2020 January 1 Seafood market in China’s Wuhan shut down over pneumonia scare 2 Mystery pneumonia outbreak in China sparks fear of deadly SARS virus 3 Mystery pneumonia, respiratory illness, has afflicted 44 people in Wuhan, China 4 Hong Kong activates ‘serious response level’ for infectious diseases as Wuhan pneumonia outbreak escalates 5 China says Wuhan pneumonia not SARS, but virus remains unidentified, more people hospitalised 6 Cause of Wuhan’s mysterious pneumonia cases still unknown, Chinese officials say 7 Wuhan ‘pneumonia’: Hong Kong takes tougher precautions with more powers to investigate suspected cases 8 Chinese worker who visited Wuhan quarantined as South Korea reports first possible case of mystery pneumonia virus 9 Chinese scientists obtain genetic sequence of mysterious virus, a key step in containment efforts 10 China reports first death from new virus 11 New strain ‘bears close similarity to SARS’ as Hong Kong health minister assures public city is prepared 12 China pneumonia outbreak not spreading at present: WHO 13 Thailand finds Wuhan novel coronavirus in traveler from China 14 Chinese tourist in Thai case did not visit outbreak-linked market, while scientists say virus not likely to prove as deadly as SARS 15 Chinese health officials can’t rule out person-to-person spread of new virus 16 Japan reports case of SARS-like virus that sickened dozens in China 17 CDC to screen at three US airports for signs of new virus from China 18 China reports new virus cases, raising concern globally before key holiday 19 As virus spreads to more Chinese cities, WHO calls emergency meeting 20 China confirms human-to-human transmission of coronavirus 21 CDC announces first U.S. case of new coronavirus In Washington state 22 China advises against travel to Wuhan as deaths surge 23 Chinese authorities begin quarantine of Wuhan city as coronavirus cases multiply 24 China is building a 1,000-bed hospital in 6 days to deal with the coronavirus outbreak 25 French health authorities confirm first cases of new coronavirus in Europe 26 China says the Wuhan virus, unlike SARS, is infectious during its incubation period 27 As virus spreads, anger floods Chinese social media 28 Germany, Japan and Taiwan report first coronavirus patients who didn’t visit China 29 Airlines suspend, scale back direct flights to China amid virus fears 30 WHO declares global public health emergency over coronavirus outbreak 31 Worldwide cases overtake 2003 SARS outbreak Deaths: 213

February 1 Coronavirus: US and Australia close borders to Chinese arrivals 2 Philippines reports first coronavirus death outside China 3 China, desperate to stop coronavirus, turns neighbor against neighbor 4 Coronavirus shuts Macau, the world’s gambling capital 5 Mothers may pass coronavirus to unborn children, say Chinese doctors: state TV 6 Wuhan rounds up the infected as death toll in China jumps 7 An eternal hero.' Whistleblower doctor who sounded alarm on coronavirus dies in China 8 Coronavirus: Five Britons in French ski chalet catch virus 9 WHO advance team on coronavirus on way to China: Tedros tweet 10 Xi Jinping visits Beijing hospital 11 Coronavirus disease named COVID-19 12 Coronavirus test kits sent to states are flawed, C.D.C. says 13 WHO says fake coronavirus claims causing 'infodemic' 14 Egypt confirms coronavirus case, the first in Africa 15 China cleans, locks away banknotes to stop virus spread 16 Coronavirus infection found after cruise ship passengers disperse 17 Coronavirus cruise passengers land in U.S., including 14 infected 18 Wuhan hospital president dies of novel coronavirus pneumonia 19 Two die of coronavirus in Iran, first fatalities in Middle East 20 South Korea reports first coronavirus death as infections linked to church rise 21 Italy’s novel coronavirus cases rise to 17 as cluster emerges 22 Iran shuts schools, cultural centres as coronavirus kills six 23 Venice Carnival ends early as Italy virus outbreak spooks Europe 24 China 'comprehensively bans' wildlife trade over coronavirus 25 Revelers fill the streets as New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras 26 C.D.C. confirms first possible community transmission of coronavirus in U.S. 27 New coronavirus cases linked to Italy crop up across Europe 28 Coronavirus: Nigeria confirms first case in sub-Saharan Africa 29 Wash. state sees 1st virus death in US, declares emergency Deaths: 2,942

March 1 Woman who visited Iran is NYC’s first case of new virus 2 Italy's health system at limit in virus-struck Lombardy 3 Fed makes emergency rate cut, but markets continue tumbling 4 Italy shuts all schools to stem spread of coronavirus 5 Woman in 70s becomes first virus fatality in UK 6 21 people on Grand Princess cruise ship test positive 7 Dozens trapped as China quarantine hotel collapses 8 Italian lockdown puts 16m people in quarantine 9 Dow closes with decline of 2,000 points, almost ending 11-year bull market 10 Italy expands coronavirus 'lockdown' to entire country 11 WHO declares novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic 12 Dow plunges 2,300 points: Stocks in meltdown as panic selling continues 13 Europe is now the ‘epicenter’ of the coronavirus pandemic, WHO says 14 US travel ban on Europe begins as many countries step up containment 15 European ski season over as France last to shut resorts 16 White House announces new social distancing guidelines around coronavirus 17 Coronavirus confirmed in all 50 states and D.C. 18 U.S. Navy hospital ships to deploy to New York, West Coast 19 California governor orders all residents to stay home 20 UK orders all pubs, restaurants and gyms to close 21 Jordan goes on virus lockdown as Iran’s death toll mounts 22 Italy bans movement inside country as another 651 people die 23 Party zero: How a soirée in Connecticut became a ‘super spreader’ 24 Tokyo 2020 Olympics officially postponed until 2021 25 India, day 1: World’s largest coronavirus lockdown begins 26 China temporarily closes its borders to foreign nationals 27 Trump signs $2.2tn stimulus bill after invoking Defense Production Act 28 Wuhan eases quarantine as coronavirus cases in US pass 100,000 29 German state minister kills himself as coronavirus hits economy 30 Dr. Birx predicts up to 200,000 U.S. coronavirus deaths ‘if we do things almost perfectly’ 31 Sierra Leone has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, president says Deaths: 44,389

April 1 U.S. Intelligence: China covered up extent of coronavirus outbreak 2 Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships reach US port after 12-day wait at sea 3 CDC now recommends Americans consider wearing cloth face coverings in public 4 China holds day of mourning for coronavirus victims 5 Tiger at NYC’s Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus 6 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in intensive care after coronavirus symptoms worsen 7 Residents rush trains, take to highways as Wuhan lifts lockdown 8 Why Passover 2020 during the coronavirus quarantine is different from all other Passovers 9 EU ministers seal deal on half a trillion euro coronavirus rescue plan 10 Workers bury the dead in mass grave on New York City's Hart Island amid coronavirus outbreak 11 Moscow hospitals see 'huge influx' of patients as COVID-19 spreads in Russia 12 As demand for oil dries up, OPEC and allies agree to historic cuts in output 13 WHO says COVID-19 is 10 times more deadly than swine flu 14 Criticized for pandemic response, Trump tries shifting blame to the WHO 15 Critics question Swedish approach as coronavirus death toll reaches 1,000 16 'Hit by a hurricane': 22m out of work in US as coronavirus takes heavy economic toll 17 200-plus days later: Space station crew return to a changed planet 18 100,000 gather for funeral in Bangladesh, defying lockdown and sparking outbreak fears 19 In coronavirus-hit New York, couples can now get married online 20 Oil prices dip below zero as producers forced to pay to dispose of excess 21 Germany’s Oktoberfest, Spain’s Running of the Bulls called off amid coronavirus 22 Earth Day: Greta Thunberg calls for 'new path' after pandemic 23 1 in 5 New Yorkers may have had COVID-19, antibody tests suggest 24 ‘Locust-19’ set to ravage crops across east Africa 25 WHO warns against coronavirus 'immunity passports' 26 As coronavirus strikes prisons, hundreds of thousands are released 27 Iran: Over 700 dead after drinking alcohol to cure coronavirus 28 Germany’s coronavirus infection rate edges higher after lockdown measures eased 29 Hasidic funeral in Brooklyn draws 2,500, creating crisis for Mayor de Blasio 30 Brazil deaths surge, mass graves are dug and president says ‘so what’? Deaths: 236,716

