March 11, 2020: The Day Everything Changed
NPR
While some changes happened gradually, there was one day that marked the beginning of the new normal.
March 11, 2020.
On that day in the United States, the pandemic future arrived all at once.
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Dr. Fauci testifies: "It's going to get worse"
Dr. Anthony Fauci...had been called to testify about the coronavirus on March 11 before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
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"Bottom line," Fauci said, "it's going to get worse."
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"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction..."
"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."
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By the end of the day, the Dow was down more than 20% from its peak in February – and had entered bear market territory. An 11-year bull market had come to an end.
At 3:18 p.m., with the pandemic now official and stocks cratering, President Donald Trump sent out a tweet: "I am fully prepared to use the full power of the Federal Government to deal with our current challenge of the CoronaVirus!" He said he would address the nation from the Oval Office that evening.
At 9:02 p.m., Trump began his remarks: "My fellow Americans: Tonight, I want to speak with you about our nation's unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world."
"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," he continued. "I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus," he said.
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An NBA game is halted just before tipoff
In Oklahoma City, the Thunder were about to take on the visiting Utah Jazz. Around 8 p.m. ET, shortly before tipoff, the referees and coaches conferred about an unsettling development: Jazz center Rudy Gobert's coronavirus test had just come back —positive.
The teams returned to their locker rooms...fans were stirring in confusion. "Wild times," said an ESPN commentator on the game's broadcast. "The fans here in the arena don't know what's going on, we don't know what's going on."
A moment later, the public address announcer took to the microphone. "The game tonight has been postponed. You are all safe," he said. Cries of dismay rang out from the stands. "Take your time in leaving the arena tonight, and do so in an orderly fashion."
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At 9:46 p.m., the NBA made it official: The season was suspended until further notice.
Oh, I remember that day well . I finished that afternoon, certainly one of the last jury trials held in that building. The courts closed entirely on May 15, as I recall. I remember 46-1's address that night. He seemed to wince in pain, I posted, alarmed. And I remember the "Thunder"-"Jazz" game being postponed, a "Thunder" trainer running onto the court to tell the officials of thr positive tests.
