previous year2019
202020212022
 

Major Events of April 2021: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from April 2021 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of April 2021: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 2021 COVID-19 Pandemic Escalates in Southeast Asia: Bangladesh experienced a significant surge in COVID-19 cases, reporting a record 6,469 new confirmed infections. In response, the government implemented strict travel restrictions, banning travelers from the European Union and 12 other countries. Similarly, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, imposed a nighttime curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. to curb virus transmission.
  • 02 Apr 2021 Capitol Police Officer Killed in Attack: A tragic incident unfolded at the United States Capitol when an attacker deliberately rammed a vehicle into a security barricade, killing one Capitol Police officer and injuring another. This event underscores the ongoing security challenges and potential threats faced by law enforcement personnel protecting critical government institutions.
  • 03 Apr 2021 US Sets New Coronavirus Vaccine Dose Record: On April 3rd, 2021, the United States achieved a significant milestone in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign by administering 4 million vaccine doses nationwide in a single day. This record demonstrated the rapid scaling of vaccination efforts and marked a critical turning point in the country's pandemic response.
  • 04 Apr 2021 Argentine President Alberto Fernandez Contracts COVID-19 Despite Full Vaccination: On April 4th, 2021, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez tested positive for coronavirus, marking a significant moment in the ongoing global pandemic. Despite being fully vaccinated, he experienced mild symptoms including fever and headache. His case highlighted the potential for breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals and underscored the importance of continued vigilance even after vaccination.
  • 05 Apr 2021 India's COVID-19 Surge: India experienced a critical milestone in its COVID-19 pandemic, recording over 100,000 new daily cases for the first time. Maharashtra state was particularly hard-hit, accounting for more than half of the new infections and subsequently implementing a new lockdown to curb transmission.
  • 06 Apr 2021 U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Milestone and Expansion: The United States celebrated reaching 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered and announced a significant expansion of vaccine eligibility, with all adult Americans set to be eligible by April 19th. This marked a pivotal moment in the nation's pandemic response strategy.
  • 07 Apr 2021 COVID-19 Alpha Variant Dominance in the United States: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) had become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. This milestone highlighted the variant's increased transmissibility and potential impact on the pandemic's trajectory.
  • 08 Apr 2021 Egyptian Archaeologists Uncover Ancient 'Golden City': Egyptian archaeologists announced a groundbreaking discovery of a 3,000-year-old lost city near Luxor, considered the most significant archaeological find since the unearthing of Tutankhamun's tomb. The ancient city of Aten provides unprecedented insights into Egyptian civilization during the reign of Amenhotep III.
  • 09 Apr 2021 Medical Testimony in Derek Chauvin Trial: During the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, medical officials testified that George Floyd died from lack of oxygen, providing critical medical evidence in the high-profile case.
  • 10 Apr 2021 Supreme Court Blocks COVID-19 Restrictions on Religious Gatherings: On April 10, 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued a significant ruling in a 5-4 decision, blocking state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions that were deemed to infringe upon religious freedoms. The decision highlighted the ongoing tension between public health measures and constitutional rights during the pandemic, emphasizing the Court's commitment to protecting First Amendment religious liberty protections even during extraordinary circumstances.
  • 11 Apr 2021 Daunte Wright Fatal Police Shooting: Twenty-year-old Daunte Wright was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota by police officer Kimberly Potter, who claimed to have mistakenly drawn her firearm instead of her taser. The incident sparked significant protests and renewed discussions about police use of force and racial injustice.
  • 12 Apr 2021 United Kingdom Eases COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions: After an unprecedented 175-day lockdown, the longest in the world, Great Britain began systematically reopening its economy by allowing pubs, shops, and other non-essential businesses to resume operations. This marked a significant milestone in the country's pandemic recovery efforts, signaling hope for economic and social normalization.
  • 13 Apr 2021 U.S. Announces Complete Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan: U.S. President Joe Biden officially announced the withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. This decision marks a significant shift from the previously agreed May 1 deadline. The United States reaffirmed its continued support for the Afghan government in its ongoing conflict with the Taliban, who remained silent on the announcement.
  • 14 Apr 2021 U.S. Announces Complete Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan: U.S. President Joe Biden formally announced the complete withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, setting September 11, 2021, as the deadline for ending the nearly two-decade-long military presence in the country. This historic decision marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and military engagement in the region.
  • 15 Apr 2021 India's COVID-19 Surge Reaches Critical Point: India experienced a devastating surge in COVID-19 cases, recording 200,739 daily new infections and 1,038 deaths, highlighting the severe impact of the pandemic's second wave on the country's healthcare system and population.
