Hope for a Healthy 2022: Residents Wanting To See COVID-19 Disappear in the Coming Year
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WHEELING -- For COVID to disappear was among the top wishes for 2022 from people working and shopping in the Center Wheeling area this week.
Anthony Wells of Wheeling, who has worked at the Centre Market houses for about 18 years, said he is wishing for a happy 2022 for everyone.
"I hope the new year brings in much happiness and no drama. I want it to get to where everybody is safe," Wells said, referring to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "I hope we have a better year than 2020 and 2021 was."
The pandemic has been at the forefront of many people's minds since the first case was found in West Virginia in March of 2020. It has significantly affected their lives.
Masks became a mandate in several places. Stores and restaurants closed, then reopened to limited capacity before returning to normal levels. Now, with the more-contagious omicron variant emerging, new cases have begun to rise again, along with hospitalizations.
Wheeling resident Rose Linaweaver said she is hoping for a 2022 filled with "peace and happiness." She was eating lunch with her 8-year-old grandson Cameron Linaweaver-Walters.
"And that COVID goes away and cancer," she said, adding her husband passed away in December and she is battling cancer.
Alan Baker of Wheeling is hoping for better days related to his construction business as it has been impacted by supply chain issues this year.
"I hope COVID goes away and the supply chain issues are fixed," Baker said, noting it had been difficult procuring all types of construction materials.
Wheeling resident Randy Petri said he also hopes COVID will subside in 2022.
Dave Winters of Wheeling also wishes for COVID to go away for the new year.
"I'd like to get rid of COVID and inflation. It's gone up since Joe Biden has been in office," Winters said of the president.
Winters said 2021 taught him how quickly the economy can change related to inflation.
"I learned about how bad it can get and how fast. It was bad in the '80s, but I never knew it could jump this quick," he said.