2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Government measures
On 13 March, the Delhi government issued an order prohibiting sports gatherings, conferences and seminars with over 200 people. The order has been described as being vaguely worded. A second order was issued on 16 March, banning all gatherings over 50 people. The government also ordered the closure of gyms, clubs and spas. But it was not until 24 March that the Delhi Police sought the closure of the Nizamuddin Markaz.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Government measures
On 16 March, the same day the Delhi order was issued, ten Indonesians who had attended the Aalmi Mashwara event in Nizamuddin were being isolated in Hyderabad. Eight of the ten men eventually tested positive for COVID-19. The Home Ministry stated that it informed all the state governments about this development on 21 March. On 21 March again, Jammu and Kashmir officials informed the Union Health Ministry's control room that a 65-year-old patient, who had been to the Nizamuddin Markaz, had tested positive for COVID-19. They said that he possibly contracted the virus from Indonesian or Thai Tablighi members in Delhi.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Government measures
As late as 5 April, various government agencies were trying to blame each other with none of them taking responsibility for the lapses.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Spread
A cluster spread became apparent in the following days as cases traced back to the event were reported in several states. In Telangana, five people who attended the event died on 30 March. Dozens of people tested positive in other places such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. State governments scrambled to trace the whereabouts of the attendees.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Spread
As of 3 April, more than 950 confirmed cases were detected across 14 states and union territories in the country, including 97 percent of the total cases confirmed in the country on 2 and 3 April (647 out of 664 cases). Tamil Nadu was the worst affected state, as 364 of the 411 people who tested positive had attended the event. 259 of the 386 cases in Delhi and 140 of the 161 cases in Andhra Pradesh were linked to the event. All nine deaths reported in Telangana until 2 April were of people who had returned from the congregation.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Spread
The Srinagar man who died on 26 March was identified as a super-spreader as he travelled by road, rail and air from Delhi to Srinagar via Uttar Pradesh, as officials feared that he may have spread it to several people along the way.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Timeline, Tracing of attendees
By 2 April, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka traced down 1,325, 1,064 and 800 attendees of the event respectively. Tamil Nadu identified and quarantined 1,103 of the 1,500-odd participants from the state. Andhra Pradesh reportedly detected around 800 of the 1,085 people of the state who attended the congregation. Gujarat Police identified 72 attendees from the state who attended the event. Uttar Pradesh managed to track and quarantine 1,205 people who participated in the congregation by 5 April. On 4 April, it was reported that the Delhi Police had found more than 500 foreign preachers "hiding in 16–17 places" in the city.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Cases linked
According to health authorities, until 2 April, among 2000 positive cases in India nearly 400 cases can be epidemiologically traced to the Tablighi Jamaat cluster. By 3 April 647 cases are reported which are related to this cluster. By 4 April, 1,023 cases with links to this cluster were reported which is about 30% of total cases in the country. On 18 April, Union Health Ministry said 4,291 out of 14,378 confirmed cases in 23 Indian states and union territories have been linked to this event, around a third of all cases.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Cases linked
Following are some of the positive cases from different states as reported in media.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
The Union Home Ministry instructed state governments to track down the 824 foreign attendees of the congregation, asking them to screen, quarantine and deport such individuals. On 2 April, the Home Ministry identified 960 foreigners who took part in the event and blacklisted their visas for violation of The Foreigners Act, 1946 (by violating visa norms by entering India with a tourist visa and indulging illegally in missionary work) and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and asked the DGPs of respective states and union territories to initiate legal action against them.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
The Delhi government ordered an FIR against Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi, the head of Nizamuddin faction of the Tablighi Jamat, on 30 March. On 1 April, the Delhi Police launched an investigation into a leaked audio clip in which Kandhlawi was allegedly heard asking his followers to not be afraid of the COVID-19 pandemic and to gather in mosques to pray. He was also heard saying, "This is not the time when you leave your prayers or meeting people just because doctors are saying. When Allah has given this disease, then no doctor or medicine can save us." On 16 April, Kandhlawi was charged with manslaughter over the gathering.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
According to reports, around 160 attendees who were quarantined at a railway facility in Delhi "misbehaved" and "spat on" doctors and healthcare personnel who were attending to them. They also allegedly raised objection to the food served and roamed around the facility in violation of the norms of the isolation ward. Attendees quarantined at a facility in Ghaziabad reportedly roamed around naked in the facility and made lewd comments and directed vulgar signs at the nurses. However, a medical officer with the Delhi government, who also helped evacuate the Nizamuddin Markaz, told The Hindu that she did not face any incidents of misbehaviour from the suspects. She stated that they mostly kept to themselves, reading namaaz, and seemed unaware of what was happening beyond their world.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned the actions and invoked the National Security Act against them. In Bihar, stones were pelted at police officers who had gone for tracking Tablighi Jamaat attendees. On 6 April, news sources reported that some television anchors and journalists were being threatened by Tablighi Jamaat members for covering the "role of Tablighi Jamaat in the spread of coronavirus."


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
On 14 April, Patna Police arrested 28 preachers (17 of whom were foreigners) and on 23 April, Tablighi members (including foreigners from Bangladesh and Malaysia) were arrested at Thane, Maharashtra. All were arrested for not following lockdown rules and visiting mosques.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
As of 8 May, 3,013 members of the Tablighi Jamaat were still waiting for their release, despite being under the long quarantine period and testing negative.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had initiated a preliminary inquiry into the financial affairs of the Jamaat for "dubious cash transactions" and for concealing foreign funding from the government. However, the union government submitted before the Supreme Court that there was no need for a probe by the CBI in connection with the congregation.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action
The Karnataka High Court placed a 10-year restriction on visiting India on at least nine foreigner Tablighi Jamaat members who had attended the Nizamuddin Markaz event. However, this order was struck down by the Supreme Court in response to a plea by one of the attendees for its repeal. The court directed the Government of India that in the event of these participants applying for visa to visit India, their applications be treated on merits uninfluenced by the state high court's order.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Legal action, Acquittal
On 15 December 2020, the Delhi High Court dismissed all cases against the detained foreigners after the prosecution failed to "prove the presence of accused inside the Markaz premises" and due to the contradictory statements given by the witnesses.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reconciliation efforts
In a letter issued on 19 April, Maulana Saad urged all the Tablighi Jamaat members that had survived COVID-19 to donate their blood plasma for the treatment of others. Hundreds of recovered Tablighi Jamaat members came forward or expressed willingness to donate their blood plasma in an organised way in Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. However, in late April, the Union Health Ministry stated that there was no concrete evidence yet to support plasma therapy.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reconciliation efforts
In response to this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Delhi government would not stop plasma therapy trials since the "initial results have been promising". As of 1 May 2020, the plasma of over 300 recovered attendees was extracted. Since the plasma donation was done during the daytime in the month of Ramadan, the donors broke their fast during the process. In some quarantine facilities, female Jamaat members donated their plasma. Some of the Tablighis have donated multiple times. They considered blood donation as their duty towards the nation.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reconciliation efforts
In the immediate aftermath of the Delhi event, at least three mosques of the Tablighi Jamaat were turned into quarantine centres. These included the Jama Masjid Moazzampura in Mallepally and the Masjid-e-Alamgir in Shanti Nagar, both of which are located in Hyderabad.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Related casualties
In Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, a man was shot dead for making remarks against Tablighi Jamaat. In Una district in Himachal Pradesh, a man hanged himself due to taunts from fellow villagers for having come in contact with Tablighi Jamaat missionaries. Several truckers belonging to the Muslim community were allegedly beaten up in Arunachal Pradesh, following which they fled to neighbouring Assam, leaving their vehicles behind, on 5 April 2020. A Muslim man in Delhi was beaten up by a mob which accused him of spreading coronavirus.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Discrimination against Muslims
Some social media users projected Muslims as the spreaders of COVID-19 in the light of Tablighi event in Delhi. As a result, Muslim vegetable vendors were barred from selling on the streets at many places by the locals in India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, especially Dakshina Kannada.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Discrimination against Muslims
The Hindu Mahasabha national secretary and two BJP MLAs from Uttar Pradesh were arrested for their discriminatory remarks about Muslims and members of the Jamaat. Muslims and their families were attacked in parts of the country. In some cases, Muslim women were attacked and pregnant Muslim women were denied timely healthcare, ultimately leading to the loss of their babies' lives. Multiple cases of healthcare professionals discriminating against Muslims were reported across the country. In one such case in Ahmedabad, Hindu and Muslim coronavirus patients were allegedly separated from each other. Muslim students, too, faced discrimination while appearing for the class XII Board exams. According to media reports, in the wake of coronavirus spread, Muslims converted to Hinduism in several villages of Haryana, for a variety of reasons.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi urged people to not hold the entire Muslim community for the "crime" of one group. However, he further criticized the Tablighi Jamaat for organizing the events.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Responding to the spate of attacks on Muslims in Karnataka in the wake of Tablighi event, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa issued a stern warning, stating, "The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for an isolated incident that happens somewhere. I’ve given strict orders that action must be taken against the people responsible for violence against Muslims."


