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December, 2019

A cluster of patients in China’s Hubei Province, in the city of Wuhan, begin to experience the symptoms of an atypical pneumonia-like illness that does not respond well to standard treatments. The virus was traced back to a seafood market in the city. The outbreak raised concerns about a potential epidemic, leading to the start of investigations and containment efforts.

Wuhan city
January, 2020

The novel coronavirus had spread beyond China, reaching other countries in Asia and starting to emerge in other parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Measures such as travel restrictions and quarantine protocols were implemented globally to limit the virus's spread.

Hospital PPE
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February, 2020

COVID-19 continued to spread rapidly across the globe. Outbreaks were reported in several European countries, and cases surged in South Korea and Iran. The WHO emphasized the importance of preparedness and urged countries to take decisive actions to prevent further transmission. Governments started implementing lockdowns, social distancing measures, and mass testing to slow down the virus's progression.

People wearning masks
March, 2020 - May, 2023

March 2020 marked a turning point in the pandemic. COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO, as the number of cases and deaths rose exponentially. Countries worldwide implemented strict lockdowns, shutting down businesses, schools, and public spaces to curb the virus's transmission. Health systems were overwhelmed, and the global economy suffered severe setbacks.

NYC empty streets

In May 2023, after more than three years, different waves of infections, changing measures, and extensive vaccination efforts, COVID-19 remains a global concern with millions of people affected, both in terms of recovery and unfortunately, death. It emphasizes the ongoing need for caution and adherence to preventive measures. Total number of cases and deaths worldwide, as of May 2023:

Cases: 689,726,653

Deaths: 6,885,437

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Data about COVID-19 cases, sourced from Our World in Data, is visually represented as a heatmap showcasing monthly cases per capita in various countries worldwide. By examining this evolving map over time, valuable insights can be gained regarding the progression of the pandemic and the identification of countries experiencing significant infection rates.
Double-click near the globe to enable or disable globe zooming.

COVID-19 had a major impact on employment worldwide. Many people lost their jobs and had their working hours reduced. It affected businesses of all sizes, from small local ones to large multinational companies. The pandemic created economic uncertainty, causing businesses to make tough decisions to stay afloat. The labor market experienced significant disruptions as countries implemented restrictions and lockdowns to control the virus's spread. ILOSTAT data unveils the staggering impact of COVID-19 on employment, with significant losses in full-time jobs and working hours in various countries.
4 in 40 employees lost their job in the United States.
In the EU, for every 45 working hours, 4 hours were lost.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on travel and flights worldwide. International travel restrictions, lockdown measures, and fear of the virus led to a significant decrease in air travel demand. Airlines were forced to cancel flights, reduce their operations, and even suspend services temporarily. The aviation industry faced severe financial losses, with many airlines filing for bankruptcy or requiring government bailouts to survive. The data provided by Eurocontrol on the number of flights at European airports clearly illustrates the extent of the impact. A visualization below showcases airports as circles, where the size of each circle represents the number of flights (traffic) in the years 2019 and 2020. The comparative overview vividly demonstrates the dramatic decline in air traffic during the pandemic.
2019
2020