As the United States crosses 1 million deaths from COVID-19, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, COVID Survivors for Change, released the following statements…

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As U.S. COVID Deaths Near 1 Million, Survivors Announce Support of the PREVENT Pandemics Act 

PREVENT Pandemics Act Will Investigate Pandemic Response, Ensure U.S. is Prepared for Future Outbreaks

WASHINGTON – COVID Survivors for Change (CSFC) and COVID-19 Loss Support for Family and Friends, nonpartisan networks representing a combined 20,000 COVID survivors nationwide, urged Congress to pass the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) ahead of a committee hearing on the bill. COVID survivors are calling on the Senate Health, Education Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee to strengthen the Act’s COVID Task Force, including the following critical elements:

• Center communities most impacted by the pandemic
• Require the Task Force to investigate institutions with high COVID infection and death rates, including hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons
• Adequately fund the Task Force
• Empower committee members to subpoena witnesses

“When COVID-19 struck in the spring of 2020, my husband and so many other frontline workers and vulnerable members of our communities did not stand a chance,” said Pamela Addison, founder of Young Widows and Widowers of Covid-19, and a member of COVID Survivors for Change in New Jersey whose husband Martin worked in a hospital and died from COVID in April 2020. “Now we know the enormous risks involved in another pandemic. We must invest in understanding exactly what could be done differently, so we can ensure that the tragic loss of life caused by COVID-19 never happens again. One essential piece of this is a strong federal COVID Task Force.”

The PREVENT Pandemics Act, which will be taken up by the Senate HELP Committee on March 15, addresses factors that hindered the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The law would strengthen federal and state preparedness, improve public health response capacity, accelerate research, and combat shortage of lifesaving medical supplies. 

“After two years of living in a pandemic, I understand that people want to move on, but we have to also look back at what went wrong. How else can we prepare for the future?” said Sabila Khan, founder of COVID-19 Loss Support for Family and Friends and a member of COVID Survivors for Change. “This is not about assigning blame. It’s about protecting American lives. This Task Force will share the hard-won lessons of health experts, frontline communities, and survivors like me who are organizing for change. Our voice is essential to our nation’s future preparedness.”

Nearly 1 million Americans have died as a result of the pandemic, and millions more are still suffering from debilitating symptoms months, and in some cases years, after their COVID-19 diagnosis. The PREVENT Pandemics Act establishes a COVID-19 Task Force to examine the pandemic response at the state, local, and federal levels. Task Force members would be appointed by Congress and provide live-saving recommendations to the Administration and Congress.

“Nearly 1 million Americans have died from COVID-19, and too many of their deaths were largely preventable,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “Families affected by COVID-19, including the millions who still suffer from lingering symptoms, deserve answers and accountability from the lawmakers whom we elect and trust to protect us. We’ve waited nearly two years for lawmakers in Washington to set aside their differences and prioritize families impacted by this devastating virus. We are thankful Congress is moving toward ensuring that no one has to experience the horror of losing a loved one to COVID-19 again. By establishing a well resourced COVID Task Force with the right mission empowered to carry it out, this bill could be a gamechanger for future pandemic preparedness.” 

The PREVENT Pandemics Act has gained bipartisan support in the Senate over the last several weeks of bipartisan negotiations.

ABOUT COVID SURVIVORS FOR CHANGE
COVID Survivors for Change is a nationwide community of survivors fighting for a stronger pandemic response to save lives by supporting survivors, remembering those who have died, and advocating for public health measures to prevent future pandemics. We do this by offering trauma-informed resources and programs, sharing and amplifying survivor stories, and taking action to bring about legislative and cultural change. Our volunteers are active in all 50 states, have trained more than 700 COVID survivors on advocacy and self-care, and have provided more than 2,100 hours of support with mental health professionals. Learn more at https://covidsurvivorsforchange.org, and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/covidsurvivorsforchange or on Twitter at @SurvivorsChange.