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh criticised the Delhi Police for inaction. He questioned why the Tabligh event at Nizamuddin was allowed to go ahead. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized the Tablighi Jamaat attendees and demanded their tracking and screening. The incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned against communalising the fight against coronavirus, saying, "This COVID-19 sees no religion".


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani blamed the Tablighi Jamaat event for the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the state. However, the opposition Congress blamed Namaste Trump event organised by the state BJP government on 24 February as principal reason for the spread of coronavirus in the state and demanded an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter. On 24 February, US President Donald Trump along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in a road show in Ahmedabad which was attended by thousands of people.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
A group of Indian scientists expressed the view that "data do not support speculation that the primary blame for the continued growth of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country lies with the Tablighi Jamaat convention in Delhi" and that they "strongly condemn any attempt to communalise the pandemic".


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Disaster Program, said in response to a question regarding the incident that patients infected with coronavirus should not be classified on the basis of race, religion or opinion.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Princess Hend bint Faisal Al-Qasimi, a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, called out a series of "Islamophobic posts" on Twitter which targeted the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation and linked it to the spread of coronavirus in India.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
The Tamil Nadu BJP spokesman Narayanan Thirupathy thanked the Tablighi attendees who donated their plasma, on behalf of his party.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
The Uttar Pradesh state government filed an FIR against Siddharth Varadarajan and The Wire for a report on the spread of coronavirus post the Jamaat congregation while recalling UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's plans, as late as 18 March, to proceed with a religious fair at Ayodhya and his flouting of the national lockdown and social distancing norms by taking part in a religious ceremony along with others on 25 March. More than 4,600 jurists, academics, actors, artists, writers and people from all walks of life endorsed a statement expressing shock at the action of the Uttar Pradesh government. These included two former Chiefs of Naval Staff, Admiral Ramdas, and Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat who have also signed the statement, along with Yashwant Sinha, former external affairs and finance minister of India.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
A reference book for the second year MBBS students published in 2021 in Maharashtra had been withdrawn after objections were raised over some part its contents that allegedly linked the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in New Delhi to the outbreak of coronavirus in India. The authors tendered an apology for linking the two events. This follows a representation by the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO).


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
Editors of the English Wikipedia deleted and later restored an entry about the incident called "2020 Tablighi Jamaat coronavirus hotspot in Delhi", which project co-founder Jimmy Wales said "was incredibly poorly written and had zero sources". Wales responded to accusations on Twitter stating that Wikipedia did not accept payment for the article's deletion.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi, Aftermath, Reactions
According to Mirror Now, over 5,000 attendees of the Kumbh Mela event in April 2021 tested positive for COVID-19 out of a congregation of about three million people. Criticizing the central government and the mainstream media for the biased reporting on these two events, Maharashtra Minister Aslam Shaikh said the same people who accused the Tablighi Jamaat of spreading COVID-19 in the country have allowed thousands of people to gather at Kumbh Mela.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia
A Tablighi Jamaat religious conference that took place at the "Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling" in Kuala Lumpur's Sri Petaling district between 27 February to 1 March 2020 became a COVID-19 super-spreader event with more than 3,300 cases being linked to the event. By 19 May 2020, the Malaysian Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that 48% of the country's COVID-19 cases (3,347) had been linked to the Kuala Lumpur Tablighi Jamaat cluster. Additionally, nearly 10% of attendees were overseas visitors, causing COVID-19 to spread to other countries in Southeast Asia. On 8 July 2020, this cluster was declared over by the Ministry of Health.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia
Although much more widespread, the Tabligh event was not the first wave of coronavirus in Malaysia.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Event
Between 27 February and 1 March 2020, the Tablighi Jamaat movement organised an international conference at the "Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling" in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The religious gathering was attended by approximately 16,000 attendees (only 12,500 attendees as claimed by the Sri Petaling tabligh group leaders) including about 1,500 from outside Malaysia. Attendees were found to share food, sit close together, and hold hands at the event. According to guests, the leaders of the event did not talk about COVID-19 precautions, but most attendees washed their hands during the event. Malaysian authorities were criticised for allowing the event to go forward.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Spread
The Sri Petaling Tablighi Jamaat gathering has been linked to more than 620 COVID-19 cases in March 2020, making it the largest-known centre of transmission of the virus in Southeast Asia at that time. At least seven countries have traced their cases back to the Malaysia event;  most of the 73 COVID-19 cases in Brunei have been linked to the event, as well as 22 in Cambodia, 13 in Indonesia, 10 in Thailand, 5 in Singapore, 2 in the Philippines, and 2 in Vietnam.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Spread
By 13 March, the Malaysian Ministry of Health had revised the number of Malaysian Tablighi Jamaat participants from 5,000 to 14,500, raising concerns that more positive cases could be discovered. Of the 14,500 participants, 41 tested positive for COVID-19, which brought the total number of cases in Malaysia to 238. By 17 March, the Sri Petaling event had resulted in the biggest increase in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, with almost two-thirds of the 673 confirmed cases in Malaysia linked to this event.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Spread
On 29 March, Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that the Tabligh cluster had reached the fifth generation. By 19 May, Noor Hisham confirmed that 48% of Malaysia's COVID-19 cases (3,347) had been linked to the Sri Petaling tabligh cluster.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Aftermath
The Sri Petaling Tablighi Jamaat gathering coincided with a domestic political crisis that had been triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed on 24 February, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition government and the resignation of Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. Before the formation of a new Perikatan Nasional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 1 March, the Health Ministry would not have a minister for over two weeks until the appointment of Adham Baba on 10 March. During that time, there was only advice from the Health Ministry to minimise public exposure.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Aftermath
In response to a rapid rise in cases, Malaysian health authorities on 11 March began tracking around 5,000 Malaysian citizens who were suspected of being exposed to COVID-19 during the Sri Petaling Tablighi Jamaat gathering. Many of the infected had returned to their respective states and communities, which had led to a surge in community transmissions throughout Malaysia.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Aftermath
In mid-April, Adham criticized the former PH Government's handling of the Sri Petaling Tabligh Jamaat cluster. In response, Dzulkefy defended the PH Government's preparations for COVID-19 and suggested that Prime Minister Muhyiddin, the former Home Affairs Minister, was responsible for the outbreak since public gatherings like the Tabligh Jamaat would have come under his portfolio.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Aftermath
By late 2020, a Top Glove factory become the largest cluster of COVID-19 to date after Tablighi Jamaat, reporting more than 7,000 cases in Malaysia.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia, Aftermath, Stigmatization
There have been reports of viral infections being blamed on other communities. Indonesian spread has been blamed on weak government regulations on Chinese workers and tourists, and Tablighi Jamaat for the Malaysian outbreak. Chinese community members have also engaged in religious and racial profiling following the spread linked to the Tablighi cluster. Rohingyas have also been targeted and accused of spreading COVID-19.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan
A Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation that took place in Lahore's Raiwind Markaz in early March 2020 was a COVID-19 super-spreader event with more than 539 confirmed cases linked to the event being reported across the country. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry blamed  the "stubbornness of the clergy" for the event having gone ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan
According to a report by the Punjab Special Branch, approximately 70,000 to 80,000 members may have attended the congregation at the Raiwind Markaz on 10 March, with the majority being from various parts of Pakistan and 3,000 attendees from 40 foreign countries. Jamaat's management claimed 250,000 members have attended the congregation at the Raiwind Markaz.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan
As of 8 April 2020, a total of 20,000 people who attended Tablighi Ijtema have been quarantined and the Pakistan government is trying to track down the remaining attendees.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan
As of 15 April 2020, over 60% of the COVID-19 cases in Pakistan have been linked to pilgrims returning from the Middle East and followers of Tablighi jamaat.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Background
Raiwind boasts the headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan, an evangelical organisation that promotes proselytisation by all its members. According to scholar Barbara Metcalf, the annual congregation at Raiwind attracts some two million and odd attendees. The Tablighi Jamaat congregations are popular with Muslims affiliated to the Deobandi movement in Pakistan. They also cuts across socio-economic classes, ranging from high-level politicians to the middle and lower classes.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Background
The followers of Tablighi Jamaat are encouraged to proselytise in various parts of the country as well as abroad for up to four months. The annual congregation is where they gather to pray and obtain further training in proselytising. Scholar Ayesha Siddiqa states that, teams of proselytisers are sent out even before the annual congregation. But, after the congregation, they are potentially dispatched to new locations.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Event
The congregation in 2020 took place at the Raiwind Markaz between 10 and 12 March and had 250,000 attendees according to Jamaat's management. The Punjab Special Branch, however, states that there were 70,000 to 80,000 people in the Raiwind Markaz and that they included some 3,000 attendees from 40 foreign countries. The event carried on despite the strong opposition and warnings by the Government of Punjab. But according to the police, it was cut short from six days to three days.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Event
On 2 April, Pakistan authorities placed the entire city of Raiwind under quarantine, and shut down all general and medical stores after 40 Tablighi Jamaat participants were tested positive for COVID-19.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Spread
A cluster spread became apparent in the following days as cases traced back to the event were reported across the country. By 31 March, 143 infections and three deaths were reported. By 8 April, 539 infections were reported, of which 404 were in the Raiwind Markaz and 31 in Hafizabad. Approximately 50 participants of the Tablighi Jamaat, including five Nigerian women, were admitted to a quarantine centre in Kasur while some 38 participants were also tested positive for COVID-19 in Hyderabad. By 18 April, over 1,100 Tablighi Jamaat members in the Punjab Province have tested positive for COVID-19.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Spread
Two Palestinians who attended the event tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Gaza. They were placed under quarantine. They became the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Gaza. Five people from Kyrgyzstan who attended the congregation were also tested positive for COVID-19 in Islamabad.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Spread, Cases linked
Following are some of the positive cases from different parts of Pakistan.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Aftermath
Tablighi Jamaat received widespread criticism from for holding the congregation despite the warnings by authorities. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry blamed the "stubbornness of the clergy" that event had gone ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He held Jamaat responsible for spreading of COVID-19 in Pakistan. Jamaat also received criticism from other religious movements for failing to take steps to prevent contagion.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Aftermath
Meanwhile, Tariq Jamil, a member of Tablighi Jamaat in his vague message said "God chooses who is infected and who is not, and God will save us."


