As Survivors Mourn the 500,000 Lives Taken by COVID-19, They Honor The More than 27 Million Americans Who Have Contracted the Devastating Virus

NEW YORK – Less than a month after passing the 400,000 death marker, our nation will soon hit yet another grim milestone of 500,000 American deaths from COVID-19. In response to this tragedy, members of the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements.

“It’s devastating to pass 500,000 deaths while so many Americans still refuse to follow even the most basic of precautions,” said Caitlin Mariani, a member of COVID Survivors for Change in Washington, whose husband, Simon, was killed by COVID-19 in January, leaving her as the sole provider for their children. “We need Congress to pass Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan immediately and do everything else in its power to finally put an end to this national crisis. Half a million people have needlessly died because of the prior administration’s failure.” 

“The aftershocks from this devastating virus and our country’s failure to stop it will undoubtedly be felt for years to come,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “The swift actions already taken by the Biden administration to address the catastrophic economic and health impacts from COVID-19 are a sign that our demands are finally being heard, but there’s still so much more to be done to support COVID survivors. We need to continue to implement a national plan to end the pandemic, and we need to do more to honor the 500,000 lives taken by it, too. To make sure this never happens again, we must memorialize this trauma, and create a plan to honor the many lives forever taken and changed by the pandemic.”        

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have experienced a loved one taken by COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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As Survivors Mourn the 400,000 Lives Taken by COVID-19, They Honor The More than 23 Million Americans Who Have Contracted the Devastating Virus

Members of COVID Survivors for Change Will Honor those Impacted by COVID-19 by Tuning into National Memorial Events this Evening, Online and Locally in Texas and New Jersey 

NEW YORK – As the nation appears set to hit the grim milestone of 400,000 Americans dead from COVID-19 the same day as a national memorial to honor COVID-19 victims and survivors, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements.

“My heart breaks for everyone who now knows the weight of saying goodbye to someone who meant the world to you over Zoom,” said Rosie Davis, a member of COVID Survivors for Change who recently hosted the Yellowing Heart Memorial in Irving, Texas who is planning an art installation in Austin today to honor COVID victims. “Tonight, we’ll join Biden’s inauguration committee to honor the lives taken by COVID-19 while resident Trump refused to even wear a mask. I pray that new leadership in Washington will help us finally end this devastating crisis.” 

“I know it’s tiring to still follow COVID-19 precautions after almost a year of this virus, but the frustration Americans may feel at social distancing is so small compared to the heartbreak I feel every day without my dad,” said Sabila Khan, a member of COVID Survivors for Change and co-founder of COVID-19 Loss Support for Family & Friends, who is hosting a COVID memorial today in Jersey City at 5:30 pm ET.  “Today, we’ll honor my father along with the other lives taken and forever changed by COVID-19. With a vaccine so close now, my message to Americans is to keep following CDC protocols and do what it takes to keep your families safe. I know it’s hard not to see each other, but it’s far more difficult to know that you’ll never hear your dad’s laugh again – and that’s a reality that the families of the 400,000 killed know all too well.”

“For so many families, life will never go back to normal after COVID-19,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “The families of the 400,000 killed, as well as the millions who’ve survived this virus with lasting symptoms, deserve the nation’s empathy and support. We applaud Biden’s inaugural committee for remembering COVID-19 survivors as part of the inaugural events, and we look forward to working with Congress and the new administration on a national strategy to end this nightmare and provide survivors with the support they need moving forward.” 

About COVID Survivors for Change
COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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As Survivors Mourn the Nearly 300,000 Killed, They Also Honor the Nearly 16 Million Americans Who Have Contracted the Virus

On Wednesday, Georgia Members of COVID Survivors for Change Will Place 1,000 Empty Chairs in Front of State Capitol to Demand Change

NEW YORK – As the nation nears the grim milestone of 300,000 Americans dead from COVID-19, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements.

“It’s like reliving my father’s death all over again every time I hear that someone else has died from COVID-19,” said Carol Lewis, a COVID Survivors for Change member in Georgia whose father died of COVID-19 at age 86. “My father embodied Christmas cheer in our family and to live through our first holiday season without him is a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone. In honor of him and the 300,000 others killed by this pandemic, I am begging people to please be responsible for a few more months. The holiday gatherings you’re missing aren’t worth the risk.” 

