County joins in national COVID memorial
MEDIA » Almost one year to the day after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 hit American shores, Delaware County Council joined municipalities across the country in observing a moment of silence for those lost to the deadly virus.
“Tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic has lead to the deaths of over 400,000 Americans and we have lost a total of 1,061 beloved Delaware County residents to the virus,” said council Chairman Brian Zidek. “We mourn the loss of each member of our community and we honor them here tonight.”
Church bells rang out as council members joined other government officials in bowed contemplation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the county courthouse steps, surrounded by candles and luminaries representing each county resident who has died from COVID-19.
Municipalities were invited to light up government buildings and churches were invited to ring their bells as a way to join in observing the somber occasion, which was broadcast live on the county’s website.
Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Frederic Hellman said the country is in the midst of an accelerating surge of coronavirus infections at a time when a new, more contagious variant of the virus has cropped up in the United States.
“The number of people thus far infected by the virus and the death toll to date is staggering,” he said. “Worldwide, 95.5 million people have been infected with over 2 million dead, with the U.S. disproportionately represented and leading the world with 24.7 million COVID-19 infections confirmed and 409,000 deaths.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned earlier this week that those figures could rise to 500,000 people dead nationally by mid-February.
In Pennsylvania, Hellman said 777,000 people have so far been infected and nearly 19,500 have died.
Hellman said the statistical numbers are one thing, but the human toll is something else altogether. He said the United States is, at the best of times, a “deathdenying” culture that has difficulty confronting the inevitability of mortality.
The pandemic, he said, has compelled isolation that fostered a new level of struggle to the vast numbers of people already impacted by the loss of a loved as the normal rituals of funerals and other mechanisms for coping with death are eliminated or postponed.
Hellman said the mental health issues associated with so much sudden death are profound, with as many as 3.5 million Americans
directly grieving the deaths of those lost to the virus to date and continuing collateral damage in the form of “prolonged grief disorder” expected to manifest in increased suicidal ideation, substance abuse and secondary health effects of undetected and untreated natural disease.
His office has already seen a 20% increase in caseloads separate and apart from COVID-19 deaths in the county, Hellman said, which mirrors similar trends in major population centers nationwide and speaks to that reality.
Among those who came through his office for examinations last week was John, an old college friend of Hellman’s who died of suicide. Hellman said he thought of John several months ago and meant to get back in touch, but never did.
“As I stand before you today, sharing in the grief and feelings of guilt that many are experiencing as a consequence of this COVID-19 pandemic, know that to grieve is to be alive, to experience loss is to know that you loved, and that we are collectively, as one, a community as we struggle through the horrifying toll brought by the coronavirus pandemic,” Hellman said.
Hellman said there is hope for the future with the use of vaccines and therapeutics, but many challenges remain through the remainder of the winter. He urged residents to remain vigilant with hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing.
Councilwoman Christine Reuther also reminded residents of an online memorial page created on the county website last spring, and invited those interested
in contributing a photo and tribute of a lost loved one to visit delcopa.gov and search for “memorial.”
Reuther said the county is planning a larger memorial to be held at Rose Tree Park once it is safe to gather publicly and indicated more information on that ceremony would be announced at a later date.
“In the midst of this deadly pandemic, where so many are grieving the loss of a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker, it is important that we pause and reflect, and remember each person we have lost,” said Zidek. “We hope this memorial will serve as a collective healing for our community. Tonight, we remember each precious life lost and we vow to unite as a community and to do everything we can to end this deadly pandemic.”