COVID-19 pandemic

=== Asia ===
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Asia}}

As of the end of 2021, Asia's peak had come at the same time and at the same level as the world as a whole, in May 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=COVID-19 Data Explorer|url=https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-04-11..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Confirmed+cases&Interval=7-day+rolling+average&Relative+to+Population=true&Align+outbreaks=false&country=USA~South+America~Asia~Europe~Africa~OWID_WRL|url-status=live|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Our World in Data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209081315/https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-04-11..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Confirmed+cases&Interval=7-day+rolling+average&Relative+to+Population=true&Align+outbreaks=false&country=USA~South+America~Asia~Europe~Africa~OWID_WRL |archive-date=9 December 2021 }}</ref> However, cumulatively they had experienced only half of the global average in cases.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=COVID-19 Data Explorer|url=https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-04-11..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Confirmed+cases&Interval=Cumulative&Relative+to+Population=true&Align+outbreaks=false&country=USA~South+America~Asia~Europe~Africa~OWID_WRL|url-status=live|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Our World in Data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209081315/https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-04-11..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Confirmed+cases&Interval=Cumulative&Relative+to+Population=true&Align+outbreaks=false&country=USA~South+America~Asia~Europe~Africa~OWID_WRL |archive-date=9 December 2021 }}</ref>

[[File:塔子湖体育中心改造的方舱医院 07.jpg|thumb|A [[Fangcang Hospital|temporary hospital]] constructed in [[Wuhan]] in February 2020]]
China opted for containment, instituting strict lockdowns to eliminate viral spread.<ref name=":02">{{#invoke:cite journal || vauthors = Burki T | title = China's successful control of COVID-19 | journal = The Lancet. Infectious Diseases | volume = 20 | issue = 11 | pages = 1240–1241 | date = November 2020 | pmid = 33038941 | pmc = 7544475 | doi = 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30800-8 }}</ref><ref>Multiple sources:
* {{#invoke:Cite magazine|| vauthors = Hessler P |title=How China Controlled the Coronavirus|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/08/17/how-china-controlled-the-coronavirus|access-date=4 January 2021|magazine=The New Yorker}}
* {{#invoke:cite web || title=China's response shows how bold decision-making can contain coronavirus|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/chinas-response-shows-how-bold-decision-making-can-contain-coronavirus/|access-date=4 January 2021|website=World Economic Forum|date=11 March 2020 }}
* {{#invoke:cite journal || vauthors = Kupferschmidt K, Cohen J |date=2 March 2020|title=China's aggressive measures have slowed the coronavirus. They may not work in other countries|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/china-s-aggressive-measures-have-slowed-coronavirus-they-may-not-work-other-countries|journal=Science|doi=10.1126/science.abb5426|s2cid=216508232}}</ref>
The vaccines distributed in China included the [[Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine|BIBP]], [[Sinopharm WIBP COVID-19 vaccine|WIBP]], and [[CoronaVac]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||vauthors=Pike LL |title=In China, nearly 1 million people have reportedly already gotten a coronavirus vaccine |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/11/25/21612338/does-china-have-a-covid-19-vaccine-1-million-sinopharm-sinovac |website=Vox |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=25 November 2020}}</ref> It was reported on 11 December 2021, that China had vaccinated 1.162&nbsp;billion of its citizens, or 82.5% of the total population of the country against COVID-19.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=China vaccinates over 80% of its people against COVID-19 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-vaccinates-over-80-its-people-against-covid-19-2021-12-11/ |website=Reuters |access-date=11 December 2021 |date=11 December 2021}}</ref> China's large-scale adoption of [[zero-COVID]] had largely contained the first waves of infections of the disease.<ref name=":02"/><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=China's response shows how bold decision-making can contain coronavirus|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/chinas-response-shows-how-bold-decision-making-can-contain-coronavirus/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104204702/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/chinas-response-shows-how-bold-decision-making-can-contain-coronavirus/|archive-date=4 January 2021|access-date=4 January 2021|website=World Economic Forum|date=11 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web||last1=Kupferschmidt|first1=Kai|last2=Cohen|first2=Jon|date=2 March 2020|title=China's aggressive measures have slowed the coronavirus. They may not work in other countries|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/china-s-aggressive-measures-have-slowed-coronavirus-they-may-not-work-other-countries|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215013608/https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/china-s-aggressive-measures-have-slowed-coronavirus-they-may-not-work-other-countries|archive-date=15 February 2021|access-date=4 January 2021|website=Science {{!}} AAAS}}</ref> When the waves of infections due to the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]] followed, China was almost alone in pursuing the strategy of zero-Covid to combat the spread of the virus in 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news ||url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/59882774 |title=China: How is its zero-Covid strategy changing? |first1= Kai |last1=Wang |first2= Wanyuan |last2=Song|date=4 April 2022 |work=BBC }}</ref> Lockdown continued to be employed in November to combat a new wave of cases;<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||last1=Mcdonald |first1=Joe |title=China Returns to Lockdowns as Cases of COVID-19 Surge |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/china-returns-to-lockdowns-as-cases-of-covid-19-surge/3953615/ |website=NBC New York |date=12 November 2022 |access-date=13 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=World stocks on back foot as China COVID cases rise |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/world-stocks-on-back-foot-as-china-covid-cases-rise/ar-AA14mFDG |website=MSN |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref> however, [[2022 COVID-19 protests in China|protests erupted in cities across China]] over the country's stringent measures,<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||last1=Magramo |first1=Kathleen |title=China's Covid cases hit record as dissent grows over tough restrictions |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/24/asia/china-covid-highest-daily-case-number-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=25 November 2022 |date=24 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||first1=Nectar|last1=Gan|first2=Philip|last2=Wang|title=China's security apparatus swings into action to smother Covid protests |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/29/china/china-protest-crackdown-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=29 November 2022 |date=29 November 2022}}</ref> and in December that year, the country relaxed its zero-COVID policy.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news ||url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-63855508 |title=China abandons key parts of zero-Covid strategy after protests|date=7 December 2022|work=BBC}}</ref> On 20 December 2022, the Chinese State Council narrowed its definition of what would be counted as a COVID-19 death to include solely respiratory failure, which led to skepticism by health experts of the government's total death count<ref>{{#invoke:cite news ||last1=Bradsher |first1=Keith |last2=Chien |first2=Amy Chang |last3=Dong |first3=Joy |date=23 December 2022 |title=As Cases Explode, China's Low Covid Death Toll Convinces No One |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/world/asia/china-covid-death-toll.html |access-date=23 December 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news ||date=20 December 2022 |title=China's low covid death count is being criticized as implausible |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/20/china-covid-coronavirus-low-numbers/ |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref> at a time when hospitals reported being overwhelmed with cases following the abrupt discontinuation of zero-COVID.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=Some hospitals in China overwhelmed in national COVID-19 wave |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/china-covid-19-icus-emergency-wards-1.6697978 |website=CBC |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

