The Day Everything Changed: Fauci, Collins Reflect On 1 Year Of The Pandemic

March 11 will mark one year since the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic — when schools, businesses and workplaces began shutting down.

To mark the moment, two of the nation's top public health officials who have helped lead the U.S. response to the pandemic — Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins — spoke to NPR about what they've learned, what they regret and why they're hopeful about the year ahead. Hear their full interview with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

Collins is the Director of the National Institutes of Health and Fauci is the chief medical adviser to President Biden.

And NPR's Brianna Scott reports on how some Americans remember March 11.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This episode was produced by Lee Hale, Brent Baughman and Brianna Scott. It was edited by Sami Yenigun with help from Wynne Davis. Our executive producer is Cara Tallo.