Editor's Note: WUNC.org generally does not publish op-eds or commentaries. We are making an exception in this case in the interest of public health.
When I announced North Carolina had its first known COVID case on March 3rd, most of us didn’t expect to be living like this in December. Instead of preparing for beloved holiday traditions, we’re making virtual gathering plans and mourning the loss of more than 290,000 Americans from COVID-19.