May 1 U.S. airlines mandating facial coverings for all passengers 2 Relaxed rules and warm weather test States 3 Billionaire Buffet dumps US airlines shares because ‘world has changed’ due to coronavirus 4 World leaders join to pledge $8 billion for vaccine as U.S. goes it alone 5 U.S. daily coronavirus death rate will more than double by June 1, draft government report projects 6 Black communities account for disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths in the US, study finds 7 Virus exposes gaping holes in Africa’s health systems 8 South Korea tracks new coronavirus outbreak in Seoul nightclubs 9 New cases in Russia top 10,000 for seventh straight day 10 Coronavirus cases are rising in Germany again just days after it relaxed its national lockdown 11 Russia's Putin orders gradual easing of coronavirus lockdown despite surge in cases 12 Modi announces $260 billion coronavirus rescue package for India 13 Lesotho becomes last African nation to confirm a virus case 14 First coronavirus case at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh 15 Brazil's Bolsonaro sees second health minister quit 16 Brazil: Coronavirus pandemic reaches dozens of Indigenous groups 17 ‘COVID toes,’ other rashes latest possible rare virus signs 18 Despite FDA caution, Trump says he is taking Hydroxychloroquine as a preventive 19 Bolsonaro touts hydroxychloroquine as Brazil virus crisis deepens 20 As virus swamps Peru, Venezuelan migrants collect the dead 21 New Zealand's prime minister touts 4-day week to boost domestic tourism 22 South America is a ‘new epicenter’ of the coronavirus pandemic, WHO says 23 Zero cases in China as virus surges in Latin America, India 24 Chile's president says healthcare system 'very close to the limit' 25 Trump threatens to move Republican convention if North Carolina won't allow packed arena 26 Wuhan tests millions in 12 days as China fears second virus wave 27 U.S. coronavirus deaths top 100,000 28 Virus, heat wave and locusts form perfect storm in India 29 Trump terminates U.S. relationship with WHO, claiming it misled world about coronavirus 30 U.S. cities fear George Floyd protests may fuel new wave of coronavirus outbreaks 31 Brazil, Mexico coronavirus deaths, cases climbing exponentially Deaths: 374,692

June 1 Experts dispute reports that coronavirus is becoming less lethal 2 Russia says it's developing UV light therapy to treat coronavirus 3 Over 100,000 new coronavirus cases for 5 days straight, WHO says 4 Iran reports record daily virus cases as lockdown eases 5 Wear masks in public says WHO, in update of COVID-19 advice 6 Dutch farms ordered to cull 10,000 mink over coronavirus risk 7 As coronavirus deaths in Brazil surge, Bolsonaro limits the release of data 8 With no current cases, New Zealand lifts remaining COVID-19 restrictions 9 Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan may have started in August: Study 10 Burundi president dies of illness suspected to be coronavirus 11 Indian capital’s crematoriums overwhelmed with virus dead 12 Trump supporters must waive right to sue over virus to attend rally 13 Beijing reimposes lockdown measures after new COVID-19 outbreak 14 Record spikes in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations sweep parts of U.S. 15 Steroid dexamethasone cuts risk of death by 33%, finds UK trial 16 People with blood type O at less risk from COVID-19, research shows 17 Fauci says US 'still in the first wave' as six states see record COVID-19 cases 18 WHO ends trial of hydroxychloroquine as potential coronavirus treatment 19 Brazil tops 1 million cases as coronavirus spreads inland 20 6 Trump staffers test positive for COVID-19 ahead of Tulsa rally 21 Trump suggests US slow virus testing to avoid bad statistics 22 Partially reopen, New York City bears little resemblance to its former self 23 E.U. may bar American travelers as it reopens borders, citing failures on virus 24 Brazil judge orders President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a face mask in public 25 US health officials: 20 million Americans may have had COVID-19 26 Mike Pence wants you to pray the coronavirus away 27 Miami will close beaches for Fourth of July weekend 28 Pandemic tops 10 million cases, 500,000 deaths as momentum grows 29 China approves COVID-19 vaccine for military use, skips final phase of testing 30 Arizona orders bars and gyms to close, joining other states in reversing reopening Deaths: 508,481

