(TNS) - The COVID-19 pandemic has largely been a story of numbers.

Daily reports tell us the number of new cases, the number of hospitalizations, the number of outbreaks and the number of deaths.

The numbers are a dispassionate, point-in-time measure necessary to track the footprint of the deadly coronavirus as it continues its advance into homes, businesses, churches, even hospitals.

But they can't quantify the sense of loss that has pervaded life since the pandemic began six months ago — the loss of intimacy, tradition, confidence, and economic well-being.

Today, the nation is expected to record its 200,000th death from COVID-19. As of Monday, 760 of these people died in San Diego County. As the nation marks this milestone, we spoke to several county residents on how the pandemic has changed their lives.

Priest's faith a solace when he lost a friend A Catholic priest whose role it is to provide comfort to the mourning, the Rev. Edmundo Zárate has faced a painful, frustrating challenge during the COVID-19 era.

Read more