Beginning in March 2020, trial courts nationwide were impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns and scheduling delays which continue to affect the pace of civil litigation in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. Recognizing a "virtual shutdown of the court system," one commentator observed "civil trials have been suspended, court appearances are not taking place.  In essence, cases have been left in limbo." See Kaplan, "Thoughts on ADR in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Neutral's Perspective," National Arbitration and Mediation, https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/thoughts-on-adr-in-the face of-the-pandemic 90464 (April 21, 2020).