CORRECTION Corrected date, 2020 instead of 2019 The publication of non-hospital (community) tests for COVID-19 in data in early July suddenly exposed the virus was transmitting more freely than known in some places. By September, a north-south divide had emerged.

Raw turkeys are divided up ahead of slicing and some to be distributed ahead of Thanksgiving and amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in LaGrange, Indiana, Michigan, U.S., November 20, 2020. REUTERS/Emily Elconin

Raw turkeys are divided up ahead of slicing and some to be distributed ahead of Thanksgiving and amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in LaGrange, Indiana, Michigan, U.S., November 20, 2020. REUTERS/Emily Elconin

Sisters Charlotte, 11, and Savannah Smith, 8, visit Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Savannah Laycock, 1, crawls on the ground while visiting Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Brother and sister DeShaye, 8, and Shaye'Lah Powell, 4, speak to a man dressed as Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

A man dressed as Santa Claus departs after a day of greeting shoppers behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Majesty Davis, 3, cries while visiting a man dressed as Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Catherine Matt, 8, speaks with a man dressed as Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

The Matt family (L-R) Jack, 3, Catherine, 8, Sam, 5, and Molly, 9, visit Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

A man dressed as Santa Claus, wearing a face shield and positioned behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, awaits visitors at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

A man dressed as Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, uses his smartphone while awaiting visitors at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man dressed as Santa Claus, sitting behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, reads "The Night Before Christmas" while awaiting visitors at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

A man dressed as Santa Claus, wearing a face shield and positioned behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, waves to shoppers at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

A man dressed as Santa Claus, sitting behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, awaits visitors at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Brothers Miles, 6, and Shane Smart, 4, listen to a man dressed as Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Majesty Davis, 3, cries while visiting Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Majesty Davis, 3, cries while visiting Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Majesty Davis, 3, cries while visiting Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Savannah Smith, 8, reacts as she visits Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Brothers Christian, 12, and Jonathan Peters, 18, pose for a portrait with Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Will Bertinetti, 5, reacts as he speaks with Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Santa Claus wears a face mask and sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as he greets sisters Charlotte, 11, and Savannah Smith, 8, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

The Irwin family, father T.J., son James, 7, daughter Lillian, 10, and mother Brittany visit Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Sisters Lily, 12, and Natalie Benek, 9, speak with Santa Claus, through a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Will Bertinetti, 5, reacts as he speaks with Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

Sisters Charlotte, 11, and Savannah Smith, 8, visit Santa Claus, who sits behind a plexiglass divider due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela

People eat between plexiglass dividers at Horus Cafe in the East Village as new restrictions were announced on bars and restaurants for 10 PM closure, to help fight the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Manhattan, New York City November 13, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

After Election Day, Wall Street rallied on the likelihood of a divided U.S. Congress. Investors were calmed after major networks declared Democrat Joe Biden winner of the U.S. presidential election.

Lynn Nester, 53, stands in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building to express his concerns about the integrity of the presidential election in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Layne

Lynn Nester, 53, and Gerard (who would only give his first name) stand in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building to express their concerns about the integrity of the presidential election in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Layne

A bar with plexiglass dividers plays vote count results for the 2020 presidential election on their TV screens in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Megan Jelinger

Students listen to a teacher while sitting behind glass dividers on their desks in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Inas Taky El Din, the school principal poses after an interview with Reuters TV about glass dividers on student desks placed in classrooms at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Students listen to a teacher while sitting behind glass dividers on their desks in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A student wearing a face shield write in his notebook behind glass dividers on his desk in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A teacher wearing a protective mask instructs students wearing face shields and sitting behind glass dividers on their desks in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Students listen to a teacher while sitting behind glass dividers on their desks in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Students wearing protective masks sit behind glass dividers on their desks in the classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A teacher wearing a protective mask instructs students wearing face shields and sitting behind glass dividers on their desks in a classroom at Tiba Maadi School, following months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Burlesque dancer Aya Yumiko, 40, who performs under the stage name 'Aya Mermaid' poses with her tattoos at a bar she performs at in Tokyo, Japan, April 25, 2020. "Customers who see me dance with my tattoos, they're really clearly divided between those who like them and those who hate them", said Yumiko. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "KYUNG-HOON TATTOOS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

A worker cleans the plexiglass divider, set up as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), between the podiums for U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden on the debate stage at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Surfers walk to the sea near a village of Staithes which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A general view of the south side of Staithes, a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A general view of the south side of Staithes, a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

An information signs are seen in a village of Staithes which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

Surfers walk to the sea near a village of Staithes which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

People walk on the street in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A general view of Staithes, a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A general view of the north side of Staithes, a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

People walk on the streets in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A general view of the south side of Staithes, a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

People walk on the street in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A man walks past an information sign in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

A man walks on the street in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

People walk on the street in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

People sit outside The Royal George restaurant, in a village which is divided by a river from some 40 cottages on the north side where higher restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are in place, in Staithes, Britain October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith

Cathay Pacific employees, wearing masks against COVID-19, are seen behind counters with glass dividers at Hong Kong International Airport, China October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Lam Yik