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A statue of Abraham Lincoln wearing a knitted mask

COVID - 5 Years Later

A WGLT series reflecting on how the pandemic impacted McLean County, then and now. Series debuted the week of March 17, 2025.

Photos: When COVID arrived in McLean County five years ago

WGLT | By Emily Bollinger,

Ryan Denham

Published March 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM CDT

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Even outdoor playgrounds were closed in the early days of COVID-19.

Staff / WGLT

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A socially distanced, mask-wearing commencement ceremony at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Bloomington-Normal's arts community was largely shuttered in the first months of COVID-19, including the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Staff / WGLT

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A "Heroes Work Here" sign outside what was then Advocate BroMenn Medical Center (now Carle BroMenn) in Normal in spring 2020.

Staff / WGLT

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A COVID-19 testing facility at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, run by the Illinois National Guard and later Reditus Labs.

Staff / WGLT

6 of 26 — A temporary COVID-19 testing facility set up near Watterson Towers

A temporary COVID-19 testing facility set up near Watterson Towers at Illinois State University in Normal.

Ryan Denham / WGLT

7 of 26 — pastor Trey Haddon delivered an Easter sermon from a parking garage

Second Presbyterian Church pastor Trey Haddon delivered an Easter sermon from a parking garage at State Farm Corporate South in April 2020.

Eric Stock / WGLT

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Demonstrators hold a vigil outside Bloomington Rehab long-term care facility in June 2020. At that point, nine residents and one employee at Bloomington Rehab had died after contracting the coronavirus.

Ryan Denham / WGLT

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Many Bloomington-Normal businesses had signs like this up in the early days of COVID-19.

Staff / WGLT

10 of 26 — A pharmacy store shelf in Uptown Normal

A pharmacy store shelf in Uptown Normal, showing a shortage of alcohol gel hand sanitizer, in March 2020.

Mike McCurdy / WGLT

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McLean County schools shifted abruptly to e-learning in the early days of COVID-19.

Staff / WGLT

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Picnic tables were set up around Uptown Normal to give people a place to eat outdoors.

Staff / WGLT

13 of 26 — The Abraham Lincoln statue in Downtown Bloomington, wearing a knitted mask.

The Abraham Lincoln statue in Downtown Bloomington, wearing a knitted mask.

Charlie Schlenker / WGLT

14 of 26 — A kid gets the COVID vaccine

A children's COVID-19 vaccination event at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Even toilet paper was in short supply in the early months of the pandemic. Here's a Target store shelf in November 2020.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

16 of 26 — A man gets a COVID vaccine

A COVID-19 vaccination event at Illinois State University in 2021.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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A COVID vaccination event at Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

18 of 26 — A person gets the COVID vaccine in an arena

A COVID vaccination event at Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

19 of 26 — A person gets the COVID vaccine in an arena

A COVID vaccination event at Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Then-Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer talks to the McLean County Board during a virtual meeting and swearing-in in December 2020.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Members of the District 87 school board fist-bump attendees at a board meeting in June 2021. School board meetings across the country became contentious over issues of remote learning and mask-wearing, among other issues.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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A COVID vaccination event at Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Fans wear masks at an Illinois State University football spring game in 2021.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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A District 87 school board meeting in June 2021. School board meetings across the country became contentious over issues of remote learning and mask-wearing, among other issues.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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A COVID-19 vaccination event at Illinois State University in 2021.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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A COVID-19 vaccination event at Illinois State University in 2021.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

Five years ago this month, COVID-19 arrived in McLean County and around the country.

Hospitals got ready. Stores, schools and even playgrounds were closed. Many employers told their workers to stay home. It was a surreal time.

Take a look back at some of WGLT's most striking images from the early days of COVID in the photo gallery above.