Six Years Later: COVID-19 still here, but far less severe

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, Fla (WINK) — Six years after COVID-19 first upended daily life, the virus is no longer overwhelming hospitals or shutting down communities.

“For people who have compromised immune systems like myself… there’s just no way,” said Andrea Berg, a severe asthmatic.

Berg says early in the pandemic, getting COVID-19 could have been deadly for her.

“Had I been one of those initially who acquired it… I wouldn’t have made it,” she said.

Today, the landscape looks much different.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have dropped significantly compared to the peak years of 2020 through 2022.

Health experts say the virus is still circulating — but it’s no longer having the same widespread impact.

“It’s a very different animal… it’s treated very differently… much like a flu protocol,” said Trey Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Healthcare Network.

Hospitals and clinics are no longer operating under emergency protocols. Mask mandates and strict screening measures have largely disappeared.

“We’re not blocking our front doors… we’re not requiring masking… it’s taken a very strong step back from where we started,” Fletcher said.

That shift is reflected in the numbers.

According to the Florida Department of Health, as of March 19, 2026, Charlotte County has reported just over 200 cases this year, while Collier County has seen 257 cases and Lee County 946.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should continue to practice good hygiene, take steps for clean air, and stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Still a risk for some

Even with those improvements, COVID-19 can still be dangerous — especially for people with underlying conditions.

In March 2024, Berg was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 along with influenza and pneumonia.

“I was in septic shock… my body was shutting down… it was scary,” she said.

She spent about a week in the hospital.

Berg says her experience highlights how the virus can still become serious when combined with other illnesses.

Why outcomes have improved

Experts say advancements in treatment and vaccines have made a major difference.

“Times have changed dramatically… there’s medications and people who know how to treat people with COVID,” Berg said.

She now feels more secure than she did at the start of the pandemic.

“COVID alone now… with a vaccine… I think I’m okay,” she said.

Fletcher says vaccines remain an important tool in preventing severe illness.

“The CDC does recommend COVID vaccination… but talk to your doctor… they’re the one who knows your health history,” he said.

Vaccines and boosters are still available across Southwest Florida, typically through primary care providers and pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS and Publix.

COVID-19 isn't gone

While many people have moved on, health experts stress the virus hasn’t disappeared.

“It’s not gone… people are still getting COVID-19… we’re just very fortunate that it’s not having the impact that it originally had,” Fletcher said.

Today, COVID-19 is often treated similarly to seasonal illnesses like the flu — but doctors say that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

Six years after the pandemic began, the fear and uncertainty that once defined COVID-19 have largely faded.

But for people like Berg, the experience is a reminder of how dangerous the virus can still be.

“I’m really glad that we have the resources today to save lives,” she said.

Six years after COVID-19 changed life across Southwest Florida, the number of cases is staggering, but for many families, the memories are even more powerful.