Coronavirus Response Timeline

The first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus experiences symptoms onset, according to Wuhan authorities.

Increasing numbers of patients tied to the Hua’nan wet market in Wuhan, China, suffer from an unknown respiratory disease.

Democrats in the House of Representatives vote, on a completely partisan basis, to impeach President Trump.

After growing indications of person-to-person contagion in Wuhan, local doctors share concerns with health care colleagues, spurring reprimands and censorship from Chinese authorities.

Chinese officials announce a pneumonia outbreak linked to a wet market and finally inform the World Health Organization (WHO). AP first reports news of the respiratory illness outbreak.

Hua’nan wet market closed. Wuhan police publicly reprimand eight people for spreading rumors, including a doctor who alerted a hospital of person-to-person transmission. Chinese state TV widely covers the reprimands.

A Chinese government-run laboratory identifies the respiratory disease as a novel coronavirus and maps its genome but doesn’t publicly announce anything.

A Shanghai public health center maps the coronavirus genome and privately urges epidemic control measures.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention activates emergency response measure, but doesn’t publicly announce the move. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a Level 1 travel health notice and warns Americans to “practice usual precautions” if traveling to Wuhan.

President Xi takes charge of China’s coronavirus response. His personal involvement is not publicly disclosed until February. The CDC establishes a COVID-19 Incident Management System to direct operations and share information.

The CDC issues an alert, “closely monitoring a reported cluster of pneumonia. . . in Wuhan City.”

Chinese authorities report first known death from the novel coronavirus.

Chinese authorities finally share the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus with other countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the first case of coronavirus outside of China, in Thailand.

Speaker Pelosi signs articles of impeachment against President Trump and hands out customized black and gold souvenir pens.

The impeachment trial of President Trump begins in the Senate.

The CDC holds its first coronavirus telebriefing and begins entry screening travelers from Wuhan for symptoms at San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), and Los Angeles (LAX) airports.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) begins work on a coronavirus vaccine.

The first case of coronavirus in the United States is confirmed in Washington State. The CDC activates its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the coronavirus response.

Chinese authorities lock down Wuhan, canceling all planes and trains departing the city.

The WHO announces that the coronavirus outbreak does not yet constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

President Xi Jinping of China meets with the Director-General of the WHO and agrees to accept a team of international experts, including CDC officials, to better understand the coronavirus outbreak. Despite the announcement, and previous continued offers of help from the CDC, China repeatedly delays outside officials’ entrance into the country for weeks after.

President Trump announces the formation of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force to lead the United States Government response to the novel coronavirus.

The WHO declares the novel coronavirus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

President Trump institutes a travel ban on all foreign nationals who have visited China within the past 14 days. HHS Secretary Alex Azar declares a Public Health Emergency for the novel coronavirus. When President Trump suspends entry from a number of countries for national security reasons, Speaker Pelosi criticizes the president and vows to bring the NO BAN Act to the House floor.

The Washington Post publishes an article downplaying coronavirus titled, “Get a grippe, America. The flu is a much bigger threat than coronavirus, for now.”

The Philippines reports the first death from coronavirus outside mainland China. The CDC issues a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” Global Health Advisory for all of China.

The Chinese government cynically criticizes the United States government for “violating civil rights instead of reducing risks of virus spreading” by instituting a travel ban for China.

President Trump vows to fight the coronavirus disease in his State of the Union address: “Protecting Americans’ health also means fighting infectious diseases. We are coordinating with the Chinese government and working closely together on the coronavirus outbreak in China. My administration will take all necessary steps to safeguard our citizens from this threat.” Speaker Pelosi tears up the speech.

The Washington Post Editorial Board publishes an op-ed similarly criticizing President Trump’s decision titled, “In combating coronavirus, slamming the door to China will hurt more than help.”

The Senate votes to acquit President Trump of Democrats’ charges against him.

A whistleblower, Dr. Li Wenliang, who was censored by the Chinese government for telling the truth about the virus, dies of coronavirus.

The first American citizen dies of coronavirus in Wuhan, China.

France reports the first coronavirus death in Europe.

The Trump Administration asks Congress to allocate $1.25 billion in emergency funding to bolster coronavirus response efforts.

The NIH announces that clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of antiviral drugs on coronavirus-positive patients are underway in the United States. The CDC announces they expect community spread of coronavirus in the United States.

The first suspected case of coronavirus community transmission in the United States is reported in California. President Trump puts Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force.

The first coronavirus patient dies on American soil, near Seattle. The Trump Administration issues “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisories for parts of Italy and South Korea and announces additional screening procedures for incoming travelers. The Trump Administration also restricts travel to and from Iran, which was experiencing a large outbreak.

The CDC formally lifts coronavirus testing restrictions. Vice President Pence announces “any American can be tested, no restrictions, subject to doctor’s orders.”

The House of Representatives passes Coronavirus Phase I legislation, H.R. 6074 – Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, by a vote of 415-2. This legislation includes the following provisions:

• $4+ billion investment in testing, therapeutic treatments, and vaccine development and procurement.
• $2.2 billion for the CDC including nearly $1 billion for state and local response efforts.
• $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus.
• $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide.

The Senate passes H.R. 6074, Coronavirus Phase I legislation, by a vote of 96-1.

President Trump signs H.R. 6074, Coronavirus Phase I legislation, into law.

The entire country of Italy is locked down to prevent spread of the virus.

