1 Year Into The Pandemic, How Did Pennsylvania Do? [Patch Survey]

PENNSYLVANIA — This month marks one year since the coronavirus pandemic began. Since then, more than 24,000 Pennsylvania residents have died from COVID-19 and nearly 1 million have tested positive for the virus.

Over 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 the latest data available Wednesday, Pennsylvania had administered more than 3.8 million coronavirus vaccines.

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

• The very first cases of the virus were confirmed in Pennsylvania on March 6, and those numbers grew exponentially in a matter of days.
• All schools, daycares, and many public places in Montgomery County were shut down on March 12. By March 13, the county already had 17 new cases, of the state's total of 28.
• On March 13 Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all schools in the state must close for 10 business days due to the outbreak.
• On March 14 Wine and Spirits stores were shut down and other closures were recommended. In southeastern Pennsylvania, the state began recommending, but not yet requiring, that gyms, theaters, malls, entertainment venues and community centers should close.
• The first death was reported in the state on March 18.
• All 'non-life-sustaining' businesses were ordered to close on March 19.
• A stay-at-home order was issued in the Philadelphia region on March 23. This order was eventually expanded statewide. The initial stay-at-home order was to be in place for two weeks. School closures were extended by this point for another two weeks, through at least April 6.
• On April 23, a color-coded, region-based reopening plan was announced.

Take Patch's Survey

Patch wants to get your thoughts on how things have gone in Pennsylvania 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 survey, embedded below:

With reporting by Shannon Antinori of Patch