It Happened During COVID Trivia Quiz

Answer: During COVID-19

Although the referendum and planning for Brexit occurred years before this (having taken place in 2016), the date on which the withdrawal was recognized was January 31st, 2020, only a day into the COVID-19 pandemic. This would, of course, complicate the obvious issues surrounding the economy, international commerce, and travel, though the ramifications of the latter really wouldn't be felt so much until the mandatory lockdowns were alleviated. Notably, the Brexit referendum passed with a 'Leave' vote of 51.9%

Answer: During COVID-19

One of the most publicized American events of 2020, save for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, involved Minneapolis man George Floyd, who was apprehended by police outside of a city grocery store and murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin. At a time when lockdowns were in full swing, Floyd's death was another spark to ignite the powder keg of racial injustice in the U.S., calling further attention to an ongoing rise in police brutality and galvanizing the Black Lives Matter movement. What resulted, despite lockdowns, was a spate of protests across the United States including a series of events in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Answer: During COVID-19

Occurring on February 1, 2021, a coup d'état kicked into motion when military leader Min Aung Hlaing attempted to assume power, deposing Aung San Suu Kyi the day before the nation's parliament was set to act on the previous year's election results, awarding more seats to the National League for Democracy.

In the coming months, nearly two thousand would be killed and nearly ten thousand would be arrested during the event.

Answer: During COVID-19

The Suez Canal, constructed in the 1860s, was created to solve shipping issues between Europe, Africa, and Asia, providing a route that would prevent ships from having to pass entirely around continents. In March 2021, the canal was blocked almost entirely when one of the world's largest container ships, the Ever Given, ran aground in the passage due to an ongoing storm.

This disruption to global shipping, occurring on March 23, 2021, would take six days to unblock. Its contents wouldn't be delivered until after a hundred day internment, and it would head back the way it came-- through the canal-- again in August (though with an escort).

Answer: During COVID-19

After weeks of posturing and troop placement, Russia officials had their forces push into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, commencing the largest European attack since the Second World War, destroying cities and displacing more than eight million Ukrainians.

The invasion, occurring from the north, east, and south, appeared to be an attempt to reclaim territory, especially Crimea, with much of the land along the Sea of Azov also falling into their control. Forces would place Mariupol under siege, annexing as far west as Kherson Oblast. On the international stage, Russia was generally condemned for their actions while aid flooded into Ukraine.

Answer: NOT During the Pandemic

Definitively, this did not happen during COVID-19 because Queen Elizabeth II celebrated this during 2012 -- a Diamond Jubilee occurs when a monarch reaches their sixtieth year of reign. In 2022, Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee instead, becoming the longest-reigning British monarch, having ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth would pass way in her platinum year, succumbing peacefully to old age in Balmoral Castle on September 8th.

Answer: NOT During the Pandemic

On April 15, 2019, fire broke out in Notre-Dame Cathedral and was promptly attended to by firefighters, but the efforts wouldn't be quick enough to avoid severe structural damage to the landmark, resulting in needs for significant repairs to the roof, spire, and vault of the building.

Although this would result in the building being closed for more than five years (over the COVID-19 pandemic, no less), the work done and the funds raised to restore Notre-Dame would be enough to maintain the majority of the original building.

It would be determined that all relics inside were left unscathed, no one was harmed, and it's likely that the fire was not caused by any malicious action.

Answer: NOT During the Pandemic

In, perhaps, a case of humans going where they might not belong in the first place, the Titan submersible was part of an adventure tourism company known as OceanGate, specializing in sending people to the bottom of the Atlantic to see the Titanic for a measly $250,000 USD ticket price. On June 18, 2023, the Titan descended into the Atlantic with five people inside (including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush) and imploded less than two hours into the dive.

It was determined that operators eschewed safety concerns early in the trip, leading to the fatal event.

The remains of the submersible would be found near the wreck of the Titanic a few days later.

Answer: NOT During the Pandemic

After a couple years of declining box office numbers brought on by COVID-19 lockdowns and a reduction of general filmmaking as a result of the pandemic, 2023 marked the first massive opportunity for a comeback in theatres, and in the summer, at the height of traditional blockbuster season, July 21 marked the release of both Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" film and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" biopic.

The obvious tonal dissimilarity between the two led the internet to exacerbate the marketing campaign, recommending that people watch both films in one go-- a combined runtime of nearly five hours.

They called it 'Barbenheimer', naturally. Both films ended up being colossal, well-received hits, taking in box office earnings of nearly $2.4 billion (USD).

Answer: NOT During the Pandemic

August 2023 marked this event in which a series of brushfires commenced on several Hawaiian islands, though the largest of these occurred in spots on Maui. Exacerbated by drought conditions and harsh winds, the fires became one of the most damaging of such events on the islands leading to mass evacuations while officials attempted to gain control of the blazes, many of which wouldn't be contained until late September.

By the end of the event, it would become one of the deadliest and most damaging wildfires in U.S. history.