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Aftermath
In Layyah, a member of Tableeghi Jamaat attacked a police officer with a knife in a bid to escape quarantine.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Aftermath
In April 2020, the Faisalabad head of the Tableeghi Jamaat died due to COVID-19. 5 members of his family including 2 children were also infected. By 18 April, over 1,100 Tablighi Jamaat members in the Punjab Province have tested positive for COVID-19.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Government response
In Punjab, 10,263 attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event were quarantined in 36 districts of the province. Efforts are underway to trace thousands of other participants.


2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan, Government response
The government of Sindh announced a quarantine of all the attendees of the  event. Bara Kahu in Islamabad has been quarantined as some returning attendees there tested positive for the COVID-19.


2020 Tacoma Defiance season
The 2020 Tacoma Defiance season is the club's sixth year of existence, formerly as Seattle Sounders FC 2, and their sixth season in the USL Championship, the second tier of the United States Soccer Pyramid. This is the 3rd season of the soccer team playing in Tacoma, Washington. Defiance is majority owned by Seattle Sounders FC.


2020 Tacoma Defiance season, Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of December 15, 2020.


2020 Tacoma Defiance season, Competitions, U.S. Open Cup
Due to their ownership by a higher division professional club (Seattle Sounders), Tacoma is one of 15 teams expressly forbidden from entering the Cup competition.


2020 Tacoma Defiance season, Transfers
For transfers in, dates listed are when Tacoma Defiance officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when Defiance officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from Tacoma Defiance roster.


2020 Tahiti Championship D2 season
The 2020 Tahiti Championship D2 is the second-level Tahitian rugby union club competition, behind the Tahiti Championship, for the 2020 season. It runs alongside the 2020 Tahiti Championship competition; both competitions are operated by the Fédération Polynésienne de Rugby (FPR).


2020 Tahiti Championship D2 season
Playing was suspended after the 2nd Matchday due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tahiti. The season was officially suspended on 9 August


2020 Tahiti Championship D2 season, Number of teams by regions
All but one team this season are from Paea, a suburb of the Papeete Urban Area.


2020 Tahiti Championship season
The 2020 Tahiti Championship competition is the 47th Tahitian domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Fédération Polynésienne de Rugby-Tahiti (FPR). The season was originally supposed to run from 7 March to 27 June, but due to COVID-19 pandemic in Tahiti, the season began on 9 July. Due to concerns of spreading the coronavirus, the season has been officially suspended on 9 August, with Faa’a being the top team on the standings table.


2020 Tahiti Championship season, Number of teams by regions
All teams this season are from Papeete or suburbs of the Papeete Urban Area.


2020 Tahiti Championship season, Competition format
The top four teams at the end of the regular season (after all the teams played one another twice.) enter a knockout stage to decide the Champions of Tahiti. This consists of two rounds. The semi-finals, with the losers meeting for 3rd place and with the winners meeting in the final. All matches are held at the Stade Fautaua in Pirae.


2020 Tahiti Championship season, Competition format
Since as far back as 2015, Tahiti's bonus point system operates as follows:


2020 Tahiti Championship season, Table
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:


2020 Taini Jamison Trophy Series
The 2020 Taini Jamison Trophy Series, also known as the 2020 Cadbury Netball Series saw England play New Zealand in October and November 2020 in a three-match series. It was the first international netball test series to be staged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two teams contested the Taini Jamison Trophy, which was last staged in 2018. The trophy was won by New Zealand, who defeated England in all three matches.


2020 Taiwan Football Challenge League
The 2020 Taiwan Football Challenge League is the first year of men's second division football in Taiwan.


2020 Taiwan Football Challenge League
The top team from the Second Division league is automatically promoted to the Taiwan Premier League and the lowest placed team in the Taiwan Premier League is relegated to the Second Division League. The runner-up of the Second Division League will play in a qualification play-off final with the 7th places team in the Taiwan Premier League, which results in the winner playing in the first Division. Similarly, the 7th and 8th placed teams in Second Division will play a qualification tournament with the 1st and 2nd teams from the Challengers tournament which the top two teams stay in Second Division.


2020 Taiwan Football Challenge League, Clubs
Currently there are 8 teams competing in this league. The league has implemented a promotion and relegation system.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
The 2020 season of the Taiwan Football Premier League is the fourth season of top-flight association football competition in Taiwan under its current format. The Taiwan Football Premier League includes eight teams. The season began on 12 April 2020.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
Being one of only six football leagues underway in the world as of early May 2020 (along with Belarus, South Korea, Turkmenistan, Burundi and Nicaragua), the TFPL received greater international exposure because other leagues, such as the Premier League in England, La Liga in Spain, and Serie A in Italy, remained severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and were unable to continue their seasons until several weeks later.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans were allowed to attend the first round of the competition.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
After two round-robins, ended in August 8th, Taipower, Taiwan Steel and Taichung Futuro have mathematically secured their places in the 2021 Taiwan Football Premier League. Hang Yuen has ensured that they will not be regulated directly.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
After round 15, Taiwan Steel win against Ming Chuan, Hang Yuen has mathematically secured their places in the 2021 Taiwan Football Premier League and Tatung has ensured that they will not be regulated directly from the later round.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
After round 17, Tatung has mathematically secured their places in the 2021 Taiwan Football Premier League and NTUS has ensured that they will not be regulated directly with their winning to Ming Chuan.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
From the following round after round 18, NTUS has ensured that they will not be regulated with Taipower win against Red Lions FC.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
With a essential win against Ming Chuan, Red Lions FC will be playing in the relegation play-off game against 2nd Div's 2nd place Inter Taoyuan. While Ming Chuan are going down to the 2nd Div next year.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League
Taiwan Steel are crowned Taiwanese Champion on the 20th round after a 3-1 against Hang Yuen to ensure Taipower couldn't catch them in the title race. It is Taiwan Steel's 1st champion in their history.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League, Teams
A total of eight teams compete in the league. Tatung are the defending champions.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League, Results
Each team plays a total of 21 games, playing the others three times.


2020 Taiwan Football Premier League, Promotion/Relegation play-off
At the end of the season, the eighth-placed team from the TFPL, Red Lions, entered a play-off with Inter Taoyuan, the second-placed team from the 2020 Taiwan Football Challenge League for a spot in the 2021 Taiwan Football Premier League.


2020 Taiwan Mulan Football League
The 2020 Taiwan Mulan Football League season was the 7th season of the Taiwan Mulan Football League, the top division of women's football in Taiwan. The regular season began on 11 April and concluded on 7 November 2020.


