COVID Lockdown Memories Go Viral: 'Six Years Ago This Week'

"Six Years Ago This Week" — Reddit's Collective Memory Flood

A single question on r/AskReddit has unleashed a tidal wave of nostalgia, disbelief, and reflection. The prompt was simple: what were you doing when COVID lockdowns started six years ago this week? Tens of thousands of comments poured in, and the thread quickly became one of the most engaged posts on the platform.

The Empty Shelves Everyone Remembers

The most universally shared memory is the sight of barren store shelves.

Toilet paper hoarding: Countless users recall lining up before stores opened just to secure a single pack
Hand sanitizer vanishing overnight: It became nearly impossible to find anywhere
The great flour and yeast shortage: As everyone started baking at home, supplies evaporated
Masks as luxury items: Before mass production caught up, even basic surgical masks were scarce

"We Thought It Would Last a Few Weeks"

The most common emotional thread running through the comments is naive optimism.

"I genuinely thought we'd be back to normal in two weeks"
"I figured it was just an extended spring break"
"I remember telling my coworkers 'see you in April'"

The contrast between that early optimism and the years-long reality that followed gives many of these comments a bittersweet edge that clearly resonates with readers.

Apocalyptic Grocery Store Vibes

Multiple users painted vivid pictures of what grocery shopping felt like in those early days.

People shopping in gloves and makeshift masks
Store employees wiping down carts at the entrance
One-way arrows taped to every aisle
Plexiglass barriers hastily installed at checkout counters

The Dawn of Remote Work

For millions of office workers, March 2020 marked the abrupt beginning of working from home.

"I didn't even know what Zoom was, and suddenly I was in five Zoom meetings a day"
"The first week felt like freedom. By week three I was losing my mind"
Parents juggling kids' online classes and work calls simultaneously became a shared form of chaos

What People Feel Six Years Later

The emotional range in the comments is wide.

Disbelief: Many can't believe six full years have passed
Gratitude: Some express a deeper appreciation for ordinary daily life
Lingering effects: Others admit they still feel anxious in crowded spaces
Life-changing pivots: For some, the shift to remote work permanently altered their careers and lifestyles

Why This Thread Hit So Hard

COVID lockdowns were one of the rare events experienced simultaneously across the entire world. Regardless of country or culture, the shared memories of empty shelves and misplaced optimism are universal. That universality is exactly why this AskReddit thread became such a massive collective reflection. Six years on, the memories remain remarkably vivid.