  • 16 Apr 2021 Raúl Castro Resigns as Cuban Communist Party Leader: In a significant political transition, Raúl Castro confirmed his resignation as the leader of the Cuban Communist Party, marking the end of the Castro family's historic six-decade leadership of Cuba. This momentous event symbolizes a potential generational and ideological shift in Cuban political leadership, concluding an era defined by the revolutionary legacy of Fidel and Raúl Castro.
  • 17 Apr 2021 Funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: The funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The ceremony was a solemn and historic event, marking the end of the life of Queen Elizabeth II's husband and a significant figure in the British Royal Family. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the funeral was scaled back, with limited attendees, symbolizing the pandemic's impact on public gatherings.
  • 18 Apr 2021 Global COVID-19 Pandemic Developments: India experienced a record daily surge of 261,500 COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 14.78 million. Meanwhile, Israel began relaxing pandemic restrictions by lifting outdoor mask mandates and reopening schools. Mongolia and Thailand also reported significant case increases, with Thailand's death toll exceeding 100.
  • 19 Apr 2021 First Aircraft Flight on Another Planet: NASA's Ingenuity helicopter successfully achieved the first powered, controlled flight on another planet (Mars), marking a groundbreaking moment in space exploration and aviation history. The small robotic helicopter demonstrated the potential for aerial exploration of extraterrestrial environments.
  • 20 Apr 2021 Derek Chauvin Murder Trial Verdict: In a landmark legal case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police Department officer, was found guilty on all charges related to the murder of George Floyd. The verdict was delivered by the Fourth Judicial District Court of Minnesota, marking a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about police brutality and racial justice.
  • 21 Apr 2021 Indonesian Navy Submarine Tragedy: The Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala (402) sank in the Bali Sea during a military exercise, resulting in a catastrophic loss of all 53 crew members. The incident highlighted significant maritime safety and submarine operational risks, prompting a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the submarine's sudden descent and inability to resurface.
  • 22 Apr 2021 India Experiences Unprecedented COVID-19 Surge: On April 22, 2021, India recorded a staggering global record of 314,835 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, marking the highest one-day case count during the coronavirus pandemic. The devastating surge resulted in 2,104 additional deaths, bringing the country's official COVID-19 death toll to 184,657. This unprecedented spike highlighted the severe challenges faced by India's healthcare system during the pandemic's second wave.
  • 23 Apr 2021 Tragic Kidnapping Outcome in Kaduna, Nigeria: In a devastating development on April 23, 2021, three students who were kidnapped from Greenfield University in Kaduna, Nigeria, were found murdered. This incident highlighted the persistent security challenges and kidnapping risks facing educational institutions in the region, raising serious concerns about student safety and regional instability.
  • 24 Apr 2021 Global COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign and Viral Mutations: In 2021, the world witnessed a critical phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by the widespread distribution of multiple vaccine types and the emergence of new viral variants. As vaccination efforts ramped up globally, pharmaceutical companies and health organizations worked tirelessly to develop and distribute vaccines to combat the spread of the virus. Simultaneously, the SARS-CoV-2 virus demonstrated its ability to mutate, with variants like Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta emerging and posing new challenges to public health strategies. These mutations raised concerns about vaccine efficacy and transmission rates, prompting ongoing research and adaptive medical responses.
  • 25 Apr 2021 U.S. Troops Begin Withdrawal from Afghanistan: United States Army General Austin S. Miller announces the commencement of U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, emphasizing that Afghan security forces must be prepared to assume full operational responsibility. This marks a significant milestone in the nearly two-decade-long American military presence in the region, signaling the potential end of the longest war in U.S. history.
  • 26 Apr 2021 India's COVID-19 Crisis Escalates: India experienced an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, reporting a global record of 352,991 new confirmed infections in a 24-hour period. The United States considered sending surplus AstraZeneca vaccine doses to India, while the Netherlands implemented a flight ban from India to mitigate virus transmission.
  • 27 Apr 2021 European Parliament Ratifies EU-UK Trade Agreement: The European Parliament overwhelmingly ratifies the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with a decisive 660-5 vote, with 32 MEPs abstaining, solidifying post-Brexit trade relations.
  • 28 Apr 2021 India's COVID-19 Vaccination Expansion and Record Infection Rates: India launched COVID-19 vaccine registration for individuals over 18 years old while simultaneously reporting a global record of 360,960 new cases, bringing the nationwide total to 17.9 million infections.
  • 29 Apr 2021 Brazil Reaches Grim COVID-19 Milestone: Brazil became the second country globally to surpass 400,000 COVID-19 deaths, underscoring the severe impact of the pandemic on the nation's population.
  • 30 Apr 2021 India's Devastating COVID-19 Second Wave: India experienced a catastrophic surge in COVID-19 cases, reporting 379,257 new infections and 3,645 deaths in a single day. Hospitals in Delhi were overwhelmed, turning away patients, while crematoriums and gravediggers worked continuously to manage the rising death toll during the pandemic's second wave.