The story of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is essential reading for new public health professionals. Every aspect of public health was involved in the response to COVID-19, which drew upon expertise in infectious disease control, policy development and evaluation, health monitoring, data collection and analysis, and communication with the public. From the first appearance of the disease to endemicity, the chapter illustrates the full range of infectious disease principles and methods of control, the need for accurate and timely information, the role of public health leadership, and the importance of community support and trust. It discusses the characteristics of COVID-19 and its variants. The chapter explains the health impacts of COVID-19, and the phases of the public health response to COVID-19 in the United States. It presents the successes and complications during the COVID-19 response, and discusses the lessons learned to improve future responses to a pandemic.