Five years ago today, COVID-19 cases surged to nearly 45 people in New York, just five days after the first local case was reported.

It was the following day, March 7, that then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a “state disaster emergency” for New York.

It would be three years until the World Health Organization declared an end to the global health emergency for COVID-19 on May 5, 2023.

For most of that time, the face of the city’s public health response was then-Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi. He helped guide the city through the worst of the pandemic.

As NY1 looks back at the last five years since the start of the pandemic, Dr. Chokshi joined “News All Day” on Thursday to reflect on that time and the city’s COVID-19 response.

Tap the video player above to watch the interview.