World 2021 Timeline

All categories Politics / Government Immigration / Law / Policy Economy / Jobs / Business War / Conflict / Security Culture / Society Pop Culture / Entertainment Sports Technology / Science Health / Disasters Major Trends
Showing 75 events on this page. Use search or category filters to narrow the year.
May
08
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, COVID-19 lockdown in India Kerala enters a nine-day complete lockdown, closing shops, suspending public

COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, COVID-19 lockdown in India Kerala enters a nine-day complete lockdown, closing shops, suspending public transport, and severely restricting the on-road movement of people amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times) India reports 401,078 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 21.9 million. The country also reports a record 4,187 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 238,270. (Khaleej Times)

May
08
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, COVID-19 lockdown in India Kerala enters a nine-day complete lockdown, closing shops, suspending public transport, and severely res

COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, COVID-19 lockdown in India Kerala enters a nine-day complete lockdown, closing shops, suspending public transport, and severely restricting the on-road movement of people amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times)

May
08
Health / Disasters

European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic The European Commission signs a new deal with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 900 million doses of its vaccine

European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic The European Commission signs a new deal with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 900 million doses of its vaccine with an additional option to purchase another 900 million doses for delivery from 2021 to 2023 which they intend to use as booster shots against the illness and to allow for the vaccination of children and teenagers. (The Irish Times)

May
09
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Laos Laos reports its first death from COVID-19.

COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Laos Laos reports its first death from COVID-19. The patient is a 53-year-old woman who had been receiving treatment at a designated hospital in Vientiane since April 30. (Big News Network) COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 26 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,683. (New Straits Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka reports a record 2,672 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the cumulative number of patients to 125,906. (Newsfirst)

May
09
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany lifts its curfew and some social restrictions, such as requiring a negative test result to enter certain venues, for those

COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany lifts its curfew and some social restrictions, such as requiring a negative test result to enter certain venues, for those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19. These people are also no longer required to enter quarantine unless they have travelled to a high-risk country. (MedicalXpress)

May
10
Health / Disasters

Chernobyl disaster Ukrainian scientists report that, for an unknown reason, the levels of nuclear radiation have increased in the remains of the Chernobyl power

Chernobyl disaster Ukrainian scientists report that, for an unknown reason, the levels of nuclear radiation have increased in the remains of the Chernobyl power plant. Most areas of containment have shown decreasing radiation levels, however, in one particular room, radiation counts have doubled over the last four years. These radiation levels are high enough to preclude installing sensors. Additionally, fuel containing materials, which were initially the consistency of lava, are disintegrating into radioactive dust. (Popular Mechanics) (Nature)

May
10
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Bahrain and the United Arab Em

COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates establish “a safe travel corridor” for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, which will be in effect by the end of this week. (Al-Arabiya English)

May
10
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom lowers its COVID-19 Alert level to level 3 as vaccinations and lockdown restrictions ease pressure on

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom lowers its COVID-19 Alert level to level 3 as vaccinations and lockdown restrictions ease pressure on the NHS, which means that the transmission of the virus is no longer rising exponentially. (The Independent)

May
11
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia Slovakia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people that received the first dose af

COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia Slovakia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people that received the first dose after the State Institute for Drug Control ruled that the death of a 47-year-old woman was likely connected to the jab. (Euronews) COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain approves the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people under the age of 60 years. (El Pais)

May
12
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in India India reports a record 4,205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 254,197.

COVID-19 pandemic in India India reports a record 4,205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 254,197. (The Times of India) COVID-19 pandemic in Uttar Pradesh A total of 52 bodies have been found floating in the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh with suspicions that villages may simply be disposing of pandemic deaths in the river. (The New Indian Express)

May
13
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 4,887 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours due to the emergence of jail clusters that have infecte

COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 4,887 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours due to the emergence of jail clusters that have infected 2,835 prisoners. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 93,794. (Bloomberg)

May
13
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii Hawaiian Governor David Ige says that the state will keep its mask mandate despite the Center

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii Hawaiian Governor David Ige says that the state will keep its mask mandate despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying that fully vaccinated Americans can go to places without wearing a mask. (Hawaii Tribune-Herald) The CDC announces that all fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks or practice social distancing, unless the person is immunodeficient or still displaying symptoms of the virus. (CNN)

May
14
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore The Singaporean Health Ministry announces that it will impose the strictest curbs since the circuit breaker last year, including

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore The Singaporean Health Ministry announces that it will impose the strictest curbs since the circuit breaker last year, including limiting social gatherings to two people, making work from home default, and banning dining at restaurants. The new restrictions will be in effect from May 16 until June 13. (The Straits Times) (Forbes)

May
14
Health / Disasters

The Singaporean Health Ministry announces that it will impose the strictest curbs since the circuit breaker last year, including limiting social gatherings to t

The Singaporean Health Ministry announces that it will impose the strictest curbs since the circuit breaker last year, including limiting social gatherings to two people, making work from home default, and banning dining at restaurants. The new restrictions will be in effect from May 16 until June 13. (The Straits Times) (Forbes)

May
15
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China The General Administration of Sport of China announces that the summits of Mount Everest used by climbers in China will rema

COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China The General Administration of Sport of China announces that the summits of Mount Everest used by climbers in China will remain closed through the spring, citing COVID-19 concerns in both mainland China and neighboring Nepal. (Reuters via Yahoo!)

May
15
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland reopens bars, restaurants, and other establishments for outdoor usage for the first time in seven months and relaxes its mask

COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland reopens bars, restaurants, and other establishments for outdoor usage for the first time in seven months and relaxes its mask requirement as the number of COVID-19 cases declines and the number of vaccinations increases. (Daily Sabah)

May
16
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia The Ministry of Health suspends the distribution of around 450,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZe

COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia The Ministry of Health suspends the distribution of around 450,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from batch CTMAV547 for toxicity and sterility tests following the death of a 22-year-old man who received the vaccine 11 days ago. (Jakarta Globe)

May
16
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education The Singaporean Ministry of Education announces that they will close all schools an

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education The Singaporean Ministry of Education announces that they will close all schools and shift all primary, secondary, and junior college students to full home-based learning beginning May 19 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community. (The Straits Times)

Page navigation keeps this timeline fast on phones and slower connections.