2020 Taiwanese general election
The 2020 Taiwanese general election was held on 11 January 2020 to elect the 15th President and Vice President of Taiwan, and all 113 members of the 10th Legislative Yuan.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Presidential election
In the presidential election, voters elected the President and Vice President as a joint ticket. The process of presidential primary elections and nominations was held during the last six months of 2019.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Presidential election
Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who was previously elected in 2016, was eligible to seek for a second term. With 90% of the votes counted, Tsai Ing-wen was declared the victor, with 7.8 million votes. She was inaugurated on 20 May 2020.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Legislative election
The legislative election was held on 11 January 2020 for all 113 seats to the Legislative Yuan. The term of the Legislative Yuan will begin on 1 February 2020.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Legislative election
In the last election in 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a comfortable majority over the Kuomintang (KMT) for the first time with 68 seats, while the KMT's representation sharply dropped to only 35 seats.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Legislative election
In this 2020 Taiwanese legislative election, the DPP retained their majority in the legislature winning 61 seats, along with DPP's presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen reelected with a record breaking historical high vote count.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Legislative election
The newly established Taiwan People's Party received more than 5% of the popular vote in the party-list proportional representation category, winning 5 seats in the legislature and more critically the ability to directly nominate its own presidential candidate in the 2024 Taiwan presidential election, as opposed to needing petition from nearly 300,000 eligible voters (1.5% of total registered voters from the most recently held legislative election), which can be a costly and labor-intensive process.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Legislative election
The People First Party did not win any seats in this election. Because the party did not pass the 5% hurdle in the proportional representation category, the party will not be able to directly nominate a presidential candidate in the next Taiwanese presidential election, which the People First Party was able to do in this and the previous presidential election in Taiwan.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Electoral interference
In December 2019 The Diplomat reported that the People’s Republic of China was actively engaged in political warfare efforts to influence and disrupt the 2020 general election.


2020 Taiwanese general election, Electoral interference
Self-proclaimed former Chinese spy William Wang, who defected to Australia, claimed that the Communist Party of China wanted to stop Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen from being re-elected.


2020 Taiwanese legislative election
The 2020 Taiwanese legislative election was held on 11 January 2020 for all 113 seats to the Legislative Yuan concurrently with the 15th presidential election in Taiwan. The term of the Legislative Yuan began on 1 February 2020.


2020 Taiwanese legislative election
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost seven seats but retained a majority of 61 seats in the Legislative Yuan. The Kuomintang gained three seats, winning 38. The New Power Party won three seats, down from five in the last election. The Taiwan People's Party and Taiwan Statebuilding Party entered the Legislative Yuan with five seats and one seat, respectively, with five independent candidates winning their seats and the People First Party losing all of their seats.


2020 Taiwanese legislative election, Electoral system
Members were elected by parallel voting. 73 members were elected by first-past-the-post, 6 reserved for indigenous candidates by single non-transferable vote, and 34 by party-list proportional representation.


2020 Taiwanese legislative election, Electoral system, Constituency changes
In 2019, after negotiations between the Presidents of the Executive and Legislative Yuans, changes to the electoral divisions include:


2020 Taiwanese presidential election
The 15th presidential and vice-presidential election of the Republic of China (Chinese: 中華民國第十五屆總統副總統選舉) was held in Taiwan on 11 January 2020 along with the 10th Legislative Yuan election. Incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen and former premier William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the election, defeating Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT) and his running mate Chang San-cheng, as well as third-party candidate James Soong.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election
Following major losses during the 2018 Taiwanese local elections, Tsai Ing-wen resigned from her party's chairmanship and was challenged in the primary contest by former Premier William Lai, himself a former Tsai appointee. The Kuomintang also ran a competitive primary, which saw Han Kuo-yu, initially reluctant to run, defeat former presidential candidate and New Taipei mayor Eric Chu, and Foxconn chief executive Terry Gou.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election
Both domestic issues and Cross-Strait relations featured in the campaign, with Han attacking Tsai for her perceived failures in labour reform, economic management, and dealing with corruption of her aides. However, Tsai's strong response to Beijing's increasing pressures on Taiwan to accede to a unification agreement, amid the backdrop of the intensely followed Hong Kong anti-extradition protests, proved crucial in her recapturing broad support.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election
The election had a turnout of 74.9%, the highest among nationwide elections since 2008. Tsai won a record 8.17 million votes, representing 57.1% of the popular vote, the highest vote share won by a DPP candidate in presidential elections. The DPP received a higher share of the vote in major metropolitan areas, reversing the KMT's fortunes in Kaohsiung and environs, while the Kuomintang retained strength in limited eastern regions and off-island constituencies. Tsai and Lai were inaugurated on 20 May 2020.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Eligibility
Presidential candidates and Vice Presidential running mates are elected on the same ticket, using first-past-the-post voting. This was the seventh direct election of the president and vice president, the posts having previously been indirectly elected by the National Assembly until 1996.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Eligibility
Under applicable legislation, any party which received more than five per cent of the total vote share in the latest election in any level were eligible to contest the election. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Kuomintang (KMT), New Power Party (NPP) and People First Party (PFP) were eligible, though in the end only three major-party candidates were certified: incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu of Kuomintang, and perennial veteran candidate James Soong of the People First Party. Vice President Chen Chien-jen, Tsai's running mate in 2016, was eligible for re-election but chose not to contest.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
Tsai Ing-wen suffered a stinging defeat during the 2018 Taiwanese local elections due to widespread discontentment over numerous domestic policy issues, including public pension reform, same-sex marriage, pollution, and labour reform. In the lead up to the election, her staffers were found to have been implicated in a tobacco smuggling ring, which also allegedly involved the top management of flag carrier China Airlines and National Security Bureau. Dogged by scandal and having lost on major referenda questions, Tsai's clout continued to deteriorate both in her own party and more broadly.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
The major inflection of the campaign came amid the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests, an event that was triggered with the murder of Poon Hiu-wing in Taiwan. As the protests became heated over the later half of 2019, Tsai began to portray the situation in Hong Kong as a direct result of an encroachment of the territory's autonomy from Beijing. In January 2019, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, had announced an open letter to Taiwan proposing a one country, two systems formula for eventual unification.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
Additionally, over the course of 2019, several small nations that previously had diplomatic ties to Taiwan, including Panama, Kiribati, and Solomon Islands, broke off relations in favour of the PRC. Tsai issued pronouncements that Taiwan will "never accept one country, two systems" and that "today's Hong Kong could be tomorrow's Taiwan". Tsai's strong positioning ultimately led her to victory in what was a bruising primary challenge by Premier William Lai.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
Tsai reconciled with diverse elements in her party in signing up Lai to be her running mate. Kuomintang, after fits and starts over procedural disputes, flirted with a high-profile nomination of Foxconn chief Terry Gou. The party ultimately nominated firebrand Han Kuo-yu, who had in 2018 successfully run an insurgent mayoral campaign in the DPP stronghold of Kaohsiung. However, his combative, eccentric antics and participation in the presidential election soon after his taking on the post in Kaohsiung earned him scorn from detractors.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
Additionally, Tsai made hay with Han's perceived friendliness with Beijing, citing his early 2019 visit to mainland China where he met with multiple high-level Communist Party officials, and his continued recognition of the 1992 Consensus, which Tsai had disavowed. Han eventually spoke out against one country, two systems, remarking that it will never happen if he was president unless it was "over my dead body." Nonetheless, Tsai's political advantage on the issue had been solidified.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Background
The election also saw widespread accusations from both sides that internet trolls were working to sway public opinion, including allegations from Australia-based Chinese defector William Wang that Beijing had used internet operatives to disrupt the election in favor of the KMT. Various pro-Han Kuo-yu groups on Facebook were also shut down for violating terms and policies.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Democratic Progressive Party
Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen's re-election chances were dealt a blow after the Democratic Progressive Party's devastating defeat in the 2018 local elections, where the DPP lost seven of the 13 cities and counties it previously held. The DPP’s share of the vote also fell from 56 to 39 per cent since the 2016 presidential election. Tsai resigned as the party chairwoman after the defeat. However, Tsai kept trailing behind in the polls as the surveys found most Taiwanese would not support Tsai in the 2020 election but would support Premier William Lai, who also resigned from the premiership for the electoral defeat in January 2019.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Democratic Progressive Party
On 19 February 2019, Tsai Ing-wen told CNN in an interview she will run for re-election, despite facing calls from senior members of her own party to not seek re-election. Before her announcement, Tsai had received a bump in the polls after she gave a robust speech saying that her people would never relinquish their democratic freedoms, as a response to the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping's speech in January describing Taiwan's unification with the mainland as "inevitable".


