There are words to describe 2020 that you probably donât want to hear again: unprecedented, trying, difficult (as, âin these unprecedented, trying, and difficult timesâ¦â). How about âpandemic,â "mandate," and âsocial distancingâ -- a particularly irksome oxymoron, as one canât be physically social and distant at once. But itâs true that the year was all of those things. Itâs impossible to look back over the year without finding COVID-19's trespass everywhere. This is an astonishing look back at how the virus invaded our community, our news feeds, our relationships, our habits, and our lives. March 2020 The first time the coronavirus was mentioned in NorthcentralPa.com's local coverage was on March 9. Officials weigh in on preparedness in region for potential COVID-19 indicated that local public officials were mobilizing resources in preparation.