NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

Tuesday marked five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. In a quick succession of events, schools and businesses shut down, lockdowns were put in place, travel was halted and hospitals were over capacity. Globally, COVID has killed more than 7 million people, including more than 1.2 million Americans. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Ashish Jha.

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Key terms

long COVID — a group of health problems persisting or forming after an initial period of COVID-19 infection. Symptoms are often debilitating and can last weeks, months or years

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. How many Americans have died from COVID-19 in 2025 so far?
2. Who is largely being affected by COVID-19?
3. What progress has been made on Long COVID?
4. What does Dr. Ashish Jha believe the U.S. did well during their COVID-19 response?
5. Why is Dr. Jha worried about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. serving as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Dr. Ashish Jha explains that the COVID-19 vaccine mandates have had positive and negative long-term effects, with the main concern being Americans' distrust in public health and the media.

Why do you think mandatory vaccines became such a divisive social issue at the height of the pandemic? Do you think people are more or less willing to receive vaccines now if faced with another health crisis? Explain.

Media literacy: Who else would you like to see interviewed to learn more about the social impact of pandemics?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Read this article to learn more about what we know and still don't know about COVID-19, five years later.

Watch the video below to learn more about why research for long COVID has been delayed.

Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio.

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