SR0828 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0828 LRB102 26133 ECR 35671 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), better known as COVID-19, was first detected in Illinois in January of 2020, and the first COVID-19 related death in Illinois occurred on March 16, 2020; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health has reported nearly 2.8 million cases across all counties and almost 30,000 COVID-related deaths; more Illinoisans have died of COVID-19 than died serving in World War I, World War II, and the war in Vietnam combined; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of those who have survived COVID-19 are still struggling with myriad symptoms of Long COVID-19; this range of symptoms can last weeks or months after someone is first infected or can appear weeks after infection; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 has had costly and disruptive impacts on Illinois residents and their families, businesses, institutions, and local and state governments; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' network of public health professionals, hospitals, and health care systems have battled relentlessly to prevent and treat COVID-19 and prevent related deaths; and

WHEREAS, It is customary in Illinois to remember and honor those who have served the people of Illinois in protecting the public health and to remember lives lost due to public health tragedies such as COVID-19; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 16, 2022 to be a day of remembrance in honor of those who have been lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and in recognition of the frontline workers who have sacrificed by tirelessly laboring to protect the health of Illinoisans.