A look back at the year of solitude and tragedy with touches of success and inspiration.

January

Jan. 3 – President Donald Trump was notified of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Jan. 16 – The US Senate began the impeachment trial of President Trump after his impeachment in the US House of Representatives in late 2019.

Jan. 26 – A helicopter crash in Calabasas left nine dead, including retired NBA star Kobe Bryant.

Jan. 30 – The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern.

The US had reached 11 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of January.

February

Feb. 5 – The US Senate acquitted President Trump on the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Feb. 27 – The Dow Jones Index suffers its biggest fall after closing down 1,190.95 points.

 Feb. 29 – The US and the Taliban agreed on terms to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan.

The US had reached 66 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of February.

March

March 3 – The World Bank pledged $12 billion for developing countries to fight against the coronavirus.

March 11 – The WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

March 15 – Aspen Ski Co closed all four mountains following an order from Colorado governor Jared Polis.

March 18 – The US and Canadian governments agreed to close the US-Canada border. 

March 23 – The UN Secretary-General called for a global ceasefire. 

March 27 – President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package into law. 

The US had reached 140,640 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of March.

April

Aspen residents continued to hit the slopes as hiking and skinning became a popular pastime.

April 1 – Aspen School District began remote learning after taking an extra week of spring break to prepare for the new learning landscape.

April 20 – US oil went negative for the first time.

The US had reached 1,003,974 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of April.

May

Irish fundraisers raised over $2 million for the US Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation as repayment for aid given to them during the Irish Potato Famine. The tribes have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.

May 1 – Canada announced a ban on 1,500 types of assault-style weapons.

May 1 – Armed protestors gathered outside of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s house to protest the new stay-at-home order. 

May 19 – Nature Climate Change published a study showing that global greenhouse gas emissions dropped 17% while in lockdown. 

May 25 – George Floyd was murdered while in the Minneapolis police custody, prompting racial justice protests nationwide. 

The US had reached 1,734,040 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of May.

June

The US government released data showing that African Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized than whites highlighting the racial disparities experienced in the US.

June 8 – Kathy Sullivan, a former astronaut, became the first woman to reach the ocean’s deepest point, along with being the first American woman to spacewalk. 

June 9 – The US Senate confirmed General Charles Q. Brown as Air Force Chief of Staff, making him the first African American to lead a US Armed Forces branch. 

June 15 – The Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case 6-3 that gay and transgender workers cannot be discriminated against in the workplace. 

June 18 – The US Supreme Court ruled that the Dreamers Program (DACA) would stay. 

The US had reached 2,537,636 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of June.

July

July 1 – The US recorded 50,000 new cases in one day for the first time. 

July 9 – The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mcgirt in McGirt v. Oklahoma, a massive victory for Oklahoma’s Native American population. 

The US had reached 4,388,566 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of July.

August

Aug. 11 – Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. 

Aug. 19 – Apple became the first US company to reach a $2 trillion valuation. 

Aug. 23 – Police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot Jacob Blake, prompting more racial justice protests nationwide. 

Aug. 31 – Aspen High School officially started remote learning.

The US had reached 5,899,504 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of August.

September

Sept. 6 – Los Angeles County recorded their hottest day ever, with temperatures reaching 121℉. 

Sept. 9 – Bob Woodward’s new book, Rage, reveals that President Trump downplayed the pandemic to avoid panic. 

Sept. 15 – Scientific American issued their first-ever presidential endorsement of a candidate in 175 years by backing Joe Biden. 

Sept. 18 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice and women’s rights activist, died at 87 years old. 

Sept. 22 – The US reached 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.

Sept. 24 – President Trump nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement, Amy Coney Barrett, just 39 days before the polls close on election day. 

The US had reached 7,077,015 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of September.

October

Oct. 2 – President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus. The President was then hospitalized later that day; he returned to the White House just days later while still infectious. 

The US had reached 8,852,730 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of October.

November

Nov. 2 – Aspen High School students returned for one full hybrid learning cycle. 

Nov. 3 – The next day, the polls closed as the decisive election came to an end, with over 156 million Americans voting and the highest turnout rate since 1900. 

Nov. 7 – Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election; Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and first woman of color to be elected to the vice presidency. 

Nov. 9 – BioNTech and Pfizer announced their coronavirus vaccine to be over 90% effective after phase 3 trials. 

Nov. 16 -Moderna announced that their vaccine was at least 94% effective. 

Nov. 25. – Aspen Mountain and Snowmass opened for social distanced skiing and snowboarding. Nov. 29 – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris announced the first all-female communications team for the White House. 

The US had reached 13,082,877 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of November.

December

Dec. 14 – The Electoral College reaffirmed Joe Biden’s victory. 

Dec. 14 – The US reached 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Dec. 14 – Colorado started administering COVID-19 vaccines for frontline workers. 

Dec. 18 – Aspen Valley Hospital received Pitkin County’s first COVID-19 vaccines; Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands opened for skiing and snowboarding. 

The US had reached 19,346,790 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of December.

As we look back on this wild year, we should appreciate the positive aspects and the support communities have provided to those in need. We must move into this new year with purpose and remember to stay vigilant in social distancing/safe practices.