5 years after pandemic declared, COVID-19 continues

In December 2019, a new lung disease was diagnosed in Wuhan, China, and linked to several deaths. Within weeks, the novel coronavirus sparked a global challenge: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Health authorities quickly developed a swab test to diagnose the disease, seen here being carried out by a medical professional in Beijing.

It quickly became clear that COVID-19 could often prove fatal, especially in older people or those with preexisting conditions. Health care workers such as this nurse in Brussels worked to the point of exhaustion. The fact that the virus kept evolving over the course of the pandemic was an additional medical challenge.

The huge number of patients pushed many hospitals to the limits. In this hospital in the Chinese city of Chongqing, beds were set up in the lobby in December 2022. In India, the health care system was at times on the verge of collapse, with desperate people waiting outside overcrowded health facilities. At times, the country recorded 2,000 COVID-19 deaths per day.

In Europe, Italy was hit particularly hard. In late March 2020, military trucks began transporting COVID-19 victims in Bergamo to crematoriums in the surrounding area; the city's facilities were overloaded. At one point, Lombardy recorded 300 deaths in just one day.

It was soon impossible to imagine everyday life without face masks, which were crucial to help contain the spread of the virus. Early in the pandemic they were often sewn from fabric, but N95 masks soon became standard. In many places, wearing masks in public places was mandatory for two years or longer. Researchers have confirmed that correctly worn masks help reduce the incidence of infection.

The streets of New York were rarely as empty as they were during the early stages of the pandemic. Almost all countries imposed contact restrictions and lengthy lockdowns to protect people from the virus. Day care centers and schools remained largely closed, as did cafes, restaurants, pubs, swimming pools and hairdressers. Where possible, people worked from home.

The pandemic forced many businesses to a standstill. Trade and commerce collapsed, and social life shut down everywhere, causing a global financial crisis. Even after lockdowns were eased, protective measures remained in place — such as plastic screens in stores and restaurants, as seen here in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

In San Francisco's Mission Dolores Park, circles on the grass indicated how close people were allowed to sit — the distance was intended to minimize the risk of infection. Although infections decreased during the summer months, hygiene measures often remained strict. In some countries, people were not even allowed to leave their homes.

By August 2021, these Indian women could finally be vaccinated with the Covishield vaccine. In the EU, the first COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer were available at the end of 2020. Shortly afterwards, Moderna and AstraZeneca were approved in a fast-track procedure. Elderly and sick people, along with health care workers, were first in line. Many poorer countries waited longer for vaccines.

Strict measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 faced opposition from some parts of society all over the world, as seen here in Paris in September 2021. In many countries, including Germany, right-wing extremists initiated or infiltrated the protests. Conspiracy theories were an integral part of opposition to officials measures and vaccines — such as the claim that coronavirus is a "bioweapon."

In Germany, children returned to school after the 2020 summer vacation following months of studying at home due to the lockdowns. Homeschooling was a stress test for both parents and students — and, according to studies, even five years after the start of the pandemic, many children and young people are still suffering from loneliness and mental illness.

In July 2021, these cyclists showed off their skills at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but hardly anyone could cheer them on. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, the sporting event originally planned for 2020 was postponed by a year — but the coronavirus still had the world in its grip a year later. As a result, the Summer Games took place in front of mostly empty stands.

The World Health Organization ended the international health emergency on May 5, 2023, but at the same time declared that coronavirus remained dangerous. According to the WHO, about 7 million people are confirmed to have died as a result of COVID-19, although some estimates put the total at at least 20 million. In London, red hearts were used to commemorate people who died from COVID-19.