PLATTSBURGH — Five years ago this month, we were all struck with the horrible COVID-19 pandemic that changed our lives drastically, and in some ways, still is.
The pandemic swept over us in March of 2020 as little by little we kept hearing about this coronavirus from China that was causing a great concern. Then, all of a sudden it seemed like, the pandemic hit us with full force.
When the NBA and NHL shut down as well as college basketball, which was getting ready for March Madness, and all entertainment venues closed, we knew it was serious.
Next came schools and then restaurants and bars, for on-site dining anyways, and we became a lot more nervous.
Businesses closed, people lost jobs, travel was severely restricted and just about every facet of life changed dramatically.
We had to wear masks, we had to social distance and stay at least six feet away from each other, we had to excessively wash our hands, and when the time came, many got vaccinated.
And through it all we watched many folks, some family even, get very sick and some die.
It was a heavy, heavy time for sure.
COVID changed many aspects of life not only here in the North Country, but across the nation and the rest of the world.
Schools had to change the way they teach, hospitals had to limit visitors and the elderly in nursing homes became so vulnerable and lonely as visitation was cut out.
But through it all we saw the resilient North Country that we have all come to know and love so much over the generations come through with compassion and thoughtfulness.
Fortunately, the COVID vaccines did a tremendous job of battling the virus, and those who were vaccinated and have been infected since have had a much greater chance of surviving then people did in the early days of the pandemic.
Medicines such as Plaxlovid also came about and helped so many people manage COVID symptoms with much greater ease.
The virus is still around and we still have to be careful, but fortunately, the worst seems far behind us.
The Press-Republican took a look at the COVID scene five years later and how it affected important aspects of our daily lives, such as education, commerce and overall healthcare. We are happy to share these stories in today, tomorrow and Friday’s editions as we look back on COVID five years later.
Today’s series will look at the impact COVID had on the region from the perspective of local health departments and how commerce was affected.
Tomorrow, we take a look at what COVID did to education at area schools, and how the region’s main hospital, University of Vermont Healthcare Network CVPH in Plattsburgh, handled the onslaught of cases.
On Friday, we will take a further look at how the hospital handled the pandemic and what changes have been made.