A year after the first coronavirus-related death, New York City hosted a virtual commemorative event on Sunday March 14 in honor of the 30,000 New Yorkers who have succumbed to the virus.
An online platform has also been opened in their memory.
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“
Today we confirm our first death from serious complications from COVID-19.
The patient, an 82-year-old female with advanced emphysema (a disease of the pulmonary alveoli), was admitted to hospital last week as one of our first cases, and has since been in critical condition. .
", Announced Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, in a tweet on March 14, 2020.
One year to the day after this announcement, the news site The City announced that it had created a website to commemorate the dead in New York City.
He called on its residents to share their memories on social media using the hashtag #COVIDMemorial.
The city's official accounts and the platform were thus able to highlight 2061 of the 30,116 New York victims of the epidemic.
“
We have a long way to go to remember all of them.
The names and photos you see here represent only a small portion of the New Yorkers who have died.
The obituaries are lacking in names and stories, especially among members of the city's black and Latino communities, who have been disproportionately affected.
», Can we read on the platform.
“
We need your help to tell the story of every New Yorker whose lives have been cut short by the coronavirus.
», Is it written a little further down on the site.
Thus, the platform made available contact details to call, send a message or send an email in order to complete the memorial of the city of New York.
This platform follows the commemoration of the city for the one year of its first victim of covid-19.
“
Tonight, we honor the lives lost due to this horrific pandemic and we unite as a city to mourn, heal and look to a better future
,” said Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, in his tribute speech last night.
“
Voices from across the city will unite to stand together and demonstrate that we remain strong, hopeful and determined.
», He continued.
The commemoration brought together musical performances by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship choir.
Bill de Blasio announced Monday that New York City will develop a plan to create a permanent memorial to commemorate the victims of the epidemic.
We will create "
a place where people can gather and remember their loved ones,
" he said.
The United States is the most bereaved country in the world with 547,000 dead.
It has registered no less than 36,000 new cases in the past twenty-four hours.