July 1 US buys nearly all of Gilead's COVID-19 drug Remdesivir 2 The coronavirus may have mutated to become more infectious, Dr. Anthony Fauci says 3 Trump says the coronavirus will soon ‘just disappear’ as U.S. breaks new infection record 4 India coronavirus cases hit record high amid monsoon rains 5 Hundreds of scientists say coronavirus is airborne, ask WHO to revise recommendations 6 Bus driver is left brain dead after he was beaten up for refusing to let group of passengers without masks get on board in France 7 President Bolsonaro of Brazil tests positive for coronavirus 8 Pence says CDC changing school reopening guidelines after Trump called them 'tough and expensive' 9 Serbia bans mass gatherings after virus lockdown protests 10 Disney World set to reopen despite severe outbreak unfolding in Florida 11 Trump dons mask in public for the first time, months after public health experts said everyone should 12 30-year-old dies after attending 'COVID party' in Texas 13 South Africa introduces alcohol ban and curfew as coronavirus surges 14 Pence urges school reopening in Louisiana amid virus surge 15 Georgia gov. explicitly voids mask orders in 15 localities 16 Sweden defends its COVID strategy even as the mortality rate surpasses the U.S. and herd immunity remains elusive 17 Russia is hacking virus vaccine trials, US, UK, Canada say 18 Older children spread the coronavirus just as much as adults, large study finds 19 Sun-seekers crowd Barcelona beaches, defying coronavirus stay-at-home advice 20 Some Chinese cities reopen cinemas as virus threat recedes 21 EEU leaders seal deal on spending and €750bn COVID-19 recovery plans 22 Pfizer gets $1.95 billion to produce coronavirus vaccine by year’s end 23 Trump scraps big Republican convention in Florida as virus rages 24 McDonald’s to require masks at all US restaurant locations 25 North Korea on alert over 'first suspected coronavirus case' 26 Vietnam to evacuate 80,000 people from Danang after virus outbreak 27 The world’s biggest coronavirus vaccine study begins, a U.S. trial that will include 30,000 people to see if the shots really work 28 'Unprecedented' Hajj begins – with 1,000 pilgrims, rather than the usual 2 million 29 U.S. surpasses 150,000 coronavirus deaths, far eclipsing projections 30 US economy suffers worst quarter since the second world war as GDP shrinks by 32.9% 31 World Health Organization reports largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases across globe Deaths: 675,634

August 1 260 children and staff at Georgia overnight camp test positive for coronavirus, CDC says 2 Coronavirus cases rise in Europe as youth hit beaches and bars 3 Teachers protest across US over reopening schools in pandemic 4 Trump on COVID death toll: 'It is what it is' 5 Choctaw tribe hardest-hit by Mississippi coronavirus crisis 6 After Beirut blast, the race to save lives outweighs coronavirus safety 7 New Zealand marks 100 days of virus elimination 8 U.S. sets record as coronavirus cases top 5 million 9 97,000 American children test positive for COVID-19 in 2 weeks 10 Global coronavirus case count surpasses 20 million 11 Russia unveils COVID vaccine ‘Sputnik V’, claiming breakthrough in global race before final testing complete 12 Vaping linked to risk of COVID-19 in teens, young adults 13 Coronavirus detected on batch of chicken wings imported from Brazil, Chinese officials say 14 US health insurers doubled profits in second quarter amid pandemic 15 Travelers scramble as new measures imposed over coronavirus upticks in Europe 16 New Zealand delays general election by a month amid Auckland COVID-19 outbreak 17 Lebanon needs two-week lockdown after 'shocking' COVID-19 rise, minister says 18 France to make face masks mandatory in most workplaces 19 Airbnb bans house parties worldwide, citing virus mandates 20 Trump administration classifies teachers essential workers during pandemic 21 WHO chief: 'Hope to finish this pandemic in less than two years' 22 Coronavirus limits California’s efforts to fight fires with prison labor 23 13 die in Peru disco stampede after police lockdown raid 24 56 coronavirus cases were linked to a Starbucks in South Korea. But employees who were wearing masks didn't get infected. 25 First documented coronavirus reinfection reported in Hong Kong 26 Latin America’s evangelical churches hard hit by pandemic 27 CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says 28 Trump supporters fail to socially distance, wear masks at RNC speech 29 Thousands of COVID-deniers protest in Berlin and London 30 Coronavirus cases top 25 million globally as India emerges as a new epicenter 31 With fans forbidden due to COVID-19, a noticeably quiet U.S. Open kicks off in Queens Deaths: 851,062

