COVID-19 pandemic caused profound personal losses in America

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, over 1.2 million Americans have died. The World Health Organization declared the pandemic officially over on May 5, 2023, marking a shift from emergency to ongoing health challenge, largely due to widespread vaccination. Many individuals, like Patty Trejo, experienced profound personal losses during the pandemic. Trejo lost both her father and husband to COVID-19, highlighting the deep emotional impact that the pandemic had on countless families, contrasting with the broader public's move to return to normalcy. Healthcare workers also faced significant challenges, with many experiencing trauma from high patient death rates. Chaplain Kevin Deegan, for example, dealt with the emotional toll of connecting families with loved ones during their final moments, leading to his diagnosis of post-traumatic stress.