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Democratic Progressive Party
On 18 March, William Lai registered to run in the party's presidential primary, saying that he could shoulder the responsibility of leading Taiwan in defending itself from being annexed by China. This is the first time in history where a serious primary challenge has been mounted against a sitting president.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Democratic Progressive Party
Tsai was duly nominated by the DPP on 19 June 2019. She and William Lai formed the DPP presidential ticket on 17 November 2019.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Kuomintang
Former Kuomintang chairman and 2016 presidential candidate Eric Chu announced that he would run in the 2020 presidential race when he stepped down on 25 December 2018 as Mayor of New Taipei City, becoming the first big-name politician to throw his hat in the ring. Former President of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng also announced his presidential bid on 7 March. Other candidates included former Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office and incumbent Taipei City Councillor Lo Chih-chiang and National Taiwan University professor Chang Ya-chung who have also announced their candidacies.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Kuomintang
The party has decided to hold its primary based on a 70-30 weighing of public polls and party member votes, although it has not ruled out the possibility of drafting the strongest candidate in an all-out effort to win back power, which was seen to be reserved for the party's best performing candidate in the polls, Mayor of Kaohsiung Han Kuo-yu. Several KMT heavyweights such as party chairman Wu Den-yih and even former President Ma Ying-jeou were believed to also be interested in running for the party's presidential nomination. Wu Den-yih’s withdrew his proposal to only allow KMT members to decide the party’s presidential candidate which drew criticism, with some questioning whether he aimed to rig the game for himself, before he declined to run on 11 April.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Kuomintang
On 17 April, founder and chairman of Foxconn Terry Gou announced his presidential bid by joining the KMT presidential primary. He also stated that he would not accept to be drafted to run. Han, Gou's potential rival, announced on 23 April that he was "willing to take responsibility" for the development of Taiwan but was "unable" to participate in the party's primary in its current form. He expressed his disapproval of the "closed-door negotiations" within the party and called for reform.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Kuomintang
In order to settle the demand from Han's supporters, the party adopted a resolution to put in place special guidelines to include all its presidential hopefuls, including Han, in its primary on the next day, and also switch the primary method from 70-30 weighing of public polls and party member votes to fully being determined by public polls.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, Kuomintang
On 15 July, Han Kuo-yu was announced to have won the party's poll in a press conference by KMT Vice Chairman Tseng Yung-chuan. On 11 November, independent Chang San-cheng joined Kuomintang presidential ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Kuomintang ticket completed registration for the election on 18 November 2019.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Nominations, People First Party
On 13 November 2019, People First Party chairperson James Soong announced his fourth bid for president, along with his running mate, independent and former United Communications Group chairwoman Sandra Yu.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
A single television debate was held on 29 December 2019 at 2 PM local time. Most of the themes discussed had already been elaborated upon by the candidates during the policy presentations in the weeks immediately prior to the debate. As usual, Cross-Strait relations was a focal point of conversation; the candidates also touched upon military spending, nuclear energy, labour relations, and special interests. Tsai reiterated her commitment to the cross-strait status quo, without "unnecessary provocations" or changes in policy. Han said he would protect the "sovereignty of the Republic of China". James Soong said that Taiwan has inherited Chinese culture and tradition but insists that any changes to the island's political status needed to be achieved via "democratic means."


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
Han used the debate to paint Tsai variously as being at the mercy of the "New Tide" ultra-progressive wing of her own party, a dictatorial and autocratic figure as president, a leader unable to effectively control her allegedly corrupt subordinates, and a flip-flopper on the issue of cross-strait relations. Tsai said that Han did not have concrete policies of his own and focused undue attention on attacks against her.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
Tsai acknowledged the DPP's poor performance in the local elections of 2018 but reiterated her position that she was the best candidate to protect against perceived encroachment of sovereignty from the PRC; she repeatedly invoked One Country, Two Systems, suggesting that Han would accede to China's position on the issue, and in her closing remarks said "do not let Taiwan be the next Hong Kong". Tsai and Han each accused the other of using internet trolls, so-called "cyber armies", to smear the other.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
While Tsai attacked Han for being prejudiced towards marginalized groups, Han tried to brand Tsai as an out-of-touch elitist and himself an everyman who will happily go "have street food" with the common folk as president. James Soong attempted to strike a middle ground, repeating his support for the status quo in cross-strait relations, calling for mutual understanding with the mainland, and denying his own family's connections to mainland business interests.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
The debate was noted for some bizarre exchanges involving Han Kuo-yu, who became especially animated on multiple occasions, raising his voice and using wild hand gestures, most notably yelling the phrase “Long live the Republic of China!” three times, in addition to employing props to complement his attacks on Tsai.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Debates
In response to questions from Apple Daily on the relationship between Han and a woman he allegedly had an extramarital affair with, Han called the outlet a "tabloid without the slightest standards," and responded "why don't you also ask how many girlfriends I had in college [...] and when I lost my virginity?" Han used a cross-examination segment to ask the other candidates whether they believed in God, asserted his own Buddhist faith, and said "we will all face judgment one day", without meaningful follow-up. Notably, Han also criticized former KMT president Ma Ying-jeou, saying he was "too soft".


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Results
Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen won the 2020 Taiwanese presidential election with her Democratic Progressive Party and was re-elected to a second term with a historic record of 8.17 million votes (57.1 per cent), the highest vote share won by a DPP candidate. Rival candidate Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT) was the runner up with 5.52 million votes (38.6 per cent). Despite defeat, the KMT saw a recovery in vote share from 2016, noticeably in traditionally KMT-leaning areas including Hsinchu County, Miaoli, Nantou, Hualien, and Taitung. People First Party's candidate James Soong came third and received 600,000 votes (4.26 per cent). Turnout for the election was 74.9%, the highest among nationwide elections since 2008.


2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Results
At an election rally after the results were announced, Tsai stated, "Democratic Taiwan and our democratically elected government will not concede to threats and intimidation. The results of this election have made that answer crystal clear."


2020 Tajik Super Cup
The 2020 Tajik Supercup was the 11th Tajik Supercup, an annual Tajik football match played between the winners of the previous season's Tajikistan Higher League and Tajikistan Cup. The match was contested by 2019 League and Cup champions Istiklol, and the league runners-up Khujand. It was held at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe on 4 April.


2020 Tajik Super Cup, Background
On 27 March, the Tajikistan Football Federation announce that the opening round of games would be played behind closed doors due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, with referee Nasrullo Kabirov being confirmed as the match official on 1 April.


2020 Tajik Super Cup, Match details
Assistant referees: Akmal Buriev (Tursunzoda)Ismoil Nuraliev (Nurak)Fourth official:Gulmurodi Sadullo (Dushanbe)


2020 Tajik parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Tajikistan on 1 March 2020. The result was a landslide victory for the ruling People's Democratic Party, which won 47 of the 63 seats. The only opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, received just 0.3% of the vote.


2020 Tajik parliamentary election
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe was critical of the election.


2020 Tajik parliamentary election, Electoral system
The 63 members of the Assembly of Representatives are elected by two methods: 41 members are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system, whilst 22 seats are elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, with an electoral threshold of 5%. Voters cast a single ballot for a candidate in their single-member constituency, with the total votes received across all constituencies used to determine the proportional seats. In each constituency, voter turnout is required to be at least 50%  for the election to be declared valid.


2020 Tajik parliamentary election, Campaign
A total of 241 candidates contested the elections, 65 for the 22 party-list seats and 176 for the 41 constituency seats.


2020 Tajik parliamentary election, Campaign
The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan was unable to participate, having been banned by the authorities over terrorism allegations in 2015.


2020 Tajik presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Tajikistan on 11 October 2020. The result was a fifth straight victory for authoritarian long-term incumbent Emomali Rahmon of the People's Democratic Party, who was re-elected with over 90% of the vote. Incumbent President Emomali Rahmon was inaugurated for his fifth term on 30 October.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Electoral system
The President of Tajikistan is elected for a seven years term using the two-round system; if no candidate receives over 50% of all votes cast, a second round is held between 15 and 31 days later between the two candidates who received the most votes. For the result to be validated, voter turnout must exceed 50%; if it falls below the threshold, fresh elections will be held.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Electoral system
Candidates are required to gather and submit signatures from 5% of registered voters in order to run in the elections.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
In power as President since 1994, incumbent president Emomali Rahmon could seek a new term in office. It was speculated that his son Rustam Emomali or a close ally could run if he did not. No election in Tajikistan has been judged as free and fair since its independence from the Soviet Union, and Tajikistan is described by international media as an authoritarian state.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
In 2019, a retired doctor named Quvvatali Murodov sought to challenge Rahmon and suggested that "the authorities drop restrictions that make it difficult to run for the presidency".


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
In 2019, Sharofiddin Gadoev, a leader of the banned opposition movement Group 24, said that he had been abducted in Russia and brought to Tajikistan. He reported that his captors told him Rustam Emomali would take part in the 2020 election.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
On 3 September 2020, Faromuz Irgashev, a 30-year-old lawyer from Tajikistan’s eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), announced his intent to run for the presidency via a YouTube video. He linked his decision to run to witnessing police abuse in Khorog and GBAO more widely.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
After speculations about whether Rahmon's son Rustam would stand as presidential candidate, finally Rahmon was nominated by his party in a party congress on 3 September 2020. Previously, he was also nominated by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions congress in 26 August and by the Union of Tajikistan's Youth.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Candidates
In 14 September, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that five men have been registered as candidates in this election: Rustam Latifzoda (Agrarian Party), Abduhalim Ghafforov (Socialist Party), Miroj Abdulloyev (Communist Party), Rustam Rahmatzoda (Party of Economic Reform), and Rahmon himself (People's Democratic Party). Irgashev's candidacy was rejected by the CEC because he didn't submit his registration by the deadline. All of the approved candidates generally espouse pro-government positions.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Conduct
Prior to elections, on 6 October there were reports of protests in the capital Dushanbe. One protester said "Protest actions and rallies of those dissatisfied with the results of the presidential elections in Tajikistan are impossible," referring to ongoing protests in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan that may spill over into Tajikistan.


