This document discusses the history and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It details how the virus originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has since spread globally, infecting millions and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. Many countries imposed lockdowns and social distancing measures to slow the spread, but these restrictions have taken a large economic toll. Vaccine development is underway which offers hope, but the world is still struggling to control and recover from this unprecedented health and economic crisis.