Updated on February 24, 2021 at 5:05 pm NBC Universal, Inc. The novel coronavirus has changed lives, economies and health care systems as we know it. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic. The respiratory virus that originated in China has since infected tens of millions of people worldwide, and killed more than 2 million. Get the answer to your most-asked COVID vaccine questions on our mobile NBC 5 Chicago app. Download it here for iOS or Android. Since the WHO's classification, the United States and other countries have taken drastic steps to attempt to slow the spread of the virus. From sheltering in place to travel restrictions to full border closures, the global pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of daily life.