One year ago today, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a pandemic. Since then, more than 118 million people, worldwide, have contracted the virus. More than 2.6 million have died. Closer to home, 29.8 million Americans have been infected while more than 536,000 have died. Virtually everyone knows someone who has tested positive for the virus, many of us have known one or more people who have died. It has been the worst public health crisis since the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 1918-1920.
One year ago, our lives were very different. We had never heard the terms COVID or Coronavirus. We didn't fear leaving our homes. Grandparents regularly spent time with grandchildren. We went out to dinner or the local pub. We could go to a play, a concert, a movie. We spent our free time with family and friends. Sports fans were getting ready for "March Madness". The NBA and NHL playoffs loomed on the horizon. Opening Day of Major League Baseball was just weeks away. Our kids went to school every day. We went to work. Outside of surgeries and other medical procedures, no one wore a mask. We washed our hands maybe once a day, sometimes not even that often. We shook hands and hugged. Just think how much your life has changed in just one year.
One year ago, our lexicon and vocabulary was smaller. Most of us had never heard the term "social distancing". Very few people knew what an "N95" mask was. "PPE" was an unknown acronym. We never said things like "self-isolating". "Lockdowns" only happened when a shooter was on the loose in the neighborhood. Most people didn't even know what a "pandemic" was. We've learned about "remote" or "virtual" learning. "Zoom" is now something other than a long camera lens. More of us than ever before have engaged in "binge watching". We all wanted to "flatten the curve". We now care about and appreciate the efforts of "essential workers". Millions are now acquainted with "WFH" (Working From Home). We've learned what "mRNA" is and what it does. "Dr Fauci" was about to become our new hero. Peripherally, we were forced into some level of contact with the "Tiger King" and "Murder Hornets".
One year ago, we had no idea how bad things would get. Total cases were in the thousands and US deaths were less than 50. For sure, this was a matter for concern and something to watch. But hey, 30-40 thousand people died from the flu every year, right? This won't be any worse than that, and probably much less. This became a fatal mistake. We now know, through the laser-focused lens of hindsight, that the impact of this disease could have been lessened if we had only listened to the science and not a drastically failed leadership response.
One year later, our lives have changed dramatically. Another new term we are becoming familiar with is, "the New Normal". As vaccines come on line and availability increases, we can now ponder what life will be like "post-pandemic". For most, masks will be relegated to a drawer or a box in the attic. But some will continue to don face-covering for some time. Many businesses forced to close by the pandemic will not reopen. How rapidly, and robustly, will the economy rebound? Will travel, already impacted by changes imposed post-9/11, become even more burdensome? Will it be truly safe to send our children back to school? And what about the vaccines? Will my one, or two, shots make me immune permanently, or will I need to get a "COVID shot" along with a flu shot every year? Will another bad outbreak throw the world into chaos again?
Most people want their new normal to be as close to their old normal as possible. And many are rushing the process. 200+ million Americans still need to be vaccinated. But we are seeing the abandonment of safety protocols ahead of any real indication that they may no longer be needed. We have already seen a second, even a third, wave of infections following events like the holiday season. A fourth wave may be too devastating to handle. It is vital that we all hang on just a little while longer to ensure a safe and lasting recovery from this monstrous disease. So that, in March 2022, I can write asking, "Remember the COVID-19 virus and how bad everything was?" We all want "one year from now" to be very different from "one year ago".