The CDC reports the United States has over 500 cases of coronavirus. The CDC updates guidelines for at-risk groups, including Americans over the age of 60.

The WHO officially declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. President Trump announces a 30-day ban of foreign travelers from Europe. The State Department issues a Level 3 Global Health Advisory advising American citizens to reconsider travel abroad.

President Trump declares a “National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak.” This action makes significant funds (~$50 billion) and authorities available for the federal government to fight coronavirus. The Department of Defense restricts domestic travel for service members, civilian employees, and families.

The Trump Administration expands European travel restrictions to include the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The House passes Coronavirus Phase II legislation, H.R. 6201 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act, by a vote of 363-40. This legislation includes the following provisions:

• Free testing for all Americans:
  • Requires all commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Indian Health service, and TRI-CARE to cover, and impose no cost-sharing for testing diagnosis of COVID-19
  • Appropriates $1.2 billion to help cover the costs of coronavirus testing, including $142 million to eliminate copay requirements for service members and veterans
• Paid sick leave for impacted American workers:
  • Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are required to provide 14 days of paid sick leave to employees affected by COVID-19.
    • The vast majority of businesses with more than 500 employees already offer paid sick leave.
    • Businesses with fewer than 500 employees will receive a 100% tax credit for both types of leave up to capped levels, credited against quarterly payroll taxes
    • Additionally, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) expansion, employees unable to work due to childcare circumstances, like a closed school, are entitled to at least 10 weeks of paid leave at two-thirds of the employee’s pay
  • Additionally, the Secretaries of Treasury and Labor will have regulatory authority to provide flexibility so small businesses under 50 employees are not unduly harmed
  • Affected employees include those with COVID-19, under quarantine, caring for someone affected, and with children whose school has closed.
  • These provisions sunset after December 31, 2020
• Assistance for vulnerable Americans:
  • $1.25 billion to provide emergency nutritional assistance for senior citizens, women, children, and low-income families, including:
    • $500 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
    • $250m for senior nutrition programs, including home-delivered nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels
    • $400m for the Emergency Food Assistance Program
  • Provides funding and flexibility to ensures low-income students continue to have access to meals if schools are closed
  • Provides the Agriculture Secretary with the authority to waive administrative requirements that might prevent children and parents from accessing nutrition programs
• Bolstered unemployment insurance:
  • Provides $1 billion in 2020 for emergency grants to states for activities related to processing and paying unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, under certain conditions
  • $500 million would be used to provide immediate additional funding to all states for staffing, technology, systems, and other administrative costs, so long as they met basic requirements about ensuring access to earned benefits for eligible workers
  • Full Federal Funding of Extended Unemployment Compensation for a Limited Period. For states that experience an increase of 10 percent or more in their unemployment rate (over the previous year)

The CDC advises against gatherings of more than 50 people.

President Trump launches the “15 Days to Slow the Spread” initiative and advises against gatherings of more than 10 people.

The Senate passes, H.R. 6201, Coronavirus Phase II legislation, by a vote of 90-8. President Trump signs H.R. 6201, Coronavirus Phase II legislation, into law. President Trump also declares his intention to invoke the Defense Production Act if needed to address medical supply shortages.

China reports no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases. U.S. intelligence agencies later conclude China is concealing the numbers of cases and deaths associated with the disease.

Speaker Pelosi blows up bipartisan negotiations on Coronavirus Phase III legislation in order to introduce the “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act,” which includes far-left provisions like:

• Funding for a Department of Transportation study into climate change mitigation efforts.
• Permanently requiring all publicly traded companies to disclose board of director diversity statistics.
• All businesses receiving federal aid for coronavirus must permanently raise their minimum wage to $15 per hour.
• Opening up funding to sanctuary cities.
• Requiring early voting and same-day voter registration.
• Modifying retirement plans for community journalists.

The Senate passes Coronavirus Phase III legislation, H.R. 748, the CARES Act, by a vote of 96-0. This legislation includes the following provisions:

• Provide grants and loans to small businesses to meet payroll and pay rent.
• Send direct checks to individual Americans of up to $1,200.
• Allow regulatory relief so banks can grant loan forbearance for otherwise healthy businesses struggling while business has been shut down.
• Provide Treasury and the Fed the ability to provide several trillion in assistance to distressed industries, including airlines, through guaranteed loans while also including strong accountability protections.
• Rush resources to hospitals, doctors and other front line providers.
• Expand the use of Telehealth medicine to surge capacity to diagnose and treat patients in a safer and faster environment.
• Temporarily expand unemployment insurance to provide a lifeline for those who have lost their jobs.
• Provide tax policy incentives, such as fixing key technical corrections from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including QIP and NOL.
• Provide liability protection for providers who volunteer (Good Samaritan).
• Allow HSAs to be used to purchase over-the-counter medicines.
• Extend expiring health extenders to November.

The House passes the CARES Act, Coronavirus Phase III legislation, by voice vote. President Trump signs the CARES Act, Coronavirus Phase III legislation into law. President Trump also invokes the Defense Production Act to order General Motors to produce ventilators. The CDC issues a travel advisory urging residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to avoid non-essential domestic travel for 14 days.

President Trump extends public health guidelines, launches “30 Days to Slow the Spread” initiative.

The CDC reports that the United States has 213,144 confirmed cases and 4,513 deaths caused by coronavirus.