As the end of the year approaches, news articles have been taking stock of what happened in the past year. Unfortunately, permeating through most of the major events of 2021 is one common theme — COVID-19.

In the economic news, COVID has impacted workplaces, employees and business operations alike.

In the world of sports, COVID shortened seasons, forced players out of games for a couple of weeks at a time and has even kept the NHL from allowing its players to compete in the Winter Olympics. In the Summer Olympics, it forced a year’s postponement and forced athletes to compete in front of largely empty stands.

Public institutions, from schools to medical centers to churches, have all been affected by COVID.

Families have been kept apart far longer than they wanted. Weddings have been postponed and those that have been held often take on the look of a medical center.

As we head into 2022, we expect the battle against COVID will continue to seep throughout our lives. We hope the tide will turn soon, and come this time next year we can all celebrate the new year with the end of the old disease.