It will depend on who writes the history books there will be various versions. I think for most it will be remembered as a great pandemic significantly changing lives around the world. Possibly, it will be more about how healthy people changed their behaviors to avoid transmission, and how they hoarded food and paper goods rather than those who died. Spanish flu killed lots of young adults, plague killed everyone. This is killing mostly older adults.
I think the people who lose some lung capacity from the illness or who die will always be associated with the event. My grandmother died during the COVID19 pandemic, and everyone will know what that means.
I think history will remember all hospital patients with all illnesses were sick or died alone, because visitors couldn’t go in hospitals.
Maybe there will be a generation born starting 2021 known as Generation C. Especially, if there is another pandemic following this one where it is a normal state to fear or live with pandemic.
The Bible Belt will have books blaming China and the rest of the country will have history books blaming Trump and friends for their greed.
There will be sanitizing stations in more places around cities and towns. Just like paper and plastic covers for toilet seats became commonplace in public restrooms when HIV hit.
Hospitals having to choose who doesn’t receive medical health and watching those people die alone. Some health care workers developing PTSD.
It will be remembered as the death of the handshake (hopefully! That’s one silver lining to this horrible thing).
That people stayed in touch with social media.
I hope to God historians won’t have to be writing about pillaging and looting. There already has been some, but hopefully that won’t be widespread.
In America the election during this time will also go down in history.