NORTH CAROLINA — On March 13, 2020, almost five years ago, the Trump administration announced a nationwide emergency that would soon turn into a worldwide pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the passing of time, the fight against this deadly virus is not over yet, experts say.
With the virus continuing to circulate, the world is looking at the lasting effects of COVID-19. Not only did the pandemic reshape daily life, affect global health strategies and cause divisions throughout the country, its impact continues to influence political and social views.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tracked COVID-19 cases from March 14, 2020, until May 10, 2023. Within that period, there were 3,501,404 total cases reported in our state alone. Of those cases, 29,059 people died, according to DHHS data.
On Jan. 3, 2024, the NCDHHS reported that there has been a spike in respiratory illnesses in the state, including COVID-19. Since Feb. 19, hospital admissions and emergency department visits for respiratory viruses have reportedly increased since March of last year, the NCDHHS states. Health experts continue to say people could get the COVID-19 vaccine. They say people should stay home if they are having flu-like symptoms such as a cough, fever, body aches or chills.
In Dec. 2019, World Health Organization identified the first cases of “a pneumonia of unknown etiology” in Wuhan, China, the CDC reports. By early Jan. 2020, WHO activated emergency response systems. By mid-January, global health experts developed the first laboratory test for what would soon be known as SARS-CoV-2. Over the following months and years, WHO worked across the nations to guide the public, share data and try to contain the virus.
“Without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Experts said the nationwide divide over the response to COVID-19 led to fundamental disagreements over public health measures, government intervention and other issues.
“The most significant pandemic of our lifetime arrived as the United States was experiencing three major societal trends: a growing divide between partisans of the left and right, decreasing trust in many institutions, and a massive splintering of the information environment,” experts at Pew Research Center stated.
The study found that 72% of Americans believe the pandemic drove the country away from each other more than it united it. The CDC reports over 1.2 million American COVID-19 deaths to date, with millions currently experiencing "long COVID", or post-COVID conditions. However, public concern has significantly declined, says the Pew Research Center. Today, just 21% of U.S. adults see COVID-19 as a major health threat and only 4% report regularly wearing masks.
Despite the virus' toll on people, most Americans feel they have recovered from the effects of the pandemic. However, experts highlight ongoing shifts in health care, work, religion and technology, revealing that the fight will continue for the unforeseeable future.
