Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Mukherji, Wirths, Space, Assemblywoman Swain, Assemblyman Mejia, Assemblywoman DiMaso and Assemblyman Freiman
SYNOPSIS
Designates March 10 of each year as “COVID-19 Memorial Day.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating March 10 of each year as “COVID-19 Memorial Day” and as a State day of mourning for the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whereas, COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic, leading to an unprecedented public health crisis and immense loss of life throughout New Jersey and the world; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over half a million lives in the United States and over 2.5 million lives worldwide; and
Whereas, On March 10, 2020, State health officials announced the first coronavirus death in New Jersey; and
Whereas, In the following months, New Jersey became an early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, peaking at over 8,200 hospitalizations on April 14, 2020 and 458 reported COVID-19-related daily deaths on April 30, 2020; and
Whereas, Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has infected over 792,000 New Jersey residents and has claimed the lives of over 23,000 New Jersey residents; and
Whereas, Millions of New Jersey residents are mourning the loss of beloved family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors; and
Whereas, Frontline healthcare and essential workers selflessly continued to serve their communities throughout the pandemic, suffering tragic losses and hardships with many workers contracting COVID-19 and losing their lives to the virus; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed several systematic inequalities in our society and has disproportionally affected and claimed the lives of individuals in minority and vulnerable communities; and
Whereas, While the State’s vaccination campaigns aims to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and end this public health emergency, New Jersey has suffered heavy losses and it is proper and fitting that this State remembers and celebrates the lives that have been claimed by COVID-19 and honors all victims of the COVID-19 pandemic in a day of public mourning; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. March 10 of each year shall be designated as “COVID-19 Memorial Day” and as a day of public mourning in the State of New Jersey in honor of all the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to lower State flags to half-staff and to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates March 10 of each year as “COVID-19 Memorial Day” and as a day of public mourning in the State of New Jersey in honor of all the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The joint resolution respectfully requests the Governor to lower State flags to half-staff and to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.