Contact: press@covidsurvivorsforchange.org

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The Supreme Court will Force Millions of Americans into Unsafe Work Environments

WASHINGTON – Americans who lost loved ones to COVID-19 or become seriously ill because of the virus mourned today as the Supreme Court struck down requirements for testing and vaccines for large workplaces and allowed the CMS vaccine requirement to continue. In response to the news, members of COVID Survivors for Change released the following statements. 

“Anytime we send Americans into a workplace without proper public safety protocols, we’re saying that the lives of the employees at that business don’t matter,” said Andrea Mulcahy, a member of COVID Survivors for Change in Florida, whose husband, Tim, contracted COVID at work soon after Gov. DeSantis lifted lockdowns in Florida and died weeks later. “The truth is that vaccines and testing keep our families safe. I understand that they’re an inconvenience for some, but that discomfort cannot outweigh the heartbreak I feel each day waking up without my husband. No one should have to choose between keeping their job and risking their lives at work.”   

“The speed at which variants are spreading across this country is both terrifying and traumatizing,” said Marjorie Roberts, a member of COVID Survivors for Change in Georgia who contracted COVID at work in March of 2020 and has struggled with chronic symptoms ever since. “Without vaccine requirements and regular testing, more people will die and more will grow chronically ill. It’s heartbreaking that millions of Americans will have to risk their lives to keep their paycheck. We should all do what we can to keep each other safe.” 

“Nearly 850,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and yet some of our leaders still refuse to treat this pandemic as the crisis that it is,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “This news is a slap in the face to the millions of families whose lives have become unrecognizable because of the pandemic, as well as those who are still doing everything they can to protect a child too young to be vaccinated or another immunocompromised loved one. This decision will result in more preventable illness and more loss of life. We’re grateful the court upheld the mandate for some healthcare workers, but we needed the court to more fully stand up for our safety and today, the justices failed us.”

ABOUT COVID SURVIVORS FOR CHANGE
COVID Survivors for Change is a nationwide community of survivors fighting for a stronger pandemic response to save lives. We advocate for more support for COVID survivors, demand public health measures to prevent future pandemics, and honor those who died or whose lives have been changed forever because of COVID. We do this by offering trauma-informed resources and programs, sharing and amplifying survivor stories, and taking action to impact legislative and cultural change.

Learn more: https://covidsurvivorsforchange.org

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/covidsurvivorsforchange or on Twitter at @SurvivorsChange.

Contact: press@covidsurvivorsforchange.org

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In 2021, More than 4,200 People Joined COVID Survivors for Change’s Virtual Support Groups and Healing Workshops; More than 1,200 Joined Offline Events to Support Survivors

In 2022, COVID Survivors Call on Lawmakers to Take Action at the State Level to Expand Access to Healthcare, Provide Financial Support for Families and Particularly Children who Lost Parents or Caretakers, and Strengthen Response Plans to Stop Future Pandemics 

NEW YORK –  In 2021, COVID Survivors for Change volunteers and advocates spent hours mobilizing, training, and supporting survivors of COVID, while working to honor those killed over the course of the pandemic. COVID Survivors for Change’s membership doubled in size in 2021, speaking to the heartbreak communities continue to experience, as well as survivors’ need to connect with one another and heal.

“As COVID continues to spread, our hearts swell with grief for the survivors joining our community and with outrage at how much of this heartbreak was preventable,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “In 2021, COVID survivors channeled their trauma into activism, mobilizing to demand more of their lawmakers in DC. In 2022, we’ll continue that work and also take our movement to the states, urging lawmakers at every level to do everything in their power to support survivors and make sure that pandemics like this can never happen again.” 