2020 Tajik presidential election, Results
A foregone conclusion, incumbent president Rahmon won re-election, allegedly with over 90% of the vote. Just as with prior elections, the election was not deemed to be free or fair.


2020 Tajikistan Cup
The 2020 Tajikistan Cup is the 29th edition of the Tajikistan Cup, the knockout football tournament of Tajikistan, with the winner of the cup qualifying for the 2021 AFC Cup.


2020 Tajikistan Cup, Format
On 13 June the Preliminary Round draw was held, and the format for the competition confirmed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan each stage of the tournament would be a single legged tie instead of a two-legged ties to a single legged tie. On 4 July, the dates and kickoff times for the Preliminary Round matches where confirmed for the 7 and 8 July 2020.


2020 Tajikistan Cup, Format
The draw for the Last 16 took place on 15 July 2020, with the eight games to take place over the weekend of 1-3 August 2020.


2020 Tajikistan Cup, Format
On 3 August, following Istiklol's victory over Mohir in the last of the Last 16 matches, the Quarter-final draw took place.


2020 Tajikistan Cup, Format
Following the conclusion of Lokomotiv-Pamir defeat to Regar-TadAZ on 15 September in the Quarterfinals, the Semifinal draw took place.


2020 Tajikistan Cup, Format
After Khatlon's victory over Istaravshan on 23 September, to join Ravshan Kulob in the Final of the Tajikistan Cup, it was announced that the game would take place on 10 October at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe.


2020 Tajikistan First League
The Tajikistan First League is the second division of the Tajikistan Football Federation.


2020 Tajikistan First League, Season events
On 9 April, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced the 12 teams that would participate in this seasons competition.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League
The 2020 Ligai Olii Tojikiston (Tajiki: 2020 Лигаи Олии Тоҷикистон) or 2020 Tajikistan Higher League is the 29th season of Ligai Olii Tojikiston, Tajikistan's top division of association football. The season began on 5 April 2020.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Season events
On 27 March, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced that the opening round of games would be played behind closed doors due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Season events
On 25 April, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced the suspension of football, following the completion of Round 4 on 26 April, until 10 May.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Season events
On 6 May, the Tajikistan Football Federation extended the suspension of football indefinitely due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Season events
On 8 June, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced that the season would resume on 16 June, with the games continuing to be played without spectators.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Teams
On 20 March 2020, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced that the season would involve ten teams, with there being 27 matches in three rounds. The teams consist of CSKA Pamir, Istiklol, Istaravshan, Khatlon, Khujand, Kuktosh, Regar-TadAZ and newly promoted Dushanbe-83, Fayzkand and Lokomotiv-Pamir.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Teams, Foreign players
Each Tajikistan Higher League club is permitted to register six foreign players, with four allowed on the pitch at the same time.


2020 Tajikistan Higher League, Teams, Foreign players
In bold: Players that have been capped for their national team.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2020 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 45th in the National Football League and their second under head coach Bruce Arians. The club improved on their 7–9 record from the previous season by finishing 11–5 to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They advanced through the playoffs to reach and win Super Bowl LV. They were the first team only having one Pro Bowler to do so since the 2007 Giants, and the first team to play in and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium, Raymond James Stadium. They were the 7th wild card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, as well as the 5th team to win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2010 Packers, 2007 Giants, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and 1985 New England Patriots.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
In addition, the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning had won the Stanley Cup earlier in 2020 and were going towards the cup again, and the MLB's Tampa Bay Rays went to the World Series, also earlier in 2020 when their Super Bowl victory occurred. team unveiled new uniforms in April 2020, their first uniform change since 2014. The uniforms are similar in design to the ones they wore from 1997 to 2013.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
The offseason was highlighted by the acquisition of long-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. At the conclusion of the 2019 season, 2015 first-round draft pick Jameis Winston arrived at the end of his initial five-year contract, resulting in a period of uncertainty at the quarterback position. The club declined to apply the franchise tag to Winston, instead securing it on linebacker Shaquil Barrett, nor did they apply the transition tag, which was also available for 2020. At which time, it became clear that the team planned to part ways with Winston.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
On March 20, 2020, the team agreed to terms with free agent Brady. The Buccaneers also traded for Brady's former Patriots teammate, tight end Rob Gronkowski. These acquisitions would earn the team the nickname "Tompa Bay Gronkaneers" or simply "Tompa Bay" by the media and fans. They would also sign veterans LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette. On October 23, 2020, the Buccaneers signed former All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, marking his return to the NFL after a one-year hiatus.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
With high expectations going into the season, the team nevertheless had various growing pains during the season. Playing under a new head coach and new offensive system, Brady debuted with a loss at New Orleans on Opening Day. The team rebounded to win their next two games in strong fashion. The first serious test came in Week 4 against the Chargers. Brady rallied the team from a 17-point deficit to improve to 3–1. The Buccaneers improved to 6–2 with convincing wins against Green Bay and Las Vegas, followed by a close Monday Night win at the Giants.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
The month of November saw Tampa Bay hit a rut, as they lost three out of four games. They were routed at home by New Orleans, then dropped games against both the Rams and Chiefs. With a late season bye week (Week 13), Tampa Bay rested and regrouped, and would not lose another game.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
The Buccaneers clinched their first winning season since 2016 after a come-from-behind Week 15 win over Atlanta. Despite losing the division title to rival New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day, the Buccaneers qualified for the playoffs the following day for the first time since 2007 with a 47–7 rout over the Detroit Lions. It ended the league's second-longest active post-season drought.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
In the Wild Card round, Tampa Bay won their first playoff game since Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating Washington 31–23. They advanced to the Divisional round against the New Orleans Saints, who had swept them in the regular season. Tampa Bay defeated the Saints 30–20 to avenge those losses and advance to the NFC Championship Game. The Buccaneers then beat the top-seeded Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game 31–26 to advance to Super Bowl LV, where they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 for their second Super Bowl title.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
To win the Super Bowl, the Buccaneers had to defeat three Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks. In order they beat Drew Brees (XLIV), Aaron Rodgers (XLV), and Patrick Mahomes (LIV). They were the first team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium and the seventh team to win the Super Bowl as a wild card team. They joined the 1985 Patriots, 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and 2010 Packers as the only NFL teams to win three straight playoff games on the road. The team mimicked the 2002 team by also defeating the top-ranked offense in the Super Bowl, and forcing multiple turnovers in the Super Bowl.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
Head coach Bruce Arians became the oldest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl while assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust and assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar became the first female coaches in NFL history to win a Super Bowl. Tampa Bay also joined Baltimore as the only franchises to currently be undefeated in multiple Super Bowl appearances, and now have the most titles of any team in the NFC South. Quarterback Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring, and now has more titles than any other franchise in the NFL.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
Brady became the first NFL player to win a Super Bowl in three different decades, and the second quarterback to win Super Bowls with multiple franchises, after Peyton Manning. Furthermore, he became the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with an AFC team (New England) and an NFC team (Tampa Bay). Lastly, it was later revealed that Brady played the entire season with a torn MCL.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
The Buccaneers defense, somewhat maligned over the previous several seasons, improved in several categories. In total yards allowed, they improved from 15th in the league the previous season to 6th. In 2017 they had ranked last. In passing yards allowed, they improved from 30th in 2019 to 21st. In total points allowed, they improved from 29th in 2019 to 8th. They also flipped the turnover margin from –13 in 2019 to +8 in 2020.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Season summary
Several franchise records were set during the regular season. Tom Brady threw a Buccaneers record 40 touchdown passes, while Mike Evans had a record 13 receiving touchdowns. Evans became the first wide receiver in NFL history with 1,000+ yards receiving in each of his first seven seasons. Brady posted the best season passer rating (102.2) in team history, and also tallied the most games with four or more touchdown passes (4). The team set a new high for most points scored (492) and most total touchdowns (59). Kicker Ryan Succop set a team record for most points by an individual player during a single season with 136. The team also set a club record with eight consecutive overall wins.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Preseason
The Buccaneers' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
Tom Brady made his debut at quarterback with the Buccaneers against division rival New Orleans on opening day. Due to COVID-19, the game was played at the Superdome without spectators. Brady faced Drew Brees, the first game in NFL history where both starting quarterbacks were over the age of 40. Brady led the Buccaneers on a 9-play, 85-yard opening drive, which was capped off by a 2-yard QB keeper, and an early 7–0 lead. Turnovers and miscues by the Buccaneers, however, were the prevailing story of the day. Brady threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and the Saints won 34–23.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
Registering a 13.1 rating, it was the highest-rated regular season game of the 2020 NFL season, and second most-watched measured by total viewers (25.9 million).


