GREEN BAY, Wis. – March 18, 2025, marks five years since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Brown County. Just a month earlier, Wisconsin’s count was low, but it skyrocketed from 19 to over 900 in a short span, with 16 lives tragically lost.
The pandemic brought a wave of fear and uncertainty. We spoke with Dr. Ashok Rai, president and CEO of Prevea Health, about that challenging time.
Dr. Rai, like many healthcare professionals, felt the weight of fear. “We were all scared. Anyone who says they weren’t scared in health care isn’t telling you the truth,” he shared. He and his colleagues watched closely as COVID-19 spread in other countries, particularly Italy, where the situation grew dire despite extensive medical efforts.
Even amidst the fear, there were glimmers of hope. Community support poured in, with many wearing blue ribbons to honor healthcare workers. Dr. Rai emphasized the importance of education during the crisis: “One of our biggest roles is as educators. We had to separate fact from rumor to help keep people calm.”
According to the CDC, COVID-19 has claimed 18,610 lives in Wisconsin. The state still reports 10 to 30 deaths weekly, a stark contrast to the peak of 562 deaths in one week during November 2020.
As we reflect on the past, concerns linger about future pandemics. Dr. Rai believes history can repeat itself. “Viruses evolve. At some point, another virus will likely cause a pandemic,” he explained. Whether in the next 20 years or even 200, the potential is always there. Learning from this crisis is crucial for better preparedness.
One significant advancement from the pandemic has been the development of COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA technology. This innovation has sparked hope for vaccines against other diseases, potentially, even cancer.
As we navigate an uncertain future, remembering our experiences and lessons learned is vital. The fight against COVID-19 may have brought darkness, but it also illuminated the strength of community and the resilience of health care.
For further reading about the impact of the pandemic, check out the CDC’s current data on COVID-19 trends and statistics here.
Check out this related article: Top Strategies to Bridge the Innovation Gap in Women’s Health: Empowering Solutions for a Healthier Future
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