When the earth stood still: A look at Ontarios 1st COVID-19 shutdowns [Video]

It’s been five years since the first COVID-19 lockdowns began in Ontario.

In the days leading up to March 17, 2020 — Ontario officially declared a state of emergency — businesses and governments were already issuing orders before formal lockdowns were introduced.

These measures were put into place to limit the virus’ spread, and were gradually lifted and sometimes reintroduced in the months that followed.

Here is what the province looked like during those days.

On Jan. 25, 2020, the first presumptive case of COVID-19 was reported in Ontario (and Canada) when a man in his 50s, who came from Wuhan, China, felt minor symptoms. He called 911 and was placed in isolation at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.

His wife became the second case and began self-isolating the following day. The man’s illness is officially confirmed two days later.

Then, over the next few weeks, more cases popped up, and on March 11, 2020, a 77-year-old Barrie man …