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers
Tom Brady threw for 217 yards and one touchdown pass, as Tampa Bay defeated Carolina in their home opener, their first win of the season. Due to COVID-19, the game was played at Raymond James Stadium without spectators. Leonard Fournette rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while Mike Evans, who saw limited play in week 1 due to a hamstring injury, rebounded with 104 yards receiving and one touchdown. The Buccaneers jumped out to a 21–0 lead at halftime and held on for a 31–17 victory. The Tampa Bay defense forced four turnovers, and stuffed one fake punt attempt by the Panthers. The victory marked Brady's first victory over Carolina since 2009, and the first win for Brady and Rob Gronkowski in Tampa Bay.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdown passes, and the Buccaneers defense recorded six sacks and two interceptions in a blowout win over the Broncos. It was Tampa Bay's first win over the Broncos since 1999, and first win in Denver since 1993.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers jumped out to a 24–7 lead in the second quarter, but the Buccaneers rallied in the second half to win by the score of 38–31. Quarterback Tom Brady, who threw a Pick 6 in the first quarter, rebounded to pass for 369 yards, and 5 touchdown passes (to five different receivers). The Chargers were up by 17 with less than one minute left in the first half. Ndamukong Suh forced a fumble on Joshua Kelley, and the Buccaneers recovered at the Chargers 6-yard line.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Brady's touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 28-second left before halftime made the score 24–14, and was the turning point of the game. Tampa Bay scored touchdowns on the first three drives of the second half, and led 38–31 with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter. With 2:35 remaining in regulation, Justin Herbert's pass was intercepted by Carlton Davis near midfield. Tampa Bay ran out the clock, and it was their biggest comeback win since 2008.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 5: at Chicago Bears
On Thursday Night Football, the Buccaneers jumped out to a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but it was thwarted as the Bears scored two touchdowns in the final 1:48 of the first half, including a one-handed 12-yard touchdown reception by Jimmy Graham. In the third quarter, the Buccaneers responded with a long field goal, but Bears kicker Cairo Santos countered with a long field goal of his own. The two teams then traded a field goals. Trailing 20–19 in the final minute of regulation, Tampa Bay was driving near midfield. Quarterback Tom Brady threw an incomplete pass, not realizing it was 4th down, which effectively ended the game. Bears quarterback Nick Foles finished with 243 yards, a touchdown, as well as an interception. Tom Brady finished with 253 yards and one touchdown pass to Mike Evans.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay soundly beat previously undefeated Green Bay by the score of 38–10 at Raymond James Stadium, in front of a limited crowd of approximately 25% capacity. Aaron Jones scored a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, as the Packers built a 10–0 lead. But the remainder of the game was dominated by the Buccaneers. Early in the second quarter, Aaron Rodgers' pass was intercepted by Jamel Dean who returned it for a 32-yard touchdown. Three plays later, Rodgers was intercepted again.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
A tipped pass fell into the hands of Mike Edwards, who ran it back 37 yards to the 2-yard line. Ronald Jones scored the first of two rushing touchdowns, as Tampa Bay took a 14–10 lead. Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, including his 79th regular season touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. The Tampa Bay defense shut out Rodgers and the Packers offense for the rest of the game. Rodgers was sacked five times, and the Packers never crossed midfield in the second half. The Buccaneers also tied a team record with zero penalties, a feat accomplished only once by the club in 1983. This is also their first 4–2 start since 2011.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Down by 28, Rodgers would be benched midway through the fourth quarter and replaced with Tim Boyle. Boyle did not fare well either, as on his third snap, he was sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul. The ball was fumbled, but recovered by the Packers. The game would ultimately be a preview of the NFC Championship Game, in which the Buccaneers beat the top-seeded Packers for the second time this season at Lambeau Field on January 24, 2021.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 7: at Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay made their first-ever trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. The game was played without spectators. They faced former head coach Jon Gruden for the first time since 1999 and for the first time since Gruden (who was the Buccaneers head coach from 2002 to 2008, winning Super Bowl XXXVII) was fired from the club. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 369 yards, four touchdown passes, and ran for a touchdown, as the Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 45–20. Derek Carr was sacked three times and intercepted once, as the Tampa Bay defense continued to excel. The Raiders were held to only 76-yard rushing, and the Buccaneers lead the NFL in fewest rushing yards per game allowed. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday Night Football but was moved to 4:05 p.m. after four starting offensive linemen for the Raiders were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Giants
Tampa Bay defeated the Giants on Monday Night Football to improve to a record of 6–2, the club's best start since their 2002 Super Bowl-winning season. After a shaky first half for the team, Tom Brady rallied the Buccaneers in the second half for a 25–23 victory. The Giants led 14–6 at halftime, and received the opening kickoff of the second half. On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, quarterback Daniel Jones was intercepted by Carlton Davis, which led to a Tampa Bay field goal.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Giants
After a three-and-out by the Giants, Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 3-yard touchdown pass, and a 15–14 lead. With just over 12 minutes left in regulation, Jones threw his second interception. Hurried and pressured, his pass was picked off by a diving Sean Murphy-Bunting. The turnover led to Brady's second touchdown pass, an 8-yard fingertip grab to a diving Mike Evans in the right corner of the endzone.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Giants
In the final three minutes, the Giants were driving for a potential game-tying score. Twice Jones converted on fourth down and long, and connected with Golden Tate for a touchdown with 33 seconds left in regulation. With the score 25–23, the Giants attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game and force overtime. Jones' pass attempt to Dion Lewis was broken up by Antoine Winfield Jr. A flag for pass interference was initially thrown by one of the officials, but after a conference, the flag was picked up and the conversion failed. Tampa Bay held on to win 25–23, their first win at MetLife Stadium, and first win at the Meadowlands since 1997.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay hosted New Orleans on Sunday Night Football. The Saints routed the Buccaneers 38–3 to sweep the season series. Tom Brady threw three interceptions in the loss. Tampa Bay snapped a streak of 22 touchdowns scored when facing a "Goal to Go" situation. Early in the third quarter, Tampa Bay recovered a Drew Brees fumble, and subsequently faced a 1st & Goal at the New Orleans 1 yard line.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
In four plays the Buccaneers could not punch the ball in for a score, and failed to score a touchdown in a game for the first time in two years (Week 10 of 2018). This was the first time in Tom Brady's career that he was swept in two meetings by a division rival in the regular season; it was also the largest margin of defeat for Brady in his career as a starter, surpassing a 31–0 loss to Buffalo in the 2003 season and the worst defeat for an eventual Super Bowl champion in NFL history.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
Antonio Brown, signed by Tampa Bay on October 27, made his first appearance with the team. He made three receptions for 31 yards.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 10: at Carolina Panthers
Ronald Jones II scored on a 98-yard touchdown run, the longest rush and longest play from scrimmage in team history, as Tampa Bay swept the season series against Carolina. The Buccaneers rebounded after their lopsided loss to the Saints the previous week. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 341 yards and three touchdown passes, and ran for a touchdown, as Tampa Bay racked up 544 yards of total offense.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 10: at Carolina Panthers
Carolina led 17–10 late in the second quarter, but Mike Evans made a leaping touchdown catch at the back of the endzone with 27 seconds left in the half to tie the game at 17–17. Miscues then began piling up for the Panthers. Teddy Bridgewater threw an apparent 42-yard catch to D. J. Moore, giving the Panthers a chance for a field goal attempt before halftime. But with seconds left, a delay of game penalty on the Buccaneers, followed by a timeout, allowed officials to review the play. The play was overturned, and the half ended.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 10: at Carolina Panthers
After the Jones touchdown run midway through the third quarter, Bridgewater threw an interception, which led to a Buccaneers field goal. Bridgewater would later leave the game with a knee injury. Tampa Bay scored points on nine straight drives, including a touchdown run by Brady and a touchdown catch by Rob Gronkowski, both in the fourth quarter, to seal the victory. The Bucs swept the Panthers for the first time since 2010.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jared Goff met for the first time  since Super Bowl LIII. On Monday Night Football, Goff threw for 376 yards and three touchdown passes, as the Rams held off the Buccaneers to win 27–24. Brady finished the game with only 216 yards passing, and threw two interceptions. After a prolific ground performance the week before, Ronald Jones II was held to only 10 carries for 24 yards rushing. With the game tied 24–24, Matt Gay kicked a 40-yard go-ahead field goal with 2:36 left in regulation. Brady and the Buccaneers then took over, looking to score to win or force overtime. Brady's deep pass was intercepted at the 31-yard line, and the Rams secured the victory. It was the third loss in four primetime appearances for the Buccaneers.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The game was significant in NFL history as it featured the first all-African American officiating crew.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 12: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Tyreek Hill racked up 269 yards receiving and three touchdown passes, much of it in the first half, as the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City outlasted Tampa Bay by the score of 27–24. The Buccaneers lost their second straight game, and third game in four weeks heading into their bye week.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 12: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
