Five Years Since COVID; A look back at where we were and where we are today.

Five Years Later: COVID-19, Shutdowns, and the Legacy of a Global Pandemic

It’s been five years since the world shut down. Five years since the words “lockdown,” “social distancing,” and “flatten the curve” became part of our daily lives. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and the world as we knew it changed overnight.

Today, as we reflect on the past half-decade, we are met with a complicated legacy. Some argue the pandemic response was mishandled, with long-term consequences that may outweigh the immediate health crisis. Others point to the millions of lives saved through swift public health interventions and vaccine development. Regardless of where one stands, the facts are undeniable: COVID-19 killed millions, reshaped our trust in public institutions, and left us questioning how prepared we are for the next global health threat.

The Early Days: Fear, Uncertainty, and Lockdowns

In early 2020, the novel coronavirus swept across the globe at a pace rarely seen in modern times. Governments scrambled to respond. The United States, like many nations, implemented sweeping shutdowns. Schools, businesses, churches, and stadiums closed. Streets emptied. People masked up and hunkered down.

The shutdowns, designed to “flatten the curve,” aimed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. At the time, they were considered a necessary emergency measure. And while these actions did buy time for healthcare systems to respond and for vaccines to be developed, they also came with serious side effects—economic hardship, mental health crises, and a widening of social inequalities.

The Debate: Were the Shutdowns Worth It?

Critics argue that the shutdowns were too harsh, lasted too long, and caused more harm than the disease itself might have if left unchecked. Proponents maintain that the alternative—millions more dead—was unthinkable.

The facts are clear:

• Globally, over 7 million deaths from COVID-19 have been confirmed, though estimates suggest the real number could be much higher.

• In the U.S. alone, over 1.1 million lives were lost to COVID-19 (CDC, 2024).

• Vaccines, which were developed and deployed at unprecedented speed, are estimated to have saved over 20 million lives worldwide in their first year of use (Imperial College London, 2022).

Without shutdowns and vaccines, the toll would likely have been far worse. Still, the consequences of isolation, school closures, and economic downturns are deeply felt today. A study from The Lancet in 2023 highlighted an increase in anxiety, depression, and learning loss, particularly among children from lower-income families.

The Rise of Misinformation and Erosion of Trust

Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic is not just its death toll, but the erosion of public trust. The pandemic coincided with a wave of misinformation and conspiracy theories, many spread through social media and amplified by bad-faith actors.

According to The Guardian (2025), this period marked the beginning of what some experts call the “misinformation pandemic.” Trust in government and health institutions plummeted. A recent study published by JAMA (2024) found that trust in U.S. public health institutions dropped from 71.5% in early 2020 to just 40.1% by 2024.

This loss of trust has had real-world consequences. Vaccine hesitancy rose sharply, not just for COVID-19 vaccines but for routine childhood immunizations, threatening to reverse decades of progress in preventing diseases like measles and polio.

Where Are We Now?

As of 2025, life has largely returned to “normal.” Schools and businesses are open. Masks are rare outside of healthcare settings. But the scars remain—both in the health data and in the social fabric.

From a public health perspective, the U.S. and many other countries are trying to learn from the pandemic and prepare for the next one. The Biden administration, in cooperation with international partners, has signed on to the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Accord, aimed at ensuring global cooperation, rapid response, and equitable access to vaccines and treatments in future pandemics (WHO, 2025).

Domestically, the U.S. has launched the National One Health Framework (CDC, 2025), an initiative designed to integrate human, animal, and environmental health in pandemic prevention and preparedness strategies.

Yet, critics remain skeptical. Some point to political infighting and budget cuts that threaten pandemic readiness. Others warn that the distrust seeded during the last pandemic could make it harder to mobilize an effective response next time.

Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic?

The short answer: we’re better prepared, but not prepared enough.

• Vaccine development platforms have advanced dramatically. mRNA technology has proven to be a game-changer, allowing for faster vaccine creation.

• The CDC and other health agencies have improved surveillance systems, with better data sharing between states and countries.

• Stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been replenished (though questions remain about supply chain vulnerabilities).

But challenges persist:

• Public health funding is inconsistent and often politically fraught.

• Global coordination remains fragile, as national interests frequently override global solidarity.

• Public trust is still fractured, making compliance with future emergency measures uncertain.

The Cost of Forgetting

As memories of 2020 fade, there’s a real risk of complacency. Pandemics are not “once in a lifetime” events. Experts warn that population growth, climate change, and increased interaction between humans and wildlife make future pandemics not just likely, but inevitable.

We have learned that science can save us—but only if people trust it. We’ve seen how coordinated action can prevent catastrophic loss of life—but only if people are willing to sacrifice together for the common good.

Remembering the Lives Lost—and the Lives Saved

As we mark the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdowns, it’s important to hold two truths at once.

Yes, mistakes were made. Decisions that seemed right in March 2020 may have caused unintended harm. And yes, millions of lives were saved because of bold action, scientific breakthroughs, and global cooperation.

We owe it to those we lost—and to those who will come after—to tell the truth about what happened. To learn. To do better.