Five years after lockdown, remembering Michigan’s COVID experience

Our May 2020 print edition featured this photo of Thaddeus Karle (then 6) who lives on a farm near Suttons Bay and who wore a mask to accept cupcakes through a pickup window.

From staff reports

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the date the COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic officially arrived in Michigan, prompting a business and social shutdown, political upheaval, and many months of confusion, anxiety and pain. On March 10, 2020—the day many of us went to the polls to vote in a presidential primary election between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders—the state’s first two COVID cases were confirmed in metro Detroit, prompting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Michigan.

The following day, several universities moved to online education. The World Health Organization also declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. On March 13 the Trump administration declared a nationwide emergency and issued a travel ban on non-U.S. citizens traveling from 26 European countries. On March 18 the first COVID death was confirmed in Wayne County. A statewide stay-at-home order began on March 24, limiting all non-essential travel and discontinuing all non-essential business services and operations. By March 31, Michigan ranked third nationally for COVID-related deaths, behind New York and New Jersey, with a total of 259 deaths.

Our COVID coverage in the Glen Arbor Sun between March 2020 and mid-2021 included stories about: essential workers who kept us safe; victims (and survivors) of COVID; businesses and the National Park closing facilities; how public health workers, schools and emergency medical personnel adjusted; our collective reconnection with nature during the lockdown; artistic reactions to the pandemic; how musicians adapted; the pandemic exacerbating educational divides, and frequent updates on vaccination and infection statistics in Leelanau County.

Read those stories below:

• Cherry Country Quilters for sale; honoring Linda Mead with COVID quilt, May 19, 2021

• Masks in the time of Coronavirus: Leland’s Old Art Building co-hosts community art show (May 19, 2021)

• Nearly 60 percent of eligible Leelanau residents fully vaccinated against Coronavirus (April 29, 2021)

• Meet the public health workers protecting us from COVID-19 (April 18, 2021)

• Parenting During the Pandemic (December 17, 2020)

• “If she hadn’t been in the car, she would be alive today” — COVID-19 claims 30-year-old Native American (December 7, 2020)

• COVID surges in Benzie-Leelanau before holiday — 7 hospitalized, woman in her 30s dies (November 23, 2020)

• Thursday nights at home with Joshua Davis: Live music in the time of Coronavirus (November 16, 2020)

• The Things We Carry on Munson’s COVID Ward (October 11, 2020)

• County’s digital divide hurts students’ ability to learn online during Coronavirus pandemic (September 14, 2020)

• COVID community outreach, teen-style (July 29, 2020)

• Raising the Flag on a quiet Fourth of July (July 2, 2020)

• Graduating from high school in the age of COVID (June 29, 2020)

• “When we’re in a crisis, we cook.” How Martha’s adapted to takeout (June 7, 2020)

• Four sheriffs, one state lawmaker, one April 15 protest in Lansing (June 2, 2020)

• Glen Lake EMTs adjust to emergencies during coronavirus (May 25, 2020)

• Masks, Gloves, Social Distancing: Spring in the Time of Coronavirus (May 23, 2020)

• Ready, set, reopen during a pandemic?: Leelanau businesses both embrace and brace for tourists (May 22, 2020)

• Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade, Dune Climb concert, Manitou Music concerts, Port Oneida Fair canceled (May 12, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us fed during the pandemic. Meet Suttons Bay Public Schools’ food service workers (May 10, 2020)

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is open. Just stay off trails, parking lots, picnic areas (May 2, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet the Glen Lake School food service staff (April 23, 2020)

• Will pandemic prompt guest worker shortage in Leelanau? (April 22, 2o20)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet the Grand Traverse Band Family Health Clinic staff (April 18, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet Kelly Kieft and Scott Mills (April 17, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet Suttons Bay’s Food Relief volunteers (April 16, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet Glen Lake firefighter Nathaniel Feldpausch (April 15, 2020)

• Borkovich, fellow county sheriffs defy Gov. Whitmer, claim they will selectively enforce State’s social distancing executive order (April 15, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet Michelle White (April 13, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet Little Traverse Inn’s Nicole Anderson (April 10, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet doctor Cyrus Ghaemi (April 10, 2020)

• Leelanau Essentials—the workers who keep us safe during the pandemic. Meet cashier Sarah Allis (April 6, 2020)

• Social distancing is working, Health Department of Northwest Michigan says (April 3, 2020)

• Sleeping Bear Dunes closes campgrounds, restrooms due to coronavirus (March 23, 2020)

• Leelanau’s first COVID-19 case released from hospital — coronavirus free (March 20, 2020)

• Love, and community solidarity, in the age of Coronavirus (March 19, 2020)

• Glen Lake School buses deliver meals to families in need, despite school closing (March 16, 2020)

• To slow coronavirus spread, Anderson’s offers free delivery, curbside pickup (March 15, 2020)