A Year of COVID-19: What we've learned in 2020, and where we're heading in 2021
Looking back at 2020 — the year of the coronavirus pandemic — the words chaotic, devastating, life-altering, never-ending and stressful come to mind.
Starting in March, when
For weeks, finding toilet paper at the local grocery store was nearly impossible. Cleaning supplies were wiped out. In
Wearing face masks while around other people is now the norm, social distancing has become a mostly accepted practice, and so is frequent hand-washing.
More: In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic impacted everything in
The medical community went into overdrive trying to treat the unknown virus as hospital beds filled and front line workers worked themselves to the bone.
“Being in medicine, we prepare for all sorts of emergencies, including mass casualties. Unlike these events, this pandemic has had a prolonged unfolding, and is ubiquitous throughout the globe,” said
Thankfully, local
Still, the virus has impacted everything in
The pandemic also impacted politics. Epidemiologist Dr.
More: COVID vaccine: Is it safe, do we still wear masks? Experts answer the questions
While many countries went into full lockdowns with mask mandates, Trump instead left the decision up to state leaders and favored keeping the economy alive over health experts' recommendations.
“COVID-19 was not the reason for Trump's defeat in the recent election; his response to it was,” Johnson said. “The way he mismanaged and downplayed the impact of this virus on American lives haunted him and I believe it will stay with him forever.”
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
In 2020, more than 21,000
Locally,
“Definitely the biggest shock for me has been seeing firsthand how this virus inflicts critical illness on some and leaves others almost untouched,” said Dr.
The News-Journal was able to keep track of the names of those who died up until
Requests to the FDOH asking for a full list of names for the people who have died in
As of Monday, more than 1.2 million
“What I found shocking was resistance against scientific evidence and guidelines like staying home and wearing masks for example,” Johnson said. “I found it shocking that in 2020 people still buy extreme conspiracy theories. Misinformation spread quicker than the virus itself and made it even more challenging to contain this virus.”
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC
While there were many devastating impacts from the coronavirus in 2020, there were some bright spots in the seemingly never-ending gloom.
Communities came together to celebrate the recovery of those who were on death’s door. Business came together to help feed healthcare workers as they worked long and grueling hours in personal protective equipment. Residents sewed masks tirelessly for anyone who needed one.
Smith said he’s never seen his co-workers and rival health systems work so well together.
“The biggest change I see is that there is a renewed spirit of academia and collegial respect among health care workers. From environmental services to ICU nurses, I’ve never seen so many people so grateful for each other and working so hard to keep each other safe,” Smith said. “Doctors or hospitals who may normally compete are sharing information and supplies. It’s really something to be a part of this surreal experience, and I am proud to be on this team.”
As 2020 ends, the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are being distributed to front line healthcare workers. In
“We could be just a few months away from achieving herd immunity with these vaccines. Perhaps it’s the doctor in me, but that is something I never dreamed I would be able to say to you this quickly,” Smith said. “I look forward to not wearing a mask and not wondering if my little girl kissing her grandma is going to land my mother in the hospital. We can all look forward to that.”
As of Tuesday,
The first doses of the vaccine earmarked for people 65 and older in
“The past year has been immensely challenging and consequential for the field of public health, particularly for local health departments like Volusia’,”
LOOKING FORWARD
Health experts say that it’s not yet time for the collective community to drop its guard.
“We should continue many of our new habits developed in 2020,” Dr.
It’s going to take time for the coronavirus vaccine to be available to the general public, according to
“While many front-line health care workers have received their first dose, the general public remains months away from being vaccinated,” she said.
More: Long lines, crashing websites, conflicting information confound COVID-19 vaccine rollout to
Johnson knows that many people will return to social gathering events, thanks to the vaccine.
“I hope we all make a
On a larger scale, Crossman hopes that as the country and
“Going into 2021, we should keep in mind that with adversity comes opportunity. This crisis has motivated many to noble pursuits and creative problem solving,” Crossman said. “The more we seek these opportunities, the better off society as a whole will be as we move forward, and out of this pandemic.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: A Year of COVID-19: What we've learned in 2020, and where we're heading in 2021
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