After trailing 20–7 at halftime, the Buccaneers narrowed the deficit. Tom Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 48-yard completion to the Kansas City 5-yard line. They had to settle, however, for a Ryan Succop field goal. Brady connected with Mike Evans for two fourth quarter touchdowns, and closed to within 3 points with 4:14 remaining in regulation. Needing a defensive stop to get the ball back, the Buccaneers could not contain Patrick Mahomes, who first scrambled for two first downs, and then moments later connected with Hill for a game-clinching first down with 1:15 to go. This was the Buccaneers' first loss to the Chiefs since 1993.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 12: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
This would be a preview of Super Bowl LV, in which the Buccaneers would knock off the Chiefs this time, 31–9.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their bye week, and after dropping three of their previous four games, Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota 26–14 to improve to 8–5 and bolster their playoff hopes. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 196 yards and two touchdown passes, but the stories of the day were the miscues and kicking woes by the Vikings. Kicker Dan Bailey missed three field goals and an extra point. Kirk Cousins was sacked six times and had two fumbles (one lost). Three critical defensive penalties on the Vikings also aided the Buccaneers.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The first quarter was dominated by the Vikings, as Dalvin Cook rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown in the first half alone. But the Vikings could not capitalize on the strong start. After Cook's touchdown run, Bailey missed the extra point. Then the next two Vikings drives ended with missed field goal attempts. Midway through the second quarter, Brady connected to Scotty Miller with a 48-yard touchdown bomb and a 7–6 Tampa Bay lead. With 44 seconds left in the half, a 1-yard touchdown run by Ronald Jones II gave Tampa Bay a 14–6 lead.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings went three-and-out, and punted the ball back to Tampa Bay with 21 seconds to go. Brady's deep pass intended for Rob Gronkowski fell incomplete in the endzone as time expired, but the Vikings were called for Pass Interference. With one untimed play, Ryan Succop kicked a chip-shot field goal, and Tampa Bay led 17–6 at halftime.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
On the first drive of the third quarter, Brady and Gronkowski connected for a 2-yard touchdown pass, and a 23–6 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, with Tampa Bay leading 26–14, the Vikings were attempting to rally. On 4th down & 13 with 2:13 left in regulation, Jason Pierre-Paul sacked Kirk Cousins, and stripped the ball away for a turnover. The sack thwarted any chance of a comeback, and the Buccaneers ran out the clock to secure the victory.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Leonard Fournette was inactive (coach's decision) for the game, while Ronald Jones II rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries, including one touchdown.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons jumped out to a 17–0 halftime lead, but Tampa Bay rallied in the second half for a 31–27 victory. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 390 yards and two touchdown passes - nearly all of it in the second half, as the Buccaneers improved to 9–5 on the season and put themselves on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan racked up 235 passing yards and two touchdown passes in the first half alone, while the Buccaneers were held to only 60 total yards of offense in the first half. Ryan would also pass the 50,000 career passing yards milestone. Brady was mostly ineffective, being sacked twice, and completing only ten passes for 70 yards. Running back Leonard Fournette was held to only three carries for 4 yards. Younghoe Koo kicked a 32-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in the first half, and the Falcons led 17–0 at the half.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
The Buccaneers received the ball to start the third quarter, and Brady engineered a spirited comeback. He drove Tampa Bay 80 yards in 7 plays, highlighted by a 32-yard reception to Mike Evans all the way to the 1 yard line. Fournette would pound the ball in for a score on the next play. On their next drive, Brady and Evans connected twice with pivotal catches, which led to another touchdown.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
With the Falcons leading 24–14 in the closing minutes of the third quarter, the Atlanta defense was called for a double penalty (Pass interference and Face mask) which advanced the Buccaneers to the 17-yard line. Fournette's second touchdown run made the score 24–21 in favor of the Falcons to start the fourth quarter.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
The two teams traded field goals, and the Falcons clung to a 27–24 lead. A potential go-ahead touchdown pass from Ryan to Calvin Ridley was knocked away at the last second by Antoine Winfield Jr., then Devin White sacked Ryan for the first time of the game. With 6:19 left in regulation, Brady threw a 46-yard bomb to Antonio Brown for the go-ahead touchdown. It was Brown's first touchdown as a member of the Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay defense stiffened, and forced a three-and-out.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
With under three minutes left, the Falcons got the ball back, but were pinned at their own 12-yard line. White sacked Ryan for the third time, and two plays later, Atlanta turned the ball over on downs. The Buccaneers managed one first down, and ran out the clock to secure the victory.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: at Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2007 defeating Detroit on a record-setting day. The Buccaneers routed the Lions 47–7 at Ford Field on a Saturday afternoon game. The Lions were without multiple members of their coaching staff, due to COVID-19 protocols, and failed to score any points on offense. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdown passes for a perfect 158.3 passer rating, en route to a 34–0 halftime lead. Brady rested in the second half, and backup Blaine Gabbert took over in the third quarter. The Buccaneers won their third straight game off their bye week, and ended the regular season with a 6–2 road record, tied for the best in team history.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: at Detroit Lions
Mike Evans caught ten passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season total to 960 yards, just shy of his 7th straight 1,000-yard receiving season. Evans would set an NFL record if he were to become the first player to have 1,000 yards receiving in his first seven seasons. Brady's four touchdown passes put him at 36 total for the year, a single-season franchise record. It was also Brady's 300th career regular season game. The Buccaneers offense had 410 net yards of offense in the first half, and 588 total yards in the game, both club records. The 34–0 halftime lead was the largest such in team history, and the 40-point winning margin was the second-largest in team history.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: at Detroit Lions
Trailing 40–0, the Lions finally got on the board midway through the third quarter with a 74-yard punt return touchdown by Jamal Agnew. Quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game early with an ankle injury, and backups David Blough and Chase Daniel combined for only 135 yards, 4 sacks, and 1 interception.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: at Detroit Lions
Rob Gronkowski scored on two touchdown passes, and Antonio Brown got his second touchdown reception with the Buccaneers. One day earlier on Christmas Day, New Orleans clinched the NFC South division title. Tampa Bay with the victory, secured a wild card berth, their first playoff appearance in thirteen seasons. It is also their first appearance as a wild card team since 2001.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and four touchdown passes as Tampa Bay swept the Falcons on the season. The Buccaneers finished the regular season with a record of 11–5, their best finish since 2005, and secured the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. Brady's four touchdown passes brought his season total to 40, a single-season franchise record.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
In the first quarter, Mike Evans made three receptions for 46 yards, to become the first player in NFL history to record 1,000+ receiving yards in his first seven seasons. However, on the play after setting the record, Evans was targeted in the endzone, where he slipped on the slick sod. He hyperextended his knee, and was out for the remainder of the game.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
With Tampa Bay leading 23–20 after three-quarters, the Buccaneers put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Ronald Jones II scored on a rushing touchdown, then Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown each caught their second respective touchdown passes of the game.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Postseason, Game summaries, NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Washington Football Team
Tampa Bay racked up 507 yards of offense, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions as they earned their first postseason victory since Super Bowl XXXVII in the 2002 season.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Postseason, Game summaries, NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Washington Football Team
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady completed a 30-yard pass to Mike Evans and a 17-yard throw to Chris Godwin as he led the team to a 29-yard Ryan Succop field goal on the game's opening drive. Then after a punt from each team, Tampa Bay defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting intercepted a pass from Taylor Heinicke on the Buccaneers 42-yard line. Tampa Bay then drove 58 yards in six plays to score on Brady's 36-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, giving the team a 9–0 lead after Succop's extra point was blocked by Jeremy Reaves. But Heinicke stormed right back, starting the next drive with completions to Logan Thomas and Terry McLaurin for gains of 24 and 18 yards before J. D. McKissic finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 9–7 with 12:58 left in the second quarter.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Postseason, Game summaries, NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Washington Football Team
Dustin Hopkins' short kickoff gave the Bucs a first down on their own 39-yard line. On the next play, Brown took a pitch on an end around and ran for a 22-yard gain. Three plays later, Brady threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Godwin, giving the Bucs a 15–7 lead after their two-point conversion attempt failed. Then after a punt, Brady completed 3/5 passes for 65 yards on an 82-yard drive that ended with Succop's 23-yard field goal, giving Tampa Bay an 18–7 lead going into halftime.


2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Postseason, Game summaries, NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Washington Football Team
Washington cut their deficit to 18–10 with the opening drive of the third quarter, converting Heinicke's 29-yard completion to Thomas into a 36-yard Hopkins field goal. Later in the period, Washington Defensive tackle Daron Payne forced a fumble from Ke'Shawn Vaughn that Jon Bostic recovered for the Football Team on their 39-yard line. Heinkicke then completed a 19-yard pass to Cam Sims and rushed for a 13-yard gain before taking the ball into the end zone himself on an 8-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 18-16 after an unsuccessful 2-point try. Tampa Bay responded with a 9-play, 55-yard drive, the longest a 23-yard catch by tight end Cameron Brate. Succop finished it off with a 38-yard field goal, giving the Buccaneers a 21–16 lead with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter.