Retired physician, Dr. Frank Brown, vaccinates Concordia Haven resident Mike Suhan, 80, originally from Cabot in February 2021. Saxonburg Drug distributed the Moderna vaccine to 60 residents of the Concordia Haven apartments.

Following coronavirus developments through 2021 was like riding a roller coaster.

Maybe it wasn't the highest or fastest in the amusement park — that honor belongs to 2020 — but it was possibly the one with the most twists and turns.

This year began with cautious optimism after December 2020 saw the release of a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Feb. 4, when vaccine providers worked as quickly as possible to administer second doses, five Butler County residents were reported by the state Department of Health to have died from COVID-19 the previous day.

On March 14, members of the first family in Butler to get a confirmed case of COVID-19 in 2020 recalled their early struggle with the virus with the Eagle.

Al and Rita Lane were quick to recognize they were infected, but didn't realize they would be the first in Butler County.

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