How did the Covid pandemic change your life? KUOW wants to hear your story

This March marks the fifth anniversary of the Covid pandemic's arrival in Washington state.

As the coronavirus spread, the effects of the pandemic rippled through our region. Schools closed their doors. Bars and restaurants went silent. Businesses scrambled to keep workers safe, and in many cases allow employees to work remotely. While the state and the nation braced itself for the fallout, an outbreak ripped through Life Care, a long-term care facility in Kirkland, killing 35 people.

RELATED: The ominous days leading up to the coronavirus outbreak at Life Care Center in Kirkland

On March 23, former Gov. Jay Inslee issued a stay-at-home order that left millions of Washingtonians isolating at home for months. People got creative to stay connected, taking performances online and remaking community spaces however they could.

Five years after the pandemic's onset, KUOW is reflecting on the many changes it brought to work, to health care, to community connection, and to how we see ourselves as a region.

We want to hear from you: How did the Covid pandemic change your life? Send your answer to KUOW producer Clare McGrane at cmcgrane@kuow.org.