31 December 2019
China reports to the World Health Organization a "cluster" of pneumonia cases "of unknown cause" in the city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.
8 January 2020
The World Health Organization says a new coronavirus could be behind the outbreak.
China announces its first death in Wuhan on 11 January.
Through January, cases emerge outside China.
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24 January 2020
France is the first country to report a case in Europe, at the end of January.
The following day Hubei province follows Wuhan in enforcing quarantine.
28 January 2020
Germany and Japan announce the first two confirmed instances of human-to-human transmission of Covid-19 outside China.
Nations rush to evacuate their citizens from China.
On 30 January the WHO declares a "public health emergency of international concern", without recommending limiting travel and trade with China.
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15 February 2020
France reports the first death confirmed outside Asia, a Chinese tourist.
Trade shows, sporting competitions, arts events and festivities are cancelled. Flights to China are suspended.
The number of cases spirals in Italy, South Korea and Iran.
On 26 February the number of new cases in the rest of the world surpasses that of China.
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29 February 2020
The first Irish case of Covid-19 is reported.
It involves a man in the eastern part of the country, and is associated with travel from northern Italy.
6 March 2020
More than 100,000 cases have been recorded around the world.
On 8 March northern Italy is locked down, quickly followed by the rest of the country
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11 March 2020
The World Health Organization says Covid-19 is a pandemic.
Global stock markets crash.
Ireland announces the first death associated with the virus, involving a women in the east of the country who had an underlying health condition.
The United States closes its borders to around 30 countries.
Governments and central banks roll out massive economic support measures.
12 March 2020
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces that schools, colleges and childcare facilities are due to close temporarily.
Speaking in Washington, Mr Varadkar said all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor events involving more than 500 should be cancelled.
Home working is encouraged and socialising should be limited, official advice said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced a series of measures, including the temporary closure of schools, colleges and childcare facilities, to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak | Read more: https://t.co/jr7d4agqCK pic.twitter.com/x1dBuGtaIQ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 12, 2020
13 March 2020
The WHO says Europe is the pandemic's new epicentre.
Spain and France introduce stringent lockdown measures in the following days.
Other European countries advise people to stay home and limit contact.
15 March 2020
All pubs, including hotel bars, in Ireland are asked to close until at least 29 March.
The government also strongly advises against house parties while the pubs are closed.
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18 March 2020
Airlines slash flights. Many countries shut their borders.
More than 200,000 cases have been registered.
A long list of countries and territories announce confinement measures.
The International Monetary Fund warns about a worse recession than the one that followed the 2008 world financial crisis.
24 March 2020
Japan's 2020 Olympics are postponed.
A day later, the UN warns the pandemic "is threatening the whole of humanity".
The US Senate approves a $2-trillion economic stimulus package.
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27 March 2020
The Irish government says that from midnight last night until 12 April, everybody must stay at home except in specific circumstance.
The specific circumstances include travel to and from work for essential work that cannot be done from home; to shop for food, household goods or collect a meal; to attend medical appointments, collect medicines and other health products.
Other exemptions include farming, the care of animals and leaving home for vital family reasons such as providing care for the elderly or vulnerable.
Leo Varadkar also said that people can leave their home for brief physical exercise, but only within 2km of their home.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlines further Covid-19 measures, says everybody must stay at home from midnight tonight until Easter Sunday, 12 April | Follow live updates: https://t.co/W2t5MvPevS pic.twitter.com/dx5HbeKts6
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 27, 2020
2 April 2020
The symbolic bar of one million officially declared cases is passed, while one half of humanity is confined -- more than 3.9 billion people
10 April 2020
The official 100,000-death threshold is passed.
In Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces that measures introduced at the end of March will remain in place until 5 May.
A week later, as the virus rages in the US, now the worst hit country, President Donald Trump says it is time to get the American economy going again.
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26 April 2020
The 200,000-death mark is reached.
The tide starts to turn in Europe's most hard-hit countries which begin easing their lockdowns.
1 May 2020
The Irish government announces a further extension of Covid-19 measures until 18 May.
However, there is some easing of restrictions - people who have been cocooning are allowed leave their homes while the 2km limit on exercising is extended to 5km.
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8 May 2020
US figures show the pandemic has destroyed 20 million jobs in the country.
12 May 2020
France and Spain end their lockdowns, followed by Italy and Greece.
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18 May 2020
Thousands of shops, businesses and construction sites reopen in Ireland.
Minister for Health Simon Harris says people's behaviour and actions over the next three weeks will determine whether public health experts can recommend moving to Phase Two.
5 June 2020
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces that the roadmap to speed up the reopening of the country has been enhanced.
However he says some measures on mass gatherings may need to remain in place until August.
7 June 2020
The global death toll reaches more than 400,000.
The surge of cases and deaths in Latin America causes concern.
8 June 2020
Most retailers in Ireland reopen, with some crowd control restrictions still in place.
Restrictions on domestic travel are eased, with people allowed travel within their own county or 20km from their home, whichever is further.
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22 June 2020
Brazil counts more than 50,000 Covid-19 fatalities.
A resurgence in Beijing forces authorities there to lockdown several neighbourhoods.
29 June 2020
Ireland enters Phase 3 of reopening, with pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopening - with restrictions in place.
Restrictions on domestic travel are eased fully.
Contact sporting activity also returns.
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