September 1 Teachers union threatened to strike, convinced NYC to delay school reopening 2 CDC tells states to plan for coronavirus vaccine as early as Nov. 1, raising concerns of political pressure 3 Signs of depression have tripled in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic got underway 4 3 deaths, 147 coronavirus cases now tied to Maine wedding 5 Race for coronavirus vaccine pits spy against spy 6 More suspensions possible as NYU investigates massive party in Washington Square Park 7 India surpasses Brazil with world’s second-highest virus cases 8 Gatherings of more than six to be banned in England 9 Trump admits downplaying the virus knowing it was ‘deadly stuff’ 10 ‘Worst case scenarios’ at Sturgis rally could link event to 266,000 coronavirus cases, study says 11 UK epidemic growing as R number goes above 1 12 France records over 10,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours for first time 13 First US spring flight to Antarctica aims to keep out virus 14 Israel to impose second lockdown as coronavirus cases surge 15 West Coast fires are raising COVID-19 risks 16 India virus cases top 5 million, pandemic 'worse than sci-fi' 17 One in 7 reported COVID-19 infections is among health workers, WHO says 18 Latin American cities come alive like COVID is gone, but it’s not 19 France reports new daily record with 13,500 fresh COVID-19 cases, confirms surge 20 U.K. to fine as much as $13,000 for breaking isolation rules 21 Advice on airborne virus transmission vanishes from C.D.C. website 22 Trump calls 200,000 coronavirus deaths in U.S. ‘a shame’ 23 Massive genetic study shows coronavirus mutating and potentially evolving amid rapid U.S. spread 24 Close to 100% accuracy': Helsinki airport uses sniffer dogs to detect COVID 25 Rio postpones world-famous Carnival over COVID-19 26 WHO warns 2 million COVID-19 deaths ‘likely’ before vaccine ready 27 Concerns mount as Iran gripped by third major COVID-19 wave 28 Coronavirus deaths pass one million worldwide 29 Disney lays off 28,000 as coronavirus slams its theme-park business 30 White House blocked C.D.C. order to keep cruise ships docked Deaths: 1,014,974

October 1 Study shows Trump is a super-spreader — of coronavirus misinformation 2 Trump tests positive for the coronavirus 3 India passes grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths 4 Pope Francis laments failures of market capitalism in blueprint for post-COVID world 5 WHO: 10% of world’s people may have been infected with virus 6 Trump defeats COVID' commemorative coin goes on sale 7 Brazil hits 5 million COVID-19 cases, epidemiologist fears second wave 8 34 people in Trump's orbit have tested positive for the coronavirus, leaked FEMA report says, as White House staffers say they are scared to go back to work 9 World Food Programme awarded 2020 Nobel Peace Prize 10 Lesson not learned: Europe unprepared as 2nd virus wave hits 11 Coronavirus can last 28 days on glass and currency, study finds 12 China to test 9 million people as coronavirus cluster detected in city of Qingdao 13 Trying to reach herd immunity is ‘unethical’ and unprecedented, WHO head says 14 Proposal to hasten herd immunity to the coronavirus grabs White House attention but appalls top scientists 15 As the virus spread, private briefings from the Trump administration fueled a stock sell-off 16 Kremlin frets at COVID surge but calls it 'under control' 17 As the coronavirus surges, a new culprit emerges: Pandemic fatigue 18 Infectious disease expert: The ‘darkest of the entire pandemic’ has yet to come 19 Argentina hits 1 million cases as virus slams Latin America 20 Modi urges virus precautions ahead of India’s festival season 21 Brazil COVID-19 vaccine trial continues despite volunteer death 22 COVID surge 'very serious' in Germany and 'out of control' in Spain 23 Trump hasn’t met with virus task force in months, Fauci says 24 U.S. hits all-time high in new coronavirus cases, exceeding 80,000 in a day for the first time 25 Trump aide: ‘We’re not going to control the pandemic’ 26 UK study finds evidence of waning antibody immunity to COVID-19 over time 27 Protesters in Italy and Spain clash with police as they call for ‘freedom’ from virus restrictions. 28 Germany, France announce new COVID restrictions as outbreaks surge across Europe 29 As virus surges, Trump rallies keep packing in thousands 30 US surpasses 9 million COVID-19 cases just days before election 31 Halloween spooked by scary virus Deaths: 1,196,209

