SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – It was a fatal week in Georgia that saw more than 800 people die from the coronavirus nationwide.
On Tuesday, Savannah will join cities across the country to commemorate the victims of COVID-19.
“I’m just glad we’re doing this all over our city at once,” said Van Johnson, Savannah Mayor.
In the US, one person dies from COVID-19 every 30 seconds.
That is, by the time you finish reading this story about three mothers, fathers, sons, or daughters, they will be gone.
Officials around the world are warning that the number of victims is alarming.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has now claimed 2 million lives. There are names and faces behind this astonishing number,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations.
The global death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 2 million
Two hundred and sixty-three of those names and faces lived right here in Chatham County, and over 11,000 lived in Georgia.
On Friday, Georgia broke its own record with 159 deaths in a single day.
Mayor Johnson says he called some of these victims his friends.
“I’ve had family members both here in Georgia, in New York, and around the country who died of COVID-19,” said Johnson, “so COVID has always been very real to me.”
Back in September, volunteers planted 20,000 flags in the National Mall, one in ten American lives lost to the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, Savannah and thousands of other cities will remember the victims in their own way. To date, the virus has killed more than 400,000 Americans.
“Families have not had the opportunity to feel the support of grief from the community as we normally do through funerals and memorial services,” said Johnson, “homegoing and celebrations of life.”
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The mayor says that from 5:30 p.m. the town hall will glow red and ring bells to give relatives the opportunity to pause, remember and mourn.
The timing corresponds to one of the darkest periods of the pandemic to date.
“That makes us Savannah strong,” said Johnson.
A prayer vigil will also be held on Monday evening to honor those who lost their battle against COVID-19 in Savannah.
Fox & Weeks has partnered with the city for a virtual vigil starting at 7:00 p.m. Johnson will also attend this ceremony.
