COVID in review

One year ago March 11, Delaware recorded its first COVID-19 case. A week later the number jumped to 40 more cases, with the state reporting its first critical case.

From that point on, every day, conveniences taken for granted were shuttered, and socializing became a cultural faux pas. In less than a month, the face mask went from something only seen in hospital settings to an item that nobody dares leave home without.

The number of COVID-19 cases tripled each week, the positivity rate climbed, hospitalizations approached capacity level, and society shut down. Citizens were confined to their homes, where Zoom meetings replaced office commutes, and school days were held on computers. Big barrels blocked beach access, and eating at a restaurant become a thing of the past. Beach bars were transformed into silent vaults.

COVID testing became the buzzword as people lined up for miles to get tested, even though results could take weeks. But those long lines paid off as the draconian spring melded into the summer months and restrictions were eased a bit. Beach barriers were taken down, allowing visitors to enjoy the sun and sand.

Sit-down dining returned to restaurants, but only under strict 6-foot social distancing guidelines and limited seating – nowhere near full capacity for eateries or businesses that depend on customer traffic.

Just in time for Labor Day, restrictions on beach bars were lifted, allowing them to again seat customers, but only with reservations and a food order. By November, restrictions were further removed, allowing standing room for more people to gather.

But those welcome changes didn't last a month. By the end of November, Gov. John Carney was telling out-of-staters not to come to Delaware's bars as the number of COVID cases was back on the rise.

A post-holiday surge pushed cases to a new high, posting 474 hospitalizations on Jan. 12 while positivity rates hit 13 percent.

With the advent of the vaccine in December, long lines that had once defined COVID test sites shifted to mass vaccination sites where people waited hours in line for a coveted shot. COVID testing is now readily accessible, with short lines and results returned in less than 24 hours.

Tens of thousands of people remain on waiting lists for the vaccine, but with three vaccine options now available, President Joe Biden declared March 2 that he expects the entire country to be vaccinated by the end of May. Already, several southern states have removed face mask mandates and gathering restrictions, and are trying to return to pre-COVID business as usual.

But for now, Delaware's face mask and social distancing requirements remain, although state officials are optimistic that herd immunity is within reach.

“I have a feeling we're turning a corner; we're getting healthier,” Carney said during his March 2 press conference.