This timeline provides condensed information about the COVID-19 pandemic
at Washington State University and around the world.
December 12, 2019 – Patients in Wuhan, China, report a pneumonia-like illness that doesn’t respond to standard treatments.
January 20, 2020 – The first US case of COVID-19 is confirmed in a Snohomish County man who recently returned from Wuhan, China.
March 11, 2020 – WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic after more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths.
Associate professor Chris Cooney teaching remotely
(Courtesy Carson College of Business)
March 11, 2020 – Washington State University announces that it will move most in-person classes to distance learning after spring break.
March 23, 2020 – Gov. Jay Inslee orders non-essential businesses to close and the state’s more than 7 million residents to stay home unless necessary in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
April 2, 2020 – WSU food pantries across the university system assemble boxed groceries for pick up to meet increased student demand.
April 3, 2020 – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces new mask wearing guidelines.
July 7, 2020 – WSU announces plans to start processing hundreds of COVID-19 tests daily at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory which regularly handles tests for animal pathogens and has experience with high volumes.
July 14, 2020 – The Crimson Community Grants fund at WSU provided $500,000 to nearly 800 low-income students statewide to help them meet educational and related expenses during the pandemic.
September 2020 – Washington National Guard begins offering free COVID-19 testing to WSU Pullman faculty, staff, and students whether or not they’re exhibiting symptoms.
December 17, 2020 – Whitman County has received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine and WSU is storing it in ultra-cold freezers. High-risk healthcare workers as well as staff and residents of long-term care facilities will receive the first vaccinations.
Photo Robert Hubner
January 7, 2021 – Dozens of healthcare workers at Cougar Health Services have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
February 4, 2021 – Wastewater samples from 11 Pullman residence halls are regularly collected and screened as part of the university’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 among students who remain on campus.
President Schulz and Governor Inslee announcing vaccine
(Photo Robert Hubner)
March 31, 2021 – Gov. Jay Inslee announces that all Washington residents age 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 15.
August 24, 2021 – WSU resumes in-person classes for the fall semester.
August 31, 2021 – Human Resource Services launches new visual verification process to ensure all employees comply with the state of Washington’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
September 7, 2021 – WSU Athletics will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for fans age 12 and older for home football games beginning in October. Until then, masks are mandatory. Those who are not vaccinated will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event.
Photo Dean Hare
January 12, 2022 – Guy Palmer, a co-leader of the WSU’s response to COVID-19, testifies before a legislative committee on lessons learned during the pandemic, including the lack of resources for local and county health departments. Palmer, a WSU Regents Professor of pathology and infectious diseases at the Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, also describes how WSU pivoted to testing and contact tracing during the pandemic.
June 10, 2022 – New Coug Orientation welcomes incoming WSU students to the first in-person orientation sessions since 2019.
January 26, 2023 – WSU announces that COVID-19 vaccination requirements will be lifted for most students beginning with the summer 2023 session.
May 5, 2023 – World Health Organization declares an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, says that does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.
For the full CDC timeline, visit the David J. Sencer CDC Museum online exhibit.
Photo Shelly Hanks