Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNumber of CasesHow It StartedSpread to the U.S.Global EmergencyReopening ProposalStates Begin Reopening
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Number of Cases
How It Started
Spread to the U.S.
Global Emergency
Reopening Proposal
States Begin Reopening
As of 2021, this article is no longer being updated. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
More dangerous types of coronavirus include Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Like these more serious strains, COVID-19 can cause anything from mild respiratory problems to pneumonia or death.
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a public health emergency.
Lara Antal / Verywell
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19, which range from mild to severe, may appear 1 to 14 days after initial exposure. They include:
If you think you may be sick but haven’t talked to a healthcare provider yet, you can use our printable Doctor Discussion Guide below to help prepare you for your appointment.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
How Many People Have Coronavirus?
The interactive map below highlights the total numbers of confirmed cases from each country affected.
How Did It Start?
China’s National Health Commission originally traced exposure to a seafood market in Wuhan, but later reports indicate that the market was unlikely to be the only source of the virus.By January 7, the exact strain—a new type of coronavirus—was identified, and initially named 2019-nCoV.
In February, the World Health Organization officially began calling the disease COVID-19.
First Deaths
A 61-year-old Chinese man was the first known person to die from coronavirus-related illness; he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Media beganreporting his deathon January 10, 2020, adding he was a regular customer at the Wuhan seafood market. By January 31, there were 213 deaths and 9,720 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China.
First Spread Outside of China
Thailandreported its first case of COVID-19 on January 13, 2020. The infected individual had traveled there from Wuhan.
Japanreported its first case on January 15, also in a person who had visited Wuhan.
Spread to the United States
On January 21, 2020, Washington State reported the first case of the new coronavirus in the United States in a man who had returned from Wuhan, China.
Person-to-Person Spread
The first instance of a person transmitting COVID-19 to another person while in the United States was reported in Chicago, Illinois, on January 30.A woman in her 60s contracted the virus while caring for her father in China, passing it to her husband when she returned home.
Community Spread
The early cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. were limited to people who had traveled from China and those they interacted closely with. But on February 26, the CDC confirmed a case in California with no reported travel connection to China or exposure to another person with COVID-19.
This marked the first possible instance of community spread—the spread of an illness with an unknown source of infection.
U.S. Takes Global Lead In COVID-19 CasesBy March 26, the U.S. had more confirmed global COVID-19 cases than any other country. As of December 22, 2020, the CDC reported 17,790,376 cases—both confirmed and presumptive. See the full breakdown of reported cases across the country below.
U.S. Takes Global Lead In COVID-19 Cases
By March 26, the U.S. had more confirmed global COVID-19 cases than any other country. As of December 22, 2020, the CDC reported 17,790,376 cases—both confirmed and presumptive. See the full breakdown of reported cases across the country below.
Deaths
On February 29, the CDC announced a 54-year-old man from Washington State was the first person in the U.S. to die of COVID-19-related illness.According toHarborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was treated, the man had underlying medical conditions.
February 6 is anew dateconsidered to possibly mark the earliest COVID-19-related death in the U.S. This comes after medical examiners in Santa Clara County, California, examined cases they were suspicious about but did not have the tests for at the time.
Officials say the victim was a 57-year-old woman who likely contracted the virus from community spread, meaning COVID-19 has been present in the U.S. for longer than previously thought.
Since then, 316,844 total deaths have occurred in the U.S.
Feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being proactive about your mental health can help to keep both your mind and body stronger. Learn about the best online therapy options available to you.
WHO Declares Global Health Emergency
In a January 31 situation report listing 9,826 confirmed cases globally, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 “a public health emergency of international concern.” At this time, 19 countries outside of China were affected.
On March 11, after confirming over 118,000 cases in 114 countries, WHO elevated the status to a pandemic.
COVID-19 Treatments in the Pipeline
Proposal to Reopen US Economy
The guidelines propose specific criteria to be met before the three-phase approach begins:
Phase One:
Phase Two:
Phase Three:
As of May 1,states have reopenedparts of their economy and public life. What that means for each state is different; for some, only certain retailers or places of worship are open, while others, like Georgia and Texas, are embracing a return to restaurants, retail, outdoor recreation, gyms, salons, and entertainment.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has warned against re-opening too much too soon, and predicts more COVID-19 outbreaks in light of rolling back physical distancing protocols.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms.World Health Organization.WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard.World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 1.Huang C, Wang Y, Li X.Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.The Lancet.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study.The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507-513. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30211-7World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 11.Washington State Department of Health.Novel coronavirus outbreak 2020.Schencker L, Villagomez, J.First US person-to-person case of coronavirus reported in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC confirms possible instance of community spread of COVID-19 in U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC, Washington State report first COVID-19 death.Neegaard, L, Pace, J. Fauci:‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy.AP.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms.World Health Organization.WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard.World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 1.Huang C, Wang Y, Li X.Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.The Lancet.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study.The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507-513. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30211-7World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 11.Washington State Department of Health.Novel coronavirus outbreak 2020.Schencker L, Villagomez, J.First US person-to-person case of coronavirus reported in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC confirms possible instance of community spread of COVID-19 in U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC, Washington State report first COVID-19 death.Neegaard, L, Pace, J. Fauci:‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy.AP.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms.World Health Organization.WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard.World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 1.Huang C, Wang Y, Li X.Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.The Lancet.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study.The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507-513. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30211-7World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 11.Washington State Department of Health.Novel coronavirus outbreak 2020.Schencker L, Villagomez, J.First US person-to-person case of coronavirus reported in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC confirms possible instance of community spread of COVID-19 in U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC, Washington State report first COVID-19 death.Neegaard, L, Pace, J. Fauci:‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy.AP.
World Health Organization.WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms.
World Health Organization.WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard.
World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 1.
Huang C, Wang Y, Li X.Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.The Lancet.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study.The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507-513. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30211-7
World Health Organization.Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation report - 11.
Washington State Department of Health.Novel coronavirus outbreak 2020.
Schencker L, Villagomez, J.First US person-to-person case of coronavirus reported in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC confirms possible instance of community spread of COVID-19 in U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC, Washington State report first COVID-19 death.
Neegaard, L, Pace, J. Fauci:‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy.AP.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
