4 years later: Looking back on COVID-19 – WKBN.com

(WKBN) It has been four years since the COVID-19 shutdown began across the nation. Things had changed very quickly in a rather short period of time.

It started as a two-week extended spring break for people who were in college at the time. Then things began to shift rapidly, and a fear of the unknown settled across the nation.

Phrases like social distancing and essential businesses became part of our daily communication.

On March 9, 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a state of emergency after three Ohioans had tested positive for Coronavirus. A few days later DeWine spoke to the state in his what became normal 2 p.m. briefings.

He banned gatherings of more than 100 people. Ohio schools would have a three-week spring break. By March 16, most public spaces besides parks were closed.

Across the country, the same measures were taking place.

The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 6, 2020. That is when the now former Governor Tom Wolf signed the Disaster Declaration.

By March 18, Pennsylvania officials confirmed its first death from the virus. March 19 is when non-essential businesses closed. The stay-at-home order was put in place days later for some Philadelphia area counties.

By April 1, all Pennsylvania counties were under the stay-at-home order.

The world went on pause.

The first reported case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was in January. The case came from Washington state.

The first death was reported in February.

On March 11, the World Health Organization officially said COVID-19 was a pandemic. By this time there were over 100,000 cases in 114 countries. More than 4,000 people had died.

Fast forward to early 2021 vaccinations were widely available, but came with significant pushback. Vaccinations, masking and social distancing all were things many debated about even today.

COVID-19 cases today have overall become less deadly and more treatable for most.

Here is the original post:

4 years later: Looking back on COVID-19 - WKBN.com