[Archived] Alexandria City Council Honors Lives Lost to COVID-19

­­For Immediate Release: April 6, 2021

On April 6, the Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted a resolution honoring the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution also marks one year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic; acknowledges the resulting difficulty and hardships; and reaffirms the City’s commitment to ensuring the safety, health and well-being of Alexandria’s residents, visitors and workers.

"As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we mourn this tragic loss of life, and reflect on and share the sorrow of those who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “By continuing to practice and reinforce preventive measures and increasing vaccine access for vulnerable residents and essential workers, we have the tools needed to help prevent further loss.”

City Council’s resolution supports efforts to commemorate the 129 residents who lost their lives, including the establishment of a temporary memorial at Rivergate Park on the Potomac (2 Montgomery St.). The memorial, which is being supported by community organizations and private donors, will be composed of small white flags representing each Alexandria resident who has died as a result of COVID-19. The memorial will be displayed from April 16 through June 21. Visitors to the memorial are reminded to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from members of different households, wear masks and limit outdoor gatherings to fewer than 100 people.

City Council’s resolution also affirms Alexandria’s commitment to provide resources for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and vaccination for residents, essential workers and employees. The resolution also underscores, in light of the ALL Alexandria Resolution, the City’s commitment to addressing health inequities and providing critical information and support to groups in the community who are disproportionately affected by the virus.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus for more information about the impact of COVID-19 on Alexandria, the City’s pandemic response and ways to prevent the spread of the virus.

For inquiries by the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.