bring Covid-19 to the island nations.
• In Sweden, demonstrators gathered in major cities to protest against the use of Covid-19 vaccine passes.
• The UK’s Health Security Agency reveals that it has marked a new sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2, a ‘variant under investigation’, one level below ‘variant of concern’.

23rd January, 2022

• Russia records its highest daily total of Covid-19 cases for the third consecutive day, with 63,205 infections.
• 50,000 demonstrators gather in Belgium to protest against Covid-19 restrictions in the country.
• Organisers of the Beijing Winter Olympics confirm 72 cases of Covid-19 within the personnel brought into the country for the Games.

24th January, 2022

• In the UK, it is announced that Covid-19 testing for fully-vaccinated international arrivals will be stopped from 11 February 2022.
• A new law requiring vaccine passes to be shown in restaurants, bars, and sports venues is passed in France.
• Germany extends its pandemic restrictions in response to concerns around the spreading Omicron variant.

25th January, 2022

• Pfizer and BioNTech begin recruitment for a clinical trial to test a new Covid-19 vaccine, specifically designed to target the Omicron variant.
• In Italy, the number of daily cases doubles from 77,696 the day before to 186,740.

26th January, 2022

• The Swedish minister for health announces that the country will extend its current Covid-19 restrictions for two weeks, maintaining capacity limits for large venues and evening curfews for bars and restaurants.
• Berlin police begin confiscating yellow star badges, resembling the Nazi ‘Judenstern’ (Jews’ star), from vaccine sceptics protesting in the city, who claim that their treatment by government is comparable to that of the Jewish population under the Nazis.
• Brazil reports 224,567 cases of Covid-19, a daily record for the country.

27th January, 2022

• Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that he has been exposed to Covid-19 and will conduct five days of self-isolation.
• In England, all regulations on face coverings and Covid-19 vaccination passes are lifted, as the country returns to Plan A restrictions.
• Pfizer’s antiviral pill for the treatment of Covid-19 is approved by the EU’s drug regulator for use with adults at risk of severe illness.

28th January, 2022

• Scientists in the United States are said to have developed a smartphone-based Covid-19 test that could provide an alternative to PCR testing.
• A report by the UK’s Health Security Agency states that current vaccines offer good protection against BA.2, a new sub-variant of Omicron, and the Agency also reports separately that England’s R rate has fallen to between 0.7 and 0.9.

29th January, 2022

• Ukraine hits 100,000 Covid-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden enters isolation after coming into close contact with someone with Covid-19.

30th January, 2022

• Spotify announces it will add content advisory notices to all its podcasts related to Covid-19 after protests over Covid-19 misinformation on the platform.
• Winter Olympics hit by 34 new Covid-19 infections among athletes and officials.
• Protests erupt in Prague over Covid-19 restrictions.

31st January, 2022

• UK scraps plans to mandate that all NHS workers are vaccinated against Covid-19.
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tests positive for Covid-19.

1st February, 2022

• WHO warns that the BA.2 sub-variant of the Omnicron variant of Covid-19 is now present in 57 nations.
• Pfizer and BioNTech seek approval to innoculate under 5s with their vaccine in the United State
• Norway scraps most of its Covid-19 restrictions with immediate effect.

2nd February, 2022

• New Zealand announces that it will begin to reopen its borders from the end of February.
• Germany hits 10 million Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.
• Lithuania announces that it will scrap its Covid-19 certificates for access to public spaces, declaring them ineffectual in stopping the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

3rd February, 2022

• The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine is approved for use on over-18s in the UK.
• Sweden announces it will end its Covid-19 restrictions next week.
• The World Health Organisation says Europe is set for a “long period of tranquility” due to high vaccination rates.

4th February, 2022

• India’s official death toll reaches half a million, though it is expected this figure was reached last year given discrepancicies between official and actual deaths.
• Turkey records 111,157 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, its highest number of daily Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic.
• Novavax is approved for use on over-18s in the UK.

