I had covid twice before vaccines were available and it was generally mild... I continued working - from home - and even was able to workout most of the time, though I definitely had some trouble catching my breath.

Just because your family and I had no trouble from covid doesn't dismiss the huge numbers of people that did, and it's that massive impact world-wide that qualified it as a health emergency. My daughter worked in ICUs around the country during covid. She shared the awful despair she saw daily. Places were overwhelmed and PPE, staff, bed and equipment shortages made the suffering worse, as did coworkers and colleagues getting sick and turning into patients. Yeah... my experience was mild and it was for many, but that doesn't change the fact that millions died world-wide.