Coronavirus timeline: From COVID-19's origin to spread
From New York to Paris to England to New Delhi, life has come to a standstill with some three billion people confined to their homes asgovernments and agenciesfightthe coronavirus outbreak.
COVID 19 infected more than 1.44 million people and killed over 83,000 worldwide.
The exact source of the novel coronavirus remains under investigation, though it is thought to be linked to Wuhan wet market. Another theorysays the virus was developed in a Chinesevirology lab.
Here are the key developments since the novel coronavirus was announced:Coronavirus Timeline
December 30, 2019
The Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention in central China's Hubei province detected cases of "pneumonia of unknown cause".
December 31, 2019
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission confirmed 27 cases, telling the public not to go to enclosed public
January 8, 2020
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said a new coronavirus could be behind a pneumonia epidemic documented in December in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
January 11, 2020
China announcedits first death in Wuhan
January 24, 2020
The first cases in Europe are recorded, in France.
January 25, 2020
Hubei province followed Wuhan in being placed in quarantine
January 28, 2020
Germany and Japan announced the first two confirmed instances of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 outside China. Nations rushed to evacuate their citizens from China.
January 30, 2020
The WHO declared a "public health emergency of international concern".
February 2, 2020
The Philippines reported the first death outside China, a man from Wuhan.
February 7, 2020
The WHO warned that the world is running out of masks and other protective equipment.
February 19, 2020
As the toll topped 2,000, the WHO called for "proportionate" actions to COVID-19's international spread.
February 25, 2020
The WHO saidthere is a risk of a pandemic. The next day the number of new cases in the rest of the world surpasses that of China.
March 6-8, 2020
More than 100,000 cases were recorded around the world. Northern Italy was locked down, quickly followed by the rest of the country.
March 11, 2020
The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. US borders were gradually closed to around 30 countries. Governments and central banks rolled out massive economic support measures.
March 13, 2020
The WHO declared Europe as the pandemic's new epicentre.
By March 18, 2020
More than 2,00,000 cases were registered across the world.
March 19, 2020
Italy became the country with the highest death toll.
March 23, 2020
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned against a worse recession than the one that followed the 2008 world financial crisis.
Several sporting events were either cancelled or postponed due to the spread of the novel virus.
March 24, 2020
Indian Prime Minister announced a 21 days nationwide lockdown.
March 26, 2020
The leaders of the Group of 20 nations came together for an ‘extraordinary virtual G20 Summit’ to discuss the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the global economy.
March 28, 2020
As China's Wuhan started emerging from lockdown, Italy passed the 10,000 death mark.
April 7, 2020
The Indian government decided to licence and paracetamol, in appropriate quantities, to theneighbouring countries. These drugs are seen as key in the treatment of coronavirus.
(With inputs from AFP and PTI)