5th February, 2022

• The United States Covid-19 death toll reaches 900,000.
• Turkish President Erdogan tests positive for Covid-19.
• Japan records over 100,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

6th February, 2022

• India approves the Russian one-vaccine Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine.
• Mayor of Ottawa, Canada declares a state of emergency over Covid-19 protests.
• Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Marape tests positive upon arriving in China for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

7th February 2022

• Australia announces it will open its borders to fully vaccinated tourists and visa holders from the 21st February.
• Sweden announces plans to lift travel restrictions from the EU and EEA from the 9th February.

8th February 2022

• The World Health Organisation warns that the global initiative ‘ACT’, designed to provide treatments and vaccines to developing nations  is “running on fumes” as it receives just 5% of projected donations.
• Scientists in China announce they have developed a new Covid-19 test which is as accurate as a PCR and produces results in 4 minutes.

9th February 2022

• United States and Canadian governments warn that blockades on the busiest bridge between Canada and the United States could seriously impact the economies of both countries.
• In Wellington, New Zealand anti-vaccine protestors are evicted from parliament by police, after three days of demonstrations.
• Sweden phases out Covid-19 restrictions including limits on public gatherings and proof of vaccination for entry to some venues.
• King Felipe VI of Spain tests positive for Covid-19.

10th February 2022

• Brussels bans a pan-European “freedom convoy”, styled on the Canadian protests, from entering Brussels.
• The Philippines becomes the first Southeast Asian country to ease Covid-19 travel restrictions, welcoming international travellers for the first time in nearly 2 years.
• Novavax announces that its new Covid-19 vaccine has passed efficacy testing in a study of 12 to 17 year olds.

11th February 2022

• New Zealand records 446 community cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours, a record daily total for the nation.
• The Canadian state of Ontario declares a state of emergency and announces that fines, jail time, and vehicle licence seizures could be used to end the blockades caused by the trucker protests against Covid-19 restrictions.
• The chief of the World Health Organisation says that the most deadly phase of the pandemic could finish this year if 70% or more of the world gets vaccinated.

12 February 2022

• Hong Kong reports 1514 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, a record high for Hong Kong.
• A convoy drives into central Paris mimicking the Canadian truckers protests over Covid-19 restrictions.
• Norway ends most of its Covid-19 restrictions, with distancing, mask-wearing and quarantining mandates being dropped.

13th February 2022

• The Ambassador Bridge connecting Ontario, Canada and the United States, previously blocked by a five-day protest against Covid-19 restrictions, reopens after police disband demonstrators.
• Hong Kong sees its second consecutive day of record daily Covid-19 cases, reaching 2,000 daily infections.

14th February 2022

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes governmental emergency powers to disperse blockades formed by protestors demonstrating against the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.
• Hundreds of vehicles copying the Canadian ‘freedom convoy’ drive from France to the outskirts of Brussels to oppose Belgium’s Covid-19 pass system.
• The UK’s Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, self-isolates after testing positive for Covid-19.

15th February 2022

• Northern Ireland ends all remaining Covid-19 restrictions, replacing legal mandates with guidance.
• In Japan, 236 Covid-19 related deaths are recorded in 24 hours, the highest number in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
• A record number of daily Covid-19 cases is registered in Indonesia, as 57,049 infections are reported.

16th February 2022

• South Korea sees its highest daily total of Covid-19 cases, as infections pass 90,000.
• The Austrian government announces that most Covid-19 restrictions will end on 5 March.
• In England, the government announces that children between the ages of 5 and 11 will be offered a Covid-19 vaccine.

17th February 2022

• Switzerland lifts nearly all of its Covid-19 restrictions, with masks no longer required in most settings and vaccination certificates dropped, while its president Ignazio Cassis tests positive for the virus.
• Israel announces it will suspend its Covid-19 “green pass” system as cases of Covid-19 fall.
• Indonesia’s total Covid-19 cases registered since the start of the pandemic passes 5 million.