Over the last year, COVID Survivors for Change has:  

• Provided more than 2,100 hours of free support for COVID survivors from mental health practitioners, with an average of more than 40 survivors attending weekly support groups 
• Supported more than 4,200 survivors with healing workshops and educational resources
• Organized 34 marches and offline events with Yellow Heart Memorial, Faces of Covid Victims, and nearly 20 other partner groups to support COVID survivors, with more than 1,200 attendees
• Trained nearly 700 COVID survivors on skills tied to effective activism, with more than 500 reaching out to their lawmakers to demand support for survivors and pandemic prevention policies 

“For months after COVID nearly took my life, I felt like I was watching a tsunami in slow motion – like I could see the damage coming, but do nothing to stop others from experiencing the horror I’d lived through,” said Jennifer Johnson an Illinois-based member of COVID Survivors for Change who still lives with lingering symptoms long after her initial diagnosis. “When I found the COVID Survivors for Change community, I learned how my story and skill set could help others whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. There’s still so much more we must do, but I now know that our experiences matter and survivors can channel our pain into lasting change.” 

In the next year, COVID Survivors for Change will continue to advocate, support, and work to prevent another pandemic disaster. The organization will continue its work to memorialize and remember the more than 800,000 people killed by COVID and honor the more than 50 million who have survived COVID, too. COVID Survivors for Change will expand upon its advocacy work in 2022 to urge state lawmakers to do more to support survivors. Medicaid expansion, COVID protection plans in schools, scholarships for children who lost parents or caregivers to COVID, and training for medical professionals to understand the complexities of long COVID are just a few of the demands from survivors. Across the nation, the needs of survivors vary, but their dedication towards building a better future remains the same. 

ABOUT COVID SURVIVORS FOR CHANGE

COVID Survivors for Change is a nationwide community of survivors fighting for a stronger pandemic response to save lives. We advocate for more support for COVID survivors, demand public health measures to prevent future pandemics, and honor those who died or whose lives have been changed forever because of COVID. We do this by offering trauma-informed resources and programs, sharing and amplifying survivor stories, and taking action to impact legislative and cultural change. Learn more: https://covidsurvivorsforchange.org/ Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/covidsurvivorsforchange or on Twitter at @SurvivorsChange. 

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This Week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cleared Children Ages 5-11 to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines Following Extensive Studies

COVID Survivors Say that Vaccinating Children is Essential to Keeping Kids and Families Healthy, and Preventing the Spread of the Virus

WASHINGTON – This week the FDA voted to allow children ages 5-11 to get vaccinated against COVID-19, clearing an essential hurdle towards vaccinating millions of children. In response to the news, members of COVID Survivors for Change with young children released the following statements. 

“I know some parents will hesitate to vaccinate their children,” said Kpana Kpoto, a New York-based member of COVID Survivors for Change whose mother was killed by COVID and who has two children, ages 5 and 14. “I’d ask those parents to discuss their concerns with their pediatrician and also remember that getting vaccinated isn’t just about protecting our own lives – it protects the lives of all of our loved ones and everyone in our community. We owe it to our kids and our communities to do our part to stop the spread of this devastating virus.”

“No child should go through the fight my daughter has gone through with COVID,” said Melissa Lynch, a North Carolina-based member of COVID Survivors for Change and lead representative for United States Long COVID Kids Charity whose teenage daughter is a Covid long-hauler. “The best thing we can do to prevent the spread of COVID is to encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated and let our local school boards know that COVID vaccination should now be a requirement for in-person school. Preventing kids from contracting COVID prevents children from becoming long-haulers, which is a life-changing experience for kids. Children need to be in the classroom, and the safest way to do that is making sure that all students and school staff are vaccinated.”

“More than 700,000 Americans have died and countless more have had their lives forever changed by COVID – including thousands of children,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change and a dad of two young children. “For my daughter’s and family’s health and in honor of the millions of families devastated by COVID, I’ll be rushing to get her vaccinated as soon as she’s eligible. Getting vaccinated is the most important thing we can do to keep all of our families safe and help end this crisis.”

Vaccination is a common-sense addition to the safety measures already in place in most school districts including mask-wearing and social distancing. Not including afterschool programs and activities, children in the U.