COVID, the world, and STLCC

A timeline of the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on the world and STLCC.

jacob politte online editor

2019:

Dec. 31: The World Health Organization (WHO) is first informed of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan City, China.

2020:

Jan. 7: A novel coronavirus, “COVID-19” was identified as the cause of the pneumonia cases by Chinese authorities.

Jan. 28,: Then President Trump is officially briefed on the COVID-19 virus, and is warned by officials that his response to the virus will be “the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency.” He chooses to downplay it in the coming months. Mar. 25: The Meramec Montage suspends its print editions for the remainder of the semester.

Mar. 30: All on-campus classes are canceled and moved online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Classes that involved a lab or studio component that couldn’t be converted online are “paused.”

Apr. 1: All STLCC outdoor athletic facilities were secured and made inaccessible “until further notice.”

Apr. 6: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 10,000.

Apr. 14: STLCC announces that all summer courses will be held online.

Apr. 24: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 50,000.

Feb. 7: In an interview with Bob Woodward of the Washington Post for his book “RAGE” Trump reveals that he is fully aware of the severe consequences of the pandemic. “It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flu... this is deadly stuff.” In another interview with Woodward a month later, he admits to playing the virus down. “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down… because I don’t want to create a panic.”

Mar. 9: An individual unknowingly carrying the COVID-19 virus is present on the Forest Park campus.

Mar. 11: WHO officially recognizes COVID-19 as a pandemic due to its alarming spread and severity worldwide. NBA shuts down operations, and the rest of the sports world begins to follow suit.

Mar. 12: STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman releases an email announcing that STLCC will continue on with on-campus classes, but admitting that the situation is an evolving one. Meanwhile, an individual unknowingly carrying COVID-19 is present on the Meramec campus. May 16: STLCC campuses are reopened to most janitorial staff. Many STLCC employees continue to work from home.

May 28: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 100,000.

May 29: The Trump Administration announces its intent to terminate the United States’ affiliation with the WHO. Jun. 1: Chancellor Pittman announces in a Press Release that due to an “impending budget shortfall” that will negatively affect colleges throughout Missouri, Senior Members of STLCC leadership (including Meramec President Feleccia Moore-Davis and himself) will each be taking one day of furlough a month through the end of the year starting the following month. He also announces the freezing of a high number of vacant positions, the suspension of the travel budget and reduction of professional development and operational costs.

Mar. 13: STLCC’s Spring Break is extended by one week. Meanwhile, an individual unknowingly carrying COVID-19 is present on the Florissant Valley campus. Jun. 22: An college employee unknowingly carrying COVID-19 is present at various locations on the Forest Park campus. They tested positive four days afterward.

Jul. 28: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 150,000.

Mar. 18: STLCC’s Spring 2020 commencement is postponed until December. Non-essential employees are designated to work from home.

Aug. 24: STLCC returns to limited on-campus classes that cannot be delivered online, such as select lab and studio courses, as well as choir classes. Students attending on-campus classes are instructed to use the Healthfully App to answer a health screening each time before their arrival on campus. Also, in compliance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, wearing masks on all campuses is required. All other courses continue to be delivered online.

Sept. 3: The Meramec Montage resumes releasing its print edition, albeit on a monthly basis instead of bi-weekly.

Sept. 19: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 200,000.

Oct. 2: President Trump and his wife Melania announce that they tested positive for COVID-19.

Oct. 3: President Trump is airlifted to Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland, hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Oct. 5: Trump leaves Walter Reed, returns to the White House.

Nov. 7: President Trump loses his bid for re-election to former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is widely believed to be a factor in his loss. He becomes only the third elected president since World War II to lose re-election, and the first since George H.W. Bush in 1992.

Nov. 16: Several STLCC on-campus classes return to an online format until the end of the fall semester, following an increase in COVID-19 cases around the region.

Nov. 18: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 250,000.

Dec. 11: An effective COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioTech is announced and authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dec. 14: The first Pfizer vaccines are distributed in the United States. The amount of shots, however, is limited. Meanwhile, the reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 300,000.

2021:

Jan. 3: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 350,000.

Jan. 6: During the Electoral College vote to confirm Biden as the next President, an angry mob of Trump supporters storms the United States Capitol Building directly after a rally held by the outgoing President, vandalizing the building and breaking into the Senate and House Chambers in an attempt to stop the process and potentially kill elected officials. Trump is officially banned from most social media outlets as a result of the insurrection.

Jan. 19, 2021: STLCC’s Spring 2021 semester begins; the first session of face-to-face and hybrid classes meets in person for the first class, then transitions back online until mid-February. Meanwhile, the reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 400,000.

Jan. 20, 2021: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in as the new President and Vice President. The same day, Biden retracts Trump’s intent to withdraw from the WHO.

Feb. 16, 2021: STLCC students participating in face-to-face and hybrid courses are permitted to return to campus for classes.

Feb. 22, 2021: The reported COVID-19 death toll in the United States passes 500,000.

May 14, 2021: The CDC announces that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks, but STLCC continues to require mask usage at all campuses.

June 15, 2021: STLCC announces that fully-vaccinated students, staff and faculty are no longer required to wear masks on all campuses.