John Donohue, a Stanford University law professor who studies gun violence, said periods of stress were associated with more shootings. He predicted "some restoration of normality" as the pandemic recedes.

However, for some, returning to normal is not good enough, and they see the pandemic as an opportunity for a reset.

Elaine Peng, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities in the Bay Area, said: "The pandemic shines a spotlight on racism, inequality and other long-overlooked problems. It could be used as a catalyst to seek new pathways to address these problems."

She said she has seen heightened public awareness of racism, and increased willingness to talk about mental illness, instead of treating it as taboo. "We shouldn't forget this when things get back to normal," Peng added.