2 Years Of COVID-19 In Michigan: How Has Your Life Changed?

MICHIGAN — Two years of the coronavirus pandemic have brought face mask debates, school upheaval, businesses and workers struggling to survive, and more than 32,000 deaths in Michigan alone as of Monday. The second COVID-19 anniversary is nearly here.

Patch wants to know how our readers have coped during the pandemic. What have you mourned or celebrated, what financial impacts did you face, what kept you going?

We've created a survey asking how the pandemic has affected you, click here to fill out the survey. If you are willing to talk to an editor, you can share your contact information with Patch; it will be kept confidential.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

As Michigan reflects back on two years since the pandemic hit, here's a look at the timeline of COVID-19 in the state:

• March 10, 2020: First two COVID-19 cases confirmed in Michigan; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency.

• March 17, 2020: A Southgate man in his 50s became the first person to die of COVID-19 in the state.

• March 23, 2020: Whitmer issues stay-at-home order.

• April 2, 2020: Whitmer orders all K-12 schools closed.

• May 7, 2020: Stay-at-home order extended for the third time.

• May 21, 2020: Retail businesses can reopen amid partial reopening of Michigan.

• June 1, 2020: Stay-at-home order lifted.

• June 8, 2020: Bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen in Michigan.

• June 12, 2020: Stay-at-home order is lifted.

• Oct. 9, 2020: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issues COVID-19 emergency order.

• Nov. 15, 2020: Whitmer orders a three-week "pause," closing indoor dining, in-person school, casinos, movie theaters and more. This would later be extended.

• Dec. 15, 2020: First vaccines administered in Michigan.

• Dec. 18, 2020: Whitmer announces high schools can reopen, but restaurants remain closed.

• Jan. 8, 2021: Whitmer urges all K-12 schools to reopen for in-person learning.

• Jan. 22, 2021: Whitmer announces that restaurants can re-open starting Feb. 1.

• March 2, 2021: Restrictions loosened for retail stores, gyms, entertainment venues, restaurants and bars.

• April 29, 2021: Michigan announces re-opening plan.

• May 4, 2021: Michigan eases face mask requirements.

• June 1, 2021: Crowd size limits for outdoor events and 11 p.m. restaurant/bar curfew lifted.

• June 17, 2021: Whitmer announces she will end most remaining COVID-19 restrictions in Michigan, including the mask mandate.

• July 15, 2021: Michigan Senate repeals emergency powers law, which Whitmer can't veto.

• July 21, 2021: Michigan House repeals emergency powers law Gov. Whitmer used to fight pandemic.

• Sept. 9, 2021: State health officials launched online access to immunization records for Michiganders ages 18 and older.

• Oct. 13, 2021: Michigan reopened the border to vaccinated Canadians after 18 months.

• Nov. 15, 2021: Michigan surpassed 70 percent vaccinated milestone for ages 16 and older.

• Nov. 26, 2021: Federal officials sent doctors and nurses to Michigan as COVID-19 cases rose.

• Dec. 8, 2021: Michigan hit an all-time high in COVID-19 related hospitalizations.

• Dec. 29, 2021: Michigan set its new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases at 25,858.

• Jan. 2, 2022: More people died of COVID-19 in Michigan in December than any month of 2021.

• Jan. 27, 2022: Omicron variant peaks in Michigan, cases and hospitalizations begin declining.

• Feb. 16, 2022: State health officials relaxed their recommendations on wearing face masks in indoor public settings, including in schools.

This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch