Unpredictable. This word sums up 365 days, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds of almost pure chaos. When most people were opening champagne bottles and shouting “Happy New Year” at midnight on January 1, 2020, no one predicted what was coming soon in the newly received New Year. Now when we close the end of 2020 and anticipate a new beginning with the beginning of 2021, we look back at 2020 and see all the crazy and unpredictable things that happened.
10. The impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump
As of January 16, 2020, the 45th President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump, was tried by impeachment. The US House of Representatives accused Trump of “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress” when they originally started the articles in December 2019. Ultimately, the impeachment trial ended with the acquittal of President Trump on February 5. 2020.
9. The Democratic Republic of the Congo announces an outbreak of Ebola
On June 1, 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced a new outbreak of the Ebola disease. This was the eleventh outbreak the region had seen. As the tests progressed, laboratory tests showed that the cause was likely due to the result of a spill from an animal reservoir.
8. Oil Prices Reach a Record Low
In April 2020, West Texas Intermediate, a US oil benchmark, dipped well below zero and entered negative territory. The oil companies lived the unfathomable; Would they have to pay someone to remove the oil? The likely expected cause of this came with the announcement of COVID-19, which caused the closure of most jobs and stores around the world, leaving few in need of gas for their cars.
7. Protests for the killing of George Floyd Broke Out
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was assassinated. The announcement of his death shocked the United States. Floyd is said to have been killed by the knee of a police officer leaning on him, causing him to suffocate. This sparked a protest movement across the country.
6. SpaceX Launches Astronauts into Space
For the first time, a company built by Elon Musk, the creator of Tesla, SpaceX launched two astronauts into space. Americans can remember May 30, 2020, when the world saw a rocket launch into the solar system with two astronauts on board.
5. Neighbors start a socially distanced dance party
On May 5, 2020, after the announcement of the COVID-19 virus, a neighborhood decided to spread employment with a socially distanced “singing in the rain” party. Elsa Williams shared a video of her neighbors dancing with umbrellas in the streets.
4. LeVar Burton Reads to Quarantined COVID-19 Patients
The former “Reading Rainbow” host announced that he would read to quarantined people amid the 2020 pandemic. He used the Twitter app to get his video out to the public. Many other entertainers joined the show by performing various entertainment acts for people at home during the virus.
3. Police Officer Receives Kidney Transplant from Former Inmate
8 years before his kidney transplant, Terrell Potter incarcerated former addict Jocelynn James. James claims that Potter saved her by arresting her and putting her in jail. After looking at Facebook after getting out of prison, he learned of Potter’s need for a kidney transplant and decided to give her kidney to her former officer.
2. UK Gives 1st COVID-19 Vaccine
Since the COVID-19 virus has been around for most of the year, the first vaccine was finally given to a British store clerk on December 8, 2020. Margaret Keenan, 90 years old at the time of receiving the vaccine, was the first in line to receive the potentially life-saving vaccine. Britain hopes to help the rest of the world create a vaccine that works, as they prepare to administer the vaccine to thousands of residents today.
1. COVID-19 is Announced
Perhaps the most unpredictable event of 2020, the new Coronavirus shook the world with its announcement of a pandemic-style outbreak in March 2020 by the World Health Organization. With the year 2020 drawing to a close, the world wonders when and if the COVID-19 virus will ever disappear. There have been announcements of vaccines coming out in the United States, as well as in various regions of the world. With Britain beginning vaccine trials in December, the world is hopeful that the virus will soon come to a halt.