18th February 2022

• In South Korea, Covid-19 cases pass 100,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
• The WHO announces that Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia will be the first African nations to receive the technology to domestically manufacture mRNA vaccines.
• Wales ends its legal requirement for customers to show Covid-19 passes at entry to large events, nightclubs, and cinemas.

19th February 2022

• Australia records its lowest Covid-19 daily infection rate since Christmas 2021.
• Reports are released stating that regulators in the United States may soon approve the rollout of a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine in the autumn.

20th February 2022

• Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for Covid-19, but continues “light duties”, suffering mild symptoms.
• Police in Ottawa end truckers’ protests against Covid-19 restrictions in the city, towing 76 vehicles away and arresting 191 people.

21st February 2022

• In the UK, it is announced that the over-75s and clinically vulnerable are to be offered a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose in the spring.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that free Covid-19 tests will no longer be available to the general public from the start of April.
• Australia opens its borders to international travellers for the first time in almost 2 years.

22nd February 2022

• Queen Elizabeth II cancels her engagements for the day, as she suffers from mild symptoms of Covid-19.
• The Irish Government approves a plan to end most Covid-19 restrictions on 28 February, including the mandatory wearing of masks in certain situations.
• The World Health Organisation reports that the number of new Covid-19 infections decreased by 21 percent over the course of the past week.

23rd February 2022

• In Hong Kong, a daily record of 8,674 Covid-19 infections are registered.
• The South Korean Government approves the use of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, on the same day that a record-breaking 170,000 infections are recorded in the country.
• Iceland announces that all Covid-19 restrictions will be ended from 25 February.

24th February 2022

• The legal and mandatory self-isolation period for whose with Covid-19 ends in England, although the guidance for those who test positive to stay at home will remain until April 2022.
• In Canada, the emergency powers invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end the trucker protests against Covid-19 restrictions end.
• Covid-19 vaccination passes come into force today in Hong Kong; also in Hong Kong, doctors from mainland China are allowed in to provide assistance in overwhelmed hospitals.

25th February 2022

• A government-appointed commission reviewing Sweden’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic finds that the voluntary no-lockdown strategy was broadly correct, although tougher earlier measures should have been implemented.
• A new system of Covid-19 guidelines is put in place by the Centre for Disease Control in the United States, loosening restrictions in areas of low risk and allowing 70% of the population to stop wearing masks.
• The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland face criticism after it emerges that a Covid-19 vaccination status app, required to get access to nightclubs, sports arenas, and other venues, breaks data privacy laws.

26th February 2022

• Iceland lifts all Covid-19 restrictions for international travellers, meaning visitors no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or prior infection.
• Two scientific studies are released concluding that it is ‘extraordinarily clear’ that a food market in Wuhan, China was the source of the Covid-19 virus.

27th February 2022

• In New York City, the mayor announces that the vaccine mandate currently in place for restaurants, theatres, and bars will be lifted on 7 March.
• Hong Kong announces a record daily number of Covid-19 infections, reaching 26,026 cases over 24 hours.

28th February 2022

• All self-isolation restrictions for vaccinated travellers travelling from Australia to New Zealand are lifted.
• South Korea temporarily suspends the requirement for a vaccine pass or proof of a negative Covid-19 test at some forms of businesses, in order to reduce the demand on overstretched testing centres.
• A study conducted by United States researchers suggests that the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is less effective in 5 to 11 year olds than in adults.

1st March 2022

• Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison tests positive for Covid-19, experiencing mild symptoms.
• President Biden announces that United States citizens who test positive for Covid-19 will be able to receive antiviral pills for free at local pharmacies, under the ‘Test to Treat’ programme due to be launched on 7 March.

2nd March 2022

• Fires and violence erupt at an anti-vaccination protest outside the New Zealand parliament, as riot police seek to disband protesters.
• After four weeks of falling Covid-19 daily case numbers in the UK, cases rise 11% relative to last week.

3rd March 2022

• The French government announces that the need to show a Covid-19 vaccination pass when entering certain indoor areas will end on 14 March.
• The Australian state of Western Australia opens its borders to fully vaccinated domestic and international travellers, after 2 years of strict border restrictions.
• A study from the University of Oxford finds that a drug commonly used to treat arthritis reduces the risk of death from severe Covid-19 by 20%.

