A new, highly contagious coronavirus first emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Within weeks the virus had infected millions of people worldwide. The illness caused by the virus--given the name COVID-19--left a trail of death in its wake as hundreds of thousands of people succumbed to the disease. In the United States, many governors responded to the COVID-19 threat by ordering schools and nonessential businesses to close and most everyone to stay home. Social distancing rules were put in place. Sporting events and concerts were canceled. Shopping malls and museums closed. Streets and highways in America's biggest cities were virtually deserted.

Millions of people lost their jobs--and struggled to survive. This book documents the unprecedented events that rocked the nation and the world in 2020. With personal accounts, perspectives from experts, and clear, accessible writing this book presents a vivid picture of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it turned the world upside down.