in april, 2020, we learned that a 57-year-old san jose mother, patricia dowd, who died february 6th, the first victim of the coronavirus in the united states. >> she was my best friend. we did a lot of things together. like i went to her for everything, just like all my problems, if i needed a hug, she gave the best hugs. >> reporter: between then and now, more than 55,000 californians died of covid-19. 3.6 million were infected. we lived under strict restrictions that tested small businesses, cost our kids almost a whole year of school and kept us from celebrating holidays with family and friends. with growing supply of three covid vaccines, there's light at the end of the tunnel. and one thing remains as true today as it was a year ago. >> we're really truly in this together. >> reporter: kris sanchez, "nbc bay area news." >> isn't that true. a live look at los angeles this morning, where there's finally some relief for some indoor businesses this morning. l.a. county waking up in the red tier after administering 2 million doses of the covid-19 vaccine to low income communities. a

patricia dowd who died on february 6th was the first victim of the coronavirus in the united states. >> she was my best friend. we did a lot of things together. like i went to her for everything just like all my problems, if i needed a hug. she gave the best hugs. >> reporter: between then and now more than 55,000 californians died of covid-19. 3.6 million were infected. we lived unstrict restrictions that tested small businesses, cost our kids almost a whole year of school and kept us from celebrating holidays with family and friends, but now with of th vaccines there's light at the end of the tunnel, and one thing remains as true today as it was a year ago. >> we're really truly in this together. >> reporter: chris sanchez, nbc bay area news. >> and that we are. we'll switch it now to your forecast. look, the weekend was wet out there, but we're starting to dry out. take a live look at the golden gate bridge. beautiful sunshine in the city and we're still watching for more rain later this week. let's bring in meteorologist kari hall with a look at what we can expect. >> hey, we're

what we later learned as the virus began its run across the nation, on february 6 of last year, patricia dowdfirst confirmed person in the u.s. to die of the virus. >> this can't be happening to my family. >> reporter: in early march 2020, a symbol of the nation's growing fear as the grand princess cruise ship pulled into the port of oakland carrying 2100 people infected with this virus, covid-19. >> a secure area is being set up to process them. >> reporter: then on march 16 came the unthinkable. >> about an hour from now, a shelter in place order will go into effect. >> reporter: six bay area counties announced a shelter in place area barring anyone to leave their homes except for groceries. restaurants closed, offices and streets empty. many cherished businesses shut their doors, some for the last time. >> i think it's terrible. i've been coming here for years. >> reporter: we waited in long lines at grocery stores only to find the shelves bare. >> a lot of empty shelves, more than we've been seeing. >> reporter: in this strange new world, grocery clerks became front line workers, nurses b