Design: Minhee Kim | Photos: iStockThe StoryIt’s been two years since the beginning of the pandemic. It feels longer. Isolation could make you feel like that. On this day in 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Since then, the international death toll has surpassed 6 million people — including more than 950,000 people in the US. And while there are a lot of unknowns about the virus, the world has worked to fight it through vaccines and antivirals. Here’s where things stand two years on with: Variants: Since 2020, we've been hit with a series of concerning variants, including Alpha, Delta, and most recently Omicron. The latest, fast-spreading variant led to the highest peak in US daily cases since the beginning of the pandemic — and pushed some hospitals to capacity. Now, the US is nearing its lowest number of new cases since last summer. But is still averaging over 1,500 deaths per day. Vaccines: More than 65% of the US population is fully vaccinated. With boosters, vaccines remain over 90% effective against hospitalization and death. But they’ve proven less effective at preventing infection. Antiviral pills are another line of defense. Meanwhile, restrictions — like mask and vaccine mandates — have faced protests. In the US, Republican states have gone months with few to no restrictions. Since then, Dem states have started to follow suit. But masks are still a must in some places, including airplanes and some schools. The economy: has changed. The pandemic threw supply chains for a loop. Think: backed-up cargo ships, empty grocery shelves, and more. Many companies told their employees to trade in their sweats for business attire. And women were especially impacted. Some were hit by a ‘shecession’ because they worked in hospitality, others because they couldn't find affordable childcare. More than 5 million women lost their jobs, with unemployment rates higher for women of color. Now, many companies are bringing employees back to the office — to mixed reviews. Where do we go from here?Some world leaders see COVID-19 as here to stay. One poll shows 70% of Americans agree — and believe we need to “get on with our lives.” But some, including those with chronic illnesses and young children, feel left behind. It comes as a new study shows that even people who experienced milder cases of COVID-19 may have experienced subtle damage to brain tissue. theSkimm It’s been two years since the pandemic turned the world upside down. Now, with vaccines and other tools, some are trying to get back to ‘normal.’ Whatever that means. But many are still trying to find their footing. PS: In the last two years, many of us have experienced unprecedented kinds of loss. If you’re struggling to cope, you’re not alone. We gathered tips from grief experts here. | 