Crystabel Ukwuegbu
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic. According to WHO estimates, nearly 15 million lives were lost either due to the virus itself or as a result of overwhelmed healthcare systems within the first two years. Looking back, the first year of the crisis significantly reshaped societies worldwide.
The Emergence of the Virus
In December 2019, medical professionals in Wuhan, a city in central China with a population exceeding 11 million, began treating a cluster of pneumonia cases. On December 31, Chinese authorities informed WHO about these unusual illnesses. The affected individuals were quarantined, and efforts were made to trace the origin of the outbreak. By January 6, 2020, a Taiwanese citizen returning from Wuhan exhibited flu-like symptoms, raising concerns about a longer incubation period of approximately two weeks. Early investigations linked the outbreak to the Huanan Seafood Market, which also sold live animals, suggesting the illness could be zoonotic—transmissible between animals and humans.
In early February, researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology published findings in Nature suggesting that the virus shared 96% of its genome with a bat coronavirus. Meanwhile, cases were spreading outside China. On January 7, a South Korean worker returning from China fell ill and was later diagnosed with pneumonia. By January 8, Chinese media confirmed that a novel coronavirus had been identified in 15 of 59 patients under investigation, though further studies were needed. The following day, China made the virus’s genetic sequence publicly available for global research efforts. By January 11, a 61-year-old man in Wuhan succumbed to severe pneumonia, marking the first known fatality from the disease.
Rapid Global Spread and Growing Concerns
As infections surged within China, cases were soon reported in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. With the Lunar New Year approaching, fears escalated regarding the virus spreading through mass travel. By January 21, the United States confirmed its first case in Washington state—an individual who had recently traveled from Wuhan. Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasized the need to prepare for both expected and unforeseen developments.
By the end of January, cases had been reported in 23 countries across all continents except Antarctica. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing human-to-human transmission outside China. Experts warned that the virus could spread undetected in less developed regions. Governments worldwide canceled major events, halted cruise ship operations, imposed travel restrictions, and repatriated citizens.
The Escalation to a Pandemic
By March, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) became a critical issue as healthcare workers and the general public sought protective gear. As the situation worsened, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, with Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressing deep concerns over the virus’s rapid spread and insufficient global response.
During the initial European wave, Italy and Spain faced severe outbreaks, with hospitals struggling to accommodate patients. Many countries enforced lockdowns to contain the virus, leading to deserted shopping districts and shuttered businesses. Research intensified on potential treatments, with some existing drugs, such as dexamethasone, proving beneficial for severely ill patients.
The Search for a Vaccine and a Changed World
As restrictions helped slow infections, economies cautiously reopened under strict health guidelines, including social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing. However, a second wave emerged in the autumn, prompting renewed lockdowns. Efforts to develop a vaccine accelerated, with multiple candidates undergoing trials.
In December 2020, the UK became the first country to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine, with 90-year-old Margaret Keenan receiving the first dose. Moderna’s vaccine soon followed, offering another highly effective option. Oxford University and AstraZeneca introduced a more traditional vaccine that did not require ultra-cold storage, making it more accessible for global distribution.
Vaccine Deployment and Global Impact
In early 2021, the AstraZeneca vaccine received approval from the European Medicines Agency. However, concerns over rare blood clotting events led some nations to suspend its use. Studies later indicated that mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna provided superior protection, leading many countries to shift their preference. By 2023, the scientists behind mRNA vaccine breakthroughs were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
The widespread rollout of vaccines significantly reduced the virus’s impact. Researchers from Imperial College London estimated that vaccines saved up to 20 million lives globally within the first year of distribution. These calculations, based on data from 185 countries, excluded China.
Long-Term Effects and Present-Day Reality
A WHO-commissioned study in September 2022 estimated that around 17 million people in Europe suffered from long COVID between 2020 and 2021. Symptoms ranged from chronic fatigue and cognitive issues to respiratory difficulties. Five years after the pandemic declaration, COVID-19 has become an endemic virus worldwide. While stringent measures like lockdowns and social distancing have faded into history, the virus continues to circulate, and health officials warn that it remains a serious risk, particularly for vulnerable populations.
