Legisislation moves forward to mark COVID-19 Remembrance Day in Massachusetts

A new piece of legislation is looking to mark the pandemic in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts so that those who were impacted and also lost their lives will not be forgotten.

The petition, filed by Representatives Natalie Blais of Sunderland and Mindy Domb of Amherst, would establish an annual COVID-19 remembrance day.

According to the resolution, “the governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the first Monday in March as COVID-19 Remembrance Day, in recognition of those who died from 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, the suffering of those who contracted COVID-19 and survived but carry with them the long-term health implications of the virus, and to acknowledge the frontline and essential workers who provided services to our communities and the selfless actions of the many residents of the commonwealth who volunteered to support their neighbors and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recommending the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people of the commonwealth.”

The petition also states that “by the end of August 2021, there had been nearly 711,400 known cases of the virus in the commonwealth and over 17,850 people had tragically lost their lives. There had been more than 39.5 million known cases of the virus in the United States and more than 642,000 people tragically lost their lives.”

The resolution goes on to state that “COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and communities of color, with high rates of infection and death, exacerbating inequities already prevalent in our systems that must be addressed throughout the commonwealth and the United States. Public servants, frontline and essential workers and health care professionals took selfless actions to protect their neighbors and communities, support struggling economies and find innovative ways to provide services.”

The legislation was sent today to the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee.