At the transition from 2020 to 2021, many hoped that the coronavirus would miraculously disappear. However, COVID-19 cases are still raging as we continue our second online semester. Looking back, COVID-19 has definitely transformed nearly every aspect of our lives. The Paw Print has provided a timeline marking the start of the coronavirus, the stages of quarantine and social distancing guidelines until now. If we all do our part to stay inside and wear masks, we could be getting one step closer to a pandemic-free future.

2020

March:

• March 11-The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the coronavirus (COVID-19) as an official pandemic and former president Trump declares a national emergency two days later.
• March 13- West Ranch High School, along with others in the district, has its last day on campus, with classes transitioning to an online format using ZOOM the following week.
• March 27- Trump signs the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law, providing $2 trillion in hospital, small business, and state and local government aid, according to the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC).

April:

• April 16- The White House releases guidelines outlining “gating criteria” which states or metropolitan areas follow to manage their coronavirus cases before reopening the U.S. economy.
• April 23- Pfizer begins vaccine trials in Germany.
• April 24- Global coronavirus deaths hit 187,000, which prompts many governments to bolster aid, including the United States Senate passing the COVID-19 3.5 relief package containing $484 billion in aid.
• April 30- According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than 235 laboratories begin testing under the COVID-19 Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019.

May:

• May 9- A saliva-based diagnostic test is officially authorized for at-home use by the FDA to broaden the chance of detecting a COVID-19 infection.
• May 21- The United States and AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, announce a collaborative vaccine deal to speed the development of a vaccine called AZD1222.
• May 28- The US COVID-19 statistics show a surpass of the 100,000 death mark, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

June:

• June 4- West Ranch hosts a drive-thru graduation in Central Park celebrating the Class of 2020.
• June 4- The 2019-2020 school year ends online.
• June 10- COVID-19 confirmed cases reach 2 million in the US as states begin to ease social distancing orders.
• June 16- Officials associated with the United States’ Operation Warp Speed, a project to rapidly develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine, explain that the vaccine will be provided for free to elderly patients and other groups who cannot afford it.
• June 29- Global coronavirus death toll surpasses 500,000.
• June 30- The William S. Hart District’s governing board chooses blended learning for fall of 2020, including the option for a full online opportunity for families who aren’t ready to return in-person.

July:

• July 7- The United States surpasses 3 million cases of COVID-19.
• July 14- Vaccine trials done by Moderna show that the Moderna vaccine does produce immune system responses with no major side effects. 
• July 17- Governor Newsom announces full online learning requirements for all counties on the COVID-19 monitoring list.
• July 27- Moderna’s vaccine enters stage three, and receives $427M from the Trump Administration.

August:

• August 10 – The United States authorizes the Moderna vaccine.
• August 10- The Class of 2021 hosts their own senior sunrise at Jake Kuredjian Park.
• August 11- West Ranch begins the 2020-2021 school year in distance learning.
• August 12- Pfizer releases phase I and II clinical trial data revealing that the administered dose was well tolerated and produced immunogenicity, or with an immune response from the body. 
• August 25 – The first instance of a patient reinfected with the coronavirus arises.
• August 27 – The White House confirms and buys 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests.

September:

• September 1 – The United States announces that it will not participate in the WHO Global Covid-19 effort.
• September 9 – LA County allows in-person services for small groups of students with special needs, a maximum of 12 students per cohort.
• September 16 – Trump Administration releases a vaccine distribution plan to make vaccines available for free, though the decision regarding which groups receive first priority has not yet been determined.
• September 21 – Conditioning for West Ranch sports begins. Players must wear masks and stay socially distanced. 
• September 23 – A mutation leads to a new, more contagious strain of COVID-19 as revealed by a study conducted at Houston Methodist Hospital.
• September 28 – Reported global COVID-19 deaths surpass 1 million.

October:

• October 2 – President Trump and First Lady Melania test positive for COVID-19. 
• October 5 – After three days, the President and First Lady are discharged from the hospital and show no further signs of COVID-19 once back at the White House.
• October 9 – The Trump Administration strikes a $486 million deal with AstraZeneca to develop an antibody treatment for COVID-19.
• October 23 – AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson report their plans to restart clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine after test trials were halted due to safety concerns. 

November:

• November 4- The US reaches a grim milestone in the coronavirus, reporting more than 100,000 cases on this day alone.
• November 9- President-Elect Joe Biden announces a COVID-19 Advisory Board. In addition, Pfizer announces that its vaccine is 90% effective.
• November 18- As COVID-19 cases remain high in Los Angeles County, the Santa Clarita Valley nears 8,500 cases.
• November 30- LA County reveals a new stay at home order, effective Nov. 30 through Dec. 20.

December:

• According to The Signal, Los Angeles County authorizes an “updated public health officer order in response to surging coronavirus cases,” causing outdoor dining to be prohibited for the second time.

• Dec 10- The FDA endorses the first COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech after discussing its application in a day-long meeting, ending in a majority 17-4 voting to recommend the vaccine to people 16 and older.
• December 10- California Governor Gavin Newsom issues a stay at home order, extending through the holidays, as coronavirus cases rise in California.
• Dec 17- The same FDA panel decides to back the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with a 20-0 voting, endorsing its use for people above the age of 18. 

2021

January:

• Jan 7-  A COVID-19 outbreak is reported on the campus of Saugus High School, with 3 employees contracting the virus and the campus shutting down until Jan. 13. 
• Jan 16- LA County confirms the first case of the new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7., originally found in the United Kingdom.
• Jan 16- Los Angeles County surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases.
• Jan 21- A vaccine distribution center opens in LA County. School staff have been designated for COVID-19 vaccinations in Phase 1B.
• Jan 25- COVID-19 vaccines become available for people over the age of 65 in the state of California. 
• Jan 25- CA loosens COVID-19 restrictions, allowing outdoor dining, personal care services, fitness centers, malls, and small gatherings, at a limited capacity. 
• Jan 27- The school board votes for West Ranch to resume conditioning for school sports.