“It’s both traumatizing and heartbreaking to survive something like COVID-19, and then watch so many others still not taking it seriously,” said Perry Wheeler, a COVID Survivors for Change member from Baltimore, Maryland who contracted COVID-19 in September and is still struggling with long hauler symptoms. “I’ve stopped testing positive for COVID-19, but I still feel the virus in every shallow breath I take, and every time my racing heartbeat wakes me up at night. I’m angry that so many of us have experienced this terrifying virus firsthand, and heartbroken that so many of our nation’s leaders still choose to ignore this crisis.” 

“This grave and horrifying milestone shows just how far some lawmakers are willing to go to ignore this pandemic,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “With a new administration around the corner, we’re hopeful that state leaders will follow the lead of the Biden-Harris team and encourage common sense. We owe it to the 300,000 people already taken by the pandemic to do all that we can to finally stop this crisis once and for all.”   

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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More Than 11 Million Americans Have Been Diagnosed with COVID-19, Including One Million in the Past Week Alone

Just Days Before Thanksgiving, Families Mourning the Loss of a Loved One Remark on the #EmptyChair at Their Table  

NEW YORK – In response to news that 250,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements:

“In April, I lost my father to COVID-19,” said Carol Lewis, a COVID Survivors for Change member in Conyers, Georgia whose father, a veteran of the Korean War, died of COVID-19 at age 86. “Months later, it breaks my heart that so many families are still being traumatized by the pandemic. While my heart will break to stare at dad’s #emptychair at our Thanksgiving table, I’m hopeful that Georgians will honor his life and the countless number of lives lost to the virus in Georgia by electing leaders that care about the health of our communities during the runoff election in January.”

“For our family, the holidays will be one more reminder of the #emptychair at our table because of COVID-19,” said Amber Carter, a COVID Survivors for Change member from Lawton, Oklahoma whose 13-year-old daughter, Anna, died from COVID-19. “I’m devastated that we’ve hit this terrible milestone. The 250,000 Americans killed are more than a number – they’re our parents, spouses, siblings and children. I wouldn’t wish my pain on anyone.” 

“This devastating virus has left an unimaginable mark on millions of families across the nation,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “With the promise of a vaccine on the horizon, we’re getting so much closer to a world in which we can hug our loved ones again without fear.  But first, our loved ones must survive this winter. In honor of every family impacted by COVID-19, we urge Americans to be responsible and cautious this holiday season. So much of this heartbreak is preventable.”  

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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384 Chairs Were Displayed at the State House to Honor the More than 3,840 Lives Taken by COVID-19 in South Carolina

Survivors Held Senator Lindsay Graham Accountable for His Role in Failing to Stop the Pandemic and Pushing Through the Nomination of a Supreme Court Justice Likely to Take Away Healthcare Coverage from COVID Survivors

COLUMBIA, S.C. – This morning, South Carolina members of COVID Survivors for Change, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, together with partners including End Coronavirus SC, National Action Network, Empower SC, and Building Better Communities, joined local faith leaders to honor the more than 3,840 lives taken by COVID-19 in South Carolina. Together, they held elected officials accountable, particularly calling out Sen. Graham for his role in continuing the pandemic and forcing the nomination of a Supreme Court justice likely to strip healthcare away from COVID-19 survivors.
384 empty chairs were spread in front of the statehouse, representing the more than 3,840 lives taken by the pandemic in South Carolina and highlighting the pandemic’s devastating reach in the Palmetto State. Photos from the event are available here. For the safety of all participants, the audience watched the event online at www.facebook.com/covidsurvivorsforchange. 

“When my husband was fighting for his life, President Trump was hosting super spreader events and comparing COVID to the flu,” said Summer Barrios, Seneca-based member of COVID Survivors for Change whose husband, Robert, spent 81 days in the hospital with COVID-19 and now suffers from longhauler symptoms. “Weeks after my husband could finally come home, Senator Graham pushed through a Supreme Court Justice who will very likely take away healthcare for people like my daughter and husband, who both now have pre-existing conditions. I know that Robert was brave when President Trump and Senator Graham were not. We deserve so much better.”

During the event, South Carolina COVID Survivors for Change members demanded a national pandemic response plan as they reflected on how their lives have been changed by COVID-19. On the organization’s website, survivors can share their stories and join the movement to help put an end to this preventable crisis.

