Five years ago, COVID-19 abruptly disrupted our lives, instilling widespread fear and uncertainty. The virus spread quickly, and its impact was felt deeply across the globe. In York Region, the initial months were marked by confusion and anxiety as the health system faced unprecedented strain.
Today, COVID-19 still lingers, causing occasional illness and outbreaks. For example, Mackenzie Health Richmond Hill Hospital declared an outbreak in its C4 Medicine Aqua unit on March 16. However, the virus today is significantly different from the strain that first spread through York Region in the spring of 2020.
Reflecting on the past five years, one key question remains: Have we learned enough from COVID-19 to prevent the next pandemic?
In the early days of the pandemic, the primary focus was on identifying individuals with risk factors, especially those who had recently traveled internationally. At Mackenzie Health, while no confirmed cases had yet been identified, the hospital’s electronic medical records system could flag patients who exhibited symptoms and had a recent travel history. These patients were immediately directed to isolation rooms, as explained by Dr. Danny Chen, Mackenzie Health’s physician lead for Infection Prevention and Control.
The situation changed swiftly after March break. On March 21, 2020, a Markham woman in her 70s, who had recently returned from overseas, became the first person in the region to die from COVID-19. Just days later, on March 23, the province ordered the closure of non-essential businesses. By mid-April, the number of COVID-19 cases in York Region surpassed 1,000.
As we look back over these five years, the lessons learned from the pandemic have shaped how we respond to ongoing health threats, and how we prepare for the future. While COVID-19 continues to affect our lives, the knowledge gained during those early, uncertain months has been instrumental in our response and resilience.