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COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global pandemic caused by the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global pandemic caused by the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It began with outbreaks in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. The WHO ended the Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May 2023, while the disease continued to circulate globally.

Origins and spread

The outbreak was first detected in China in December 2019 and then spread rapidly across Asia and to the rest of the world in early 2020. The global spread of the disease led to the formal declaration of a pandemic by the WHO.

Public health response

International public health measures included emergency declarations, surveillance, vaccination campaigns, testing, isolation, and travel restrictions in many countries. The WHO later ended the emergency phase in May 2023.

Global impact

The pandemic caused substantial mortality, pressure on health systems, and major social and economic disruption worldwide. It also influenced daily life, education, work, and public policy in many countries.

Post-emergency phase

After the WHO ended the emergency designation, COVID-19 remained a global health threat and continued circulating. By 2025, many experts described the situation as having shifted into endemic circulation.

Key facts

  • The pandemic started after the emergence of COVID-19 in late 2019 in Wuhan, China.
  • The causative virus was identified as SARS-CoV-2.
  • The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
  • The WHO ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 5 May 2023.
  • By 2026, reported deaths exceeded 7 million worldwide, with higher estimated excess deaths.
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Canadian context

Canada experienced major public health, economic, and social effects from the pandemic, including national vaccination campaigns, border and travel measures, and changes to health-care delivery and schooling.

Frequently asked questions

What caused the COVID-19 pandemic?
It was caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which produces the disease COVID-19.
When did the COVID-19 pandemic begin?
The outbreak began in late 2019, with early cases detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
When did the WHO declare COVID-19 a pandemic?
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
Is COVID-19 still a health issue?
Yes. The WHO ended the emergency phase in May 2023, but COVID-19 continued to circulate globally afterward.
How many people died from the pandemic?
As of mid-2026, sources reported about 7.1 million confirmed deaths worldwide, with higher estimates for total deaths.

References

  1. World Health Organization — https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19
    Supports: First detected in China in December 2019; PHEIC declared on 30 January 2020; characterized as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
  2. World Health Organization — https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
    Supports: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2; most cases are mild to moderate, some become serious.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic
    Supports: Pandemic timing, WHO emergency ending in May 2023, and death estimates as of 2026.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
    Supports: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and spread worldwide starting in January 2020.
  5. National Institutes of Health / PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7205601/
    Supports: Origin in Wuhan in December 2019; worldwide spread and public health impact.