1 Year Into Pandemic: How Do Illinoisans Feel?

ILLINOIS — Thursday marks one year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic. Since then, more than 20,000 Illinois residents have died from COVID-19 and nearly 1.2 million have tested positive.

During the past year, schools, businesses, entertainment venues and sports teams have had to adapt to safety precautions. Friends and families have been separated to avoid spreading the virus. With spring around the corner and vaccines being administered, though, conditions appear to be improving.

As of Tuesday, Illinois had administered more than 3.3 million coronavirus vaccinations.

With vaccinations ramping up and positive cases and hospitalizations declining, the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel is getting brighter. Schools are resuming in-person instruction, high school football practices are happening, and the Chicago Cubs and White Sox are planning to welcome fans in person — at 20 percent capacity — into their stadiums this season.

If the past year has been a blur to you, here's a look back at some milestones in Illinois' fight against the coronavirus:

• Jan. 24, 2020: Illinois marks its first coronavirus case — the second confirmed case in the United States. The woman in her 60s traveled to Wuhan, China, in late December and flew back to Chicago on Jan. 13. Her husband was also later tested positive for the virus. The couple recovered and both were released from home isolation on Feb. 18.
• March 13: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced all public and private schools would close for in-person learning, effective Tuesday, March 17.
• March 15: Pritzker announces the shutdown of all indoor dining/drinking at bars and restaurants, effective at close of business March 16 — just before St. Patrick's Day. At the time, he said they would remain closed until at least March 30.
• March 16, 2020: First Illinois resident dies of coronavirus. Patricia Frieson, 61, a retired nurse, was known for her gregarious personality and love for her tight-knit family. Her older sister, Wanda Bailey, 63, also died of coronavirus on March 25.
• March 20, 2020: With five Illinois residents dead of coronavirus, Pritzker issues a stay-at-home order, with all "non-essential" businesses closing, effective Saturday, March 21. The order was originally expected to expire on April 7 but was later extended through April 30, then through May as coronavirus cases continued to climb.

Take Patch's Survey

Patch wants to get your thoughts on how things have gone in Illinois over the past year and learn about your plans for the spring as more people get vaccinated.

The survey is meant not to be a scientific poll, but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

Share your thoughts with Patch in our eight-question survey, embedded below.