4th March 2022

• In the UK, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data is released showing that the BA.2 Omicron variant, which is a ‘close cousin’ to the original Omicron variant, is rising in case numbers across all UK nations except Northern Ireland.
• Two major supermarkets in Hong Kong announce limits on items purchased in an attempt to reduce panic buying, as infections in the financial hub continue to rise rapidly.
• The Welsh government confirms that all Covid-19 restrictions will end on 28 March.

5th March 2022

• Over one thousand vehicles gather outside Washington, D.C. in the United States, preparing to enter the US capitol in protest against Covid-19 restrictions.
• Malaysia announces the removal of restrictions on travellers from Thailand and Cambodia.
• Saudi Arabia ends most of its remaining Covid-19 restrictions, including social distancing rules and the need for testing prior to arrival in the country.

6th March 2022

• The official global death toll from Covid-19 passes 6 million.
• All remaining restrictions on international travellers arriving in Ireland are lifted, with visitors no longer required to provide proof of vaccination or recent infection.

7th March 2022

• Belgium removes certain Covid-19 restrictions, including requirements to present a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate when entering bars, restaurants, and cafes.
• A study by researchers at the University of Oxford shows Covid-19 damages and shrinks areas of the brain associated with smell and memory.
• Active cases of Covid-19 in the remote Cook Islands reach over 100 for the first time.
• The Chatham Islands, one of the remotest inhabited places on the globe, records its first ever Covid-19 infection.

8th March 2022

• Mozambique records zero Covid-19 cases for the first time since the virus entered the country in March 2020.
• The Malaysian government announces that the country will open up to all vaccinated tourists from the start of April.

9th March 2022

• The Pacific Island nation of Niue reports its first ever case of Covid-19.
• Germany reports a record high of daily Covid-19 cases, passing 250,000 daily infections.
• A temporary bridge to transport materials and workers is constructed between mainland China and Hong Kong, to tackle the worsening health crisis in Hong Kong.
• Austria suspends its mandate for adult citizens to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

10th March 2022

• An Australian study discovers a link between a drug-resistant mutation in Covid-19 and the drug sotrovimab, currently in development for the treatment of the virus.
• The Philippines grants emergency-use approval for Paxlovid, Pfizer’s Covid-19 antiviral drug.

11th March 2022

• Buckingham Palace announces that Queen Elizabeth II, who is recovering from a Covid-19 infection, will not attend the Commonwealth Day service on 14 March.
• Romania lifts all Covid-19 travel restrictions.
• The Kenyan government lifts Covid-19 prevention rules, including the wearing of face masks in public.
• In China, citizens are given permission for the first time to use rapid antigen self-test kits that do not require medical workers to take the samples.

12th March 2022

• South Korea exceeds 380,000 new cases in a day, a record for the country.
• India records its lowest single-day increase in Covid-19 cases since May 2020.
• In Canada, Quebec lifts almost all Covid-19 restrictions, with only mask mandates remaining in effect.

13th March 2022

• The former President of the United States Barack Obama tests positive for Covid-19, suffering only mild symptoms.
• Daily cases of Covid-19 in China reach 3,400, double the figure reached the previous day.
• In China, the city of Shenzhen is placed under lockdown, after concerns of rapidly rising Covid-19 cases in the country.

14 March 2022

• France removes the requirement for vaccine passes to be used on entry to certain venues and lifts the need for masks in indoor public spaces, while the government also starts to administer fourth dose Covid-19 vaccine shots to the over-80s.
• The Chinese province Jilin, home to 24 million people, is locked down, as the government struggles to contain a fast spreading outbreak of Covid-19.

After almost two years of tracking the pandemic, we have decided to end our Covid-19 timeline. The timeline will no longer be updated but will remain on our website as a historical record of the geopolitics of the Covid-19 landscape.

‍