Today in History: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by WHO in 2020

The following are events that occurred on March 11 throughout history:

1513 – Giovanni de’ Medici becomes Pope Leo X: Following the death of Pope Julius II, Giovanni de’ Medici was proclaimed Pope, taking the name Leo X. His papacy is noted for its patronage of the arts and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

1702 – The Daily Courant, England’s first national daily newspaper, is published: The Daily Courant began publication in London, marking a significant development in the history of journalism.

1851 – Premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto”: “Rigoletto” premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice. The opera has since become one of the most performed works in the operatic repertoire.

1888 – The Great Blizzard of 1888 begins: Also known as the “Great White Hurricane,” this severe blizzard paralyzed the northeastern United States, resulting in approximately 400 deaths.

1941 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act: This act allowed the U.S. to provide military aid to Allied nations during World War II, significantly bolstering their capabilities against Axis powers.

1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party: Gorbachev’s leadership introduced significant reforms like Perestroika and Glasnost, leading to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1990 – Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union: Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence, marking a pivotal moment in the decline of Soviet influence.

2004 – Madrid train bombings: Ten bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and injuring around 1,800. The attacks were linked to Islamist militants.

2011 – Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan: A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Honshu, triggering a devastating tsunami and leading to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Nearly 20,000 people lost their lives.

2020 – COVID-19 declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization: The WHO characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, acknowledging its global spread and severity.