“I might not have ever known I had it if I hadn’t gotten tested,” said Amy Johnson Ely, Columbia-based member of COVID Survivors for Change who contracted the virus in June even after taking precautions. “I was asymptomatic for the first 3 weeks after the test. I thought I was already trying so much harder than others to try not to get this thing. I was doing everything I thought I should do, and I still got it.”

To date, more than 229,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19, and more than 9 million have contracted the virus.

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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News of the Spike in COVID Cases Follows Presidential Debate During Which President Trump Said COVID-19 “Will Soon Be Gone”

Pennsylvania Members of COVID Survivors for Change Will Hold a Remembrance Event Today in Philadelphia to Honor Those Taken By the Pandemic

NEW YORK – In response to news that the U.S. reached a new high in COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements:

“My heart aches for the more than 77,000 Americans who received a COVID-19 diagnosis on Thursday, as well as their families,” said Noe Sepulveda, a member of COVID Survivors for Change and nurse anesthetist who survived COVID-19 and whose mother, Teresa, died of COVID-19 after 36 days on a ventilator. “These are our loved ones, not statistics. I know the fear and heartbreak that can come after a loved one gets that dreaded diagnosis. I hurt for those experiencing this preventable crisis now, and along with millions of COVID survivors, I’m planning to vote in honor of them, as well as my mom.” 

“Last night, the president once again downplayed the pandemic, rejecting the idea of the dark winter to come and promising the virus would soon be gone,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “His rhetoric is not only inaccurate and irresponsible — it’s also deeply insensitive to every family who lives with an empty chair at their table because of COVID-19. We deserve a president who will take dying families as seriously as he takes dying businesses.”

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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“COVID Survivors for Change” Will Connect Survivors to Resources and Empower Survivors to Call for Elected Officials to Take ActionOn October 4, COVID Survivors for Change, Together with Partners, Will Join a Socially-distanced and Livestreamed National COVID-19 Remembrance Event on the National Mall

NEW YORK – Today, coronavirus survivors from across the nation joined together to announce a new non-partisan, grassroots organization to connect survivors to support and resources, as well as hold elected officials accountable for failing to stop the pandemic. The organization, called “COVID Survivors for Change,” will bring together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic.

While every developed nation experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, only in America has the pandemic impact been so severe and taken so many lives. In April, the United States experienced similar numbers of cases and deaths to other industrialized nations. But by September, it was reported that the U.S. was home to 4 percent of the world’s population, but 21 percent of coronavirus deaths. Other nations implemented a science-based pandemic strategy and saw COVID cases decline. America failed to act.

“My father didn’t have to die,” said Sabila Khan, a COVID Survivors for Change member in New Jersey, who founded a bereavement group on Facebook following the death of her father, Shafqat Khan, in April. “He spent his lifetime helping others. The physical, mental and emotional toll of COVID-19 will undoubtedly be felt long after this is over. If we’d trusted science and prioritized protecting lives, my dad would still be here, as would thousands of others. We have to use our voices to demand better from our leaders and do everything in our power to stop this pandemic and prevent future ones, too.”

Families who have lost loved ones to Covid-19 are dealing with their grief amid an unprecedented time of fear and isolation. Many need resources and trauma-informed support services to help them through it. Through COVID Survivors for Change, families will have access to weekly grief and support sessions, as well as opportunities to connect with other survivors who know their pain. On the organization’s new website, survivors can share their stories and join the movement to help put an end to this preventable crisis.

“2020 may very well go down in history as the most traumatic year in modern American history,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “In March and April, I watched with horror as ambulances rushed by my window in Queens, as my wife and I held our newborn close and tried to explain to our first grader what was happening. The grief that so many New Yorkers felt this spring can’t compare to the loss that hundreds of thousands of families now know intimately because our leaders failed to contain the pandemic. Families are reeling in isolation, and deserve our support in processing their grief and channelling their heartbreak into action. Our leaders must be held accountable for the pain and suffering they’ve allowed to continue.”

On October 4, COVID Survivors for Change will join with partner organizations to participate in a socially-distanced and livestreamed National COVID-19 Remembrance event on the National Mall. The event will amplify the voices of COVID survivors, acknowledge the country’s collective loss, and call for a national plan for recovery. 

As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans will mobilize to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. They’ll also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

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