The coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the WHO, one year ago. In this past year, we have experienced loss, disruption, and uncertainty.

This time last year, the pandemic had left arenas that used to be filled with people cheering and clapping, empty. Restaurants that were once filled with laughter and people gathering, had to put up their closed signs. Concerts and events were canceled and Chicago decided not to dye their river green for St. Patrick’s Day. This was only the beginning of COVID-19.

According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 118 million confirmed cases of the virus across the world in this past year. Johns Hopkins University also says there have been more than 2,600,000 people who have died from the virus, including 529,267 Americans who have lost their lives to the virus.