On 10 March 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic, marking a watershed moment in modern history as the virus had already spread to multiple continents with 121,564 confirmed cases and 4,373 deaths.
The pronouncement sent shockwaves across the globe, triggering widespread lockdowns, economic turmoil, and an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems.
Governments scrambled to contain the outbreak, scientists raced to develop vaccines, and societies braced for a new reality shaped by fear, isolation, and uncertainty.
This declaration, more than just an announcement, was the harbinger of a global crisis that would redefine the world for years to come.