The first case in India was reported on 30 January 2020. India ordered a nationwide lockdown starting 24 March 2020,<ref name="mrGsK">{{#invoke:cite news|| vauthors = Gettleman J, Schultz K |date=24 March 2020|title=Modi Orders 3-Week Total Lockdown for All 1.3 Billion Indians|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/world/asia/india-coronavirus-lockdown.html|access-date=2 August 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> with a phased unlock beginning 1 June 2020. Six cities accounted for around half of reported cases—[[COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra|Mumbai]], [[COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi|Delhi]], [[COVID-19 pandemic in Gujarat|Ahmedabad]], [[COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu|Chennai]], [[COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra|Pune]] and [[COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal|Kolkata]].<ref name="sHMHJ">{{#invoke:cite web || title=Infections over 1 lakh, five cities with half the cases: India's coronavirus story so far|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/05/19/infections-coronavirus-1-lakh-five-cities-with-half-the-cases.html|access-date=20 May 2020|website=The Week}}</ref> Post-lockdown, the Government of India introduced a contact tracking app called [[Aarogya Setu]] to help authorities manage contact tracing and vaccine distribution.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=India's Aarogya Setu becomes world's most downloaded contact-tracing app |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-aarogya-setu-becomes-worlds-most-downloaded-contact-tracing-app-313748 |access-date=25 March 2022 |website=WION }}</ref> India's vaccination program was considered to be the world's largest and most successful with over 90% of citizens getting the first dose and another 65% getting the second dose.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news ||title=India's Covid vaccination programme one of world's most successful: Govt |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/indias-covid-vaccination-programme-one-of-worlds-most-successful-govt/articleshow/88648882.cms |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=India rolls out the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive |url=https://www.who.int/india/news/feature-stories/detail/india-rolls-out-the-world-s-largest-covid-19-vaccination-drive |access-date=25 March 2022 |website=www.who.int }}</ref> A second wave hit India in April 2021, straining healthcare services.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news || vauthors = Yeung J, Sud V |title=India's second Covid wave hits like a 'tsunami' as hospitals buckle under weight|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/21/india/india-covid-hospital-shortage-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=26 April 2021|publisher=CNN}}</ref> On 21 October 2021, it was reported that the country had surpassed 1&nbsp;billion vaccinations.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web ||title=India Has Hit The 100-crore Vaccination Mark |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/india-has-hit-the-100-crore-vaccination-mark-7607041.html |website=Moneycontrol |date=21 October 2021 |access-date=28 December 2021 }}</ref>

