Michiana reflects on past year

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - Thursday marks the one-year anniversary since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic - a year no one predicted full of social distancing and cancellation. What many thought was just a few weeks of staying at home turned into so much more.

One year ago today Americans were faced with lockdowns - orders to stay home in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“It was a lot of FaceTime. FaceTiming my girlfriend my family and just trying to keep tabs on what everyone else was doing really,” said Bryan Silver.  

The phrase stay home, stay safe, and save lives became a staple across the nation - keeping people apart remaining only with those in your immediate household.

“It’s crazy to think you don’t hug people when you see them for the first time in a while and stuff like that starting to become natural again will be really nice to see," said Silver.

One of the biggest challenges for parents - adjusting to working and having their children learn from home.

“Them not connecting not doing their work. They stressed out a lot because they lost a lot of knowledge," said parent, Lorena Ibarra.  

While it made life stressful for many - others used quarantine to recognize what’s truly important to them.

“It doesn’t how much you have to go it’s about being together and being with your family," said South Bend Schools Student, Oscar Ilagor.