Coronavirus became a pandemic 1 year ago today: A recap

Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape, 81, who Spencer says has tested positive for coronavirus, at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 11, 2020.

Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape, 81, who Spencer says has tested positive for coronavirus, at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 11, 2020. Photo by REUTERS/Jason Redmond TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

On this day last year, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom warned that gatherings of more than 250 people should be canceled and social distancing should be maintained at smaller gatherings. The head of LA County’s Department of Public Health, Barbara Ferrer, also announced the county’s first death from COVID-19.

KCRW looks back at what happened on March 11, 2020. Also, the virus began in China, and now life there has largely resumed as usual, so what has the country been doing over the past year?

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Rosalie Atkinson, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser