Masks, dating and bubbles: The people who never went back to ‘normal’ after lockdown
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January 20th marks the fifth anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States. Susan Scarbro stares down a bowling lane at the distant pins. She hears a sound that breaks her focus. Was that a cough? Will her mask protect her?. COVID-19 remains a very present threat for the 55-year-old. Scarbro has multiple immune disorders, making her vulnerable to infection.
![[Susan Scarbro bowls while wearing a mask in Little River, S.C. on Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/14/SEI236032092.jpg)
“Any minute anybody could cough, just incidentally,” said Scarbro, who lives in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. “And that cough could be the one thing that could make me sick.”. This month marks the fifth anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. The virus would go on to kill 1.2 million Americans and disrupt countless lives.
![[Bazia Zebrowski poses for a portrait outside her home Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Newbury, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/14/SEI236032094-%281%29.jpg)
While the pandemic’s emergency phase ended in May 2023, the threat of infection remains a governing force in the lives of people like Scarbro. They protect themselves from the virus with masks and isolate themselves in small family bubbles. Some grasp for unproven strategies — gargling with antiseptic mouthwash, carrying a personal carbon dioxide monitor to check the ventilation of indoor spaces.
![[Steve Alejandro works in his office near the room where his wife, Ashley, spends most of her time due to illness in the basement of their home Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Wentzville, Mo]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/14/SEI236032100.jpg)
In online support groups, they trade research about the danger of repeat infections and cognitive impairment. They miss the empathy they felt during the early days of the pandemic. Some have lost friendships, but they strive to maintain the social ties that are important to mental health.
![[Jacqueline and Alexa Child stand for a portrait in their neighborhood Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/14/SEI236032082.jpg)
