Five years after the first reported cases of COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte stands as a city transformed. This project, a collaboration between multiple newsrooms and community institutions, explores the lasting impact of the pandemic — from shifts in healthcare and education to changes in the economy, community life, and personal resilience. Through shared storytelling, data, and reflections, we examine how the echoes of COVID continue to shape Charlotte’s present and future.
It was this time five years ago we were all beginning to get acquainted with a new term: COVID-19. By mid-January 2020, infections had been reported in multiple countries. And then in March, the World Health Organization declared a COVID-19 pandemic, and the world shut down. You know how the rest went, but where are we now? Dave Wessner is a professor of biology and public health at Davidson College. His reflection on the pandemic five years later was recently published in Forbes, and he joins Marshall Terry on WFAE’s Charlotte Talks. Listen here.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our world was irrevocably transformed, with millions grappling not only with the immediate health crisis but also the long-term repercussions of long COVID. Charlotte “Dimples” Foster, a devoted wife, mother and advocate, shares her personal journey through the lingering effects of the virus, highlighting the often-overlooked struggles faced by those still suffering. As a longtime friend of Charlotte, it is this writer’s privilege to share her story and uncover the resilience of the human spirit and the urgent need for awareness and support in navigating this ongoing challenge.
Five years after the first COVID-19 case was detected in Mecklenburg County, the county’s health director says the pandemic response was appropriate despite controversial measures like lockdowns and mask mandates.
About 2,000 Mecklenburg County residents have died from COVID-19 since the virus first appeared in March 2020.
They make visible our triumphs, struggles, and aspirations. We can’t help but see beyond our own experiences when we hear another’s voice. During times of turmoil, stories hold the power to connect, inspire, and comfort us. The Living Archives Project recognizes the significance of capturing and preserving these stories as a vital part of our community’s history.
About 2,000 Mecklenburg County residents have died from COVID-19 since the virus first appeared in March 2020.
They make visible our triumphs, struggles, and aspirations. We can’t help but see beyond our own experiences when we hear another’s voice. During times of turmoil, stories hold the power to connect, inspire, and comfort us. The Living Archives Project recognizes the significance of capturing and preserving these stories as a vital part of our community’s history.
About 2,000 Mecklenburg County residents have died from COVID-19 since the virus first appeared in March 2020.
Everyone was impacted in some way. And the world, although it may seem relatively back to normal, has been forever changed.
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