November 1 How are Americans catching the virus? Increasingly, they have no idea. 2 Italy to tighten COVID curbs, but holds back from lockdown 3 Armed with gloves and disinfectant, Americans vote while guarding against a resurgent virus. 4 COVID-19: Battleground states where virus is raging will likely decide the election 5 A lockdown with loopholes: New virus restrictions come into force in England 6 Denmark finds 214 people with mink-related coronavirus 7 Biden to announce coronavirus task force as part of presidential transition 8 With COVID-19 cases surging, the U.S. is in for a dark and deadly winter 9 Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective 10 U.S. surpasses 10 million coronavirus cases as global cases top 50 million 11 1 in 5 COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders within 90 days, study finds 12 Trump rebuffs Biden transition team, setting off virus and national security risks 13 Shadow cast across India as Diwali festival hit by COVID – and smog 14 Surging virus cases get a shrug in many Midwestern towns 15 U.S. tops 11 million as cases surge coast to coast 16 Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5 percent effective 17 How bad is Russia's COVID crisis? Packed morgues and excess deaths tell a darker story than official numbers suggest 18 German police fire water cannons at virus protesters in Berlin 19 Someone in Europe is dying every 17 seconds from COVID-19, WHO says 20 Billionaires' net worths climbed by almost $1 trillion during the pandemic while their workers were put at risk 21 U.S. records 12 millionth case as virus surge gathers speed 22 G20 leaders pledge to ensure global access to COVID vaccines 23 AstraZeneca coronavirus trial promises 'highly effective' new vaccine 24 World’s largest rubber glove maker cuts production due to COVID-19 outbreak 25 World agonises over new COVID curbs as infections approach 60 million 26 Empty seats, delivered feasts as virus changes Thanksgiving 27 A chilling question divides Europe: Open ski slopes or keep them closed? 28 Police arrest 155 anti-lockdown protesters in London 29 U.S. coronavirus cases pass 4 million for the month of November, doubling the record set in October. 30 Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com choose same word of the year: pandemic Deaths: 1,468,577

December 1 India says entire population may not need vaccinating 2 Britain OKs Pfizer vaccine and will begin shots within days 3 U.N. chief pans countries who ignored COVID-19 facts, WHO guidance 4 Restrictions, lockdowns return as deaths reach 1.5m 5 Argentina’s Senate passes ‘millionaire’s tax’ for COVID-19 relief 6 China peddles falsehoods to obscure origin of COVID pandemic 7 Iran’s top banker says US blocking COVID-19 vaccine purchase 8 90-year-old grandmother gets 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine as U.K. declares COVID "V-Day" 9 San Francisco warns that hundreds will die if guidelines ignored: ‘The virus knows no holidays’ 10 More people died from COVID-19 in the U.S. on Wednesday than during 9/11 attacks 11 Boston biotech conference led to 245,000 COVID-19 cases across US, genetic fingerprinting shows 12 Estonians plunge into icy water to ward off coronavirus blues 13 'Autoantibodies' may be driving severe COVID cases, study shows 14 ‘The weapon that will end the war’: First coronavirus vaccine shots given outside trials in U.S. 15 Hopes for a ‘normal’ Christmas fade as pandemic rages in Europe and North America 16 First Case of COVID-19 in a Wild Animal Found in a Utah Mink 17 King of Sweden says country 'failed' in its COVID response 18 1 in 5 prisoners in the US has had COVID-19, 1,700 have died 19 Britain tightens lockdowns over virus mutation with ‘significantly faster’ transmission rates 20 Countries begin barring travelers from the U.K. over concerns of a new coronavirus variant. 21 South Korea shuts ski resorts, winter tourism to curb COVID-19 spread 22 South Africa facing isolation amid fears over new COVID strain 23 The coronavirus has reached Antarctica. Now it's on every continent 24 An ICU nurse survived an eight-month fight with COVID-19 that nearly killed her multiple times: ‘Don’t lose hope’ 25 Because of COVID-19 pandemic, no tourists flock to Bethlehem 26 As virus resurges in Africa, doctors fear the worst is yet to come 27 EU Begins COVID-19 vaccinations after clearing Pfizer shot 28 Sydney told to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks from home 29 Russian COVID deaths three times the official toll 30 UK is first to authorize easy-to-handle AstraZeneca vaccine 31 I will survive': 2020 slinks into history as fireworks light deserted streets Deaths: 1,818,116