[[File:Disinfection of Tehran subway wagons against coronavirus 2020-02-26 09.jpg|thumb|Disinfection of Tehran Metro trains to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Similar measures have also been taken in other countries.<ref name="2kQpo">{{#invoke:cite web || url=https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Coronavirus-en-Panama-Metro-limpieza_0_5531446820.html |title=Realizan jornada de limpieza en vagones del Metro de Panamá |date=12 March 2020 |publisher=Tvn-2.com |access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>]]
Iran reported its first confirmed cases on 19 February 2020, in [[Qom]].<ref name="wHBRB" /><ref name="4yrqM" /> Early measures included the cancellation/closure of concerts and other cultural events,<ref name="Xm5nq" /> Friday prayers,<ref name="Urdn6" /> and school and university campuses.<ref name="2YX6a" /> Iran became a centre of the pandemic in February 2020.<ref name="HHOnl" /><ref name="New Yorker" /> More than ten countries had traced their outbreaks to Iran by 28 February, indicating a more severe outbreak than the 388 reported cases.<ref name="New Yorker" /><ref name="D2Xpc" /> The [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|Iranian Parliament]] closed, after 23 of its 290 members tested positive on 3{{nbsp}}March 2020.<ref name="fXv2K" /> At least twelve sitting or former Iranian politicians and government officials had died by 17 March 2020.<ref name="oxtUC" /> By August 2021, the pandemic's fifth wave peaked, with more than 400 deaths in 1 day.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=5 August 2021|title=Iranian Hospitals Overflow As Number Of Reported COVID-19 Cases Passes 4 Million|newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-covid-4-million/31393785.html|access-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805130006/https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-covid-4-million/31393785.html|archive-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

COVID-19 was confirmed in South Korea on 20 January 2020. Military bases were quarantined after tests showed three infected soldiers.<ref name="b82186" /> South Korea introduced what was then considered the world's largest and best-organised screening programme, isolating infected people, and tracing and quarantining contacts.<ref name="science20200317" /> Screening methods included mandatory self-reporting by new international arrivals through mobile application,<ref name="nbcnews1167376">{{#invoke:cite web || url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/how-south-korea-flattened-its-coronavirus-curve-n1167376 |title=This is how South Korea flattened its coronavirus curve | vauthors = Moon G |date=24 March 2020 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> combined with [[drive-through]] testing,<ref name="CvyZS" /> and increasing testing capability to 20,000 people/day.<ref name="fdhQW" /> Despite some early criticisms,<ref name="imx38" /> South Korea's programme was considered a success in controlling the outbreak without quarantining entire cities.<ref name="science20200317" /><ref name="Wypis" /><ref name="joins23778577">{{#invoke:cite web || script-title=ko:'K방역 극찬' 빌 게이츠, KT 손잡고 제2 코로나 막을 연구에 60억 투자 |url=https://news.joins.com/article/23778577 |date=17 May 2020 |script-website=ko:중앙일보 |language=ko |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>