2020 IN REVIEW

AS REVELLERS celebrated the start of a new decade last New Year’s Eve, authorities in China confirmed doctors were treating more than a dozen cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause” in the city of Wuhan.

This unknown virus, which would later be named Covid-19, led to a global crisis in 2020, with more than a million lives lost.

Borders slammed shut, economies plunged and unprecedented peacetime measures were imposed on populations all over the world as global leaders responded to a health crisis which has changed the course of history.

While coronavirus may have dominated 2020, Brexit was back on the cards in early January and the UK formally left the EU on January 31, beginning an 11-month transition period.

No doubt influenced by Brexit, the term “Megxit” was coined a week into the new year when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced plans to step back as senior royals.

It was later revealed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that the UK’S earliest known coronavirus death occurred in the week ending January 31.

Storm Ciara battered the country in early February, just weeks before mass flooding was exacerbated by Storm Dennis.

Sajid Javid quit as chancellor in a dramatic Cabinet reshuffle and was replaced by his former deputy, Rishi Sunak.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds

announced they were engaged and expecting a baby, on the same day the Home Office’s top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam resigned, accusing Home Secretary Priti Patel of bullying.