Bay Area experiences mixed recovery five years post-COVID
Five years after the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order, some aspects of life have returned to normal, while others remain affected by COVID-19. Monthly death rates are still above pre-pandemic levels, with over 110,000 COVID-related deaths recorded in California. Unemployment rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, but have recently increased to 5.5% as of December 2024. BART ridership remains at about 40% of pre-pandemic levels, despite some recovery in traffic volumes on the Bay Bridge. California's student performance has declined, with fewer meeting standards in English and math compared to pre-pandemic years. However, the state's population is growing again after a significant drop during the pandemic, with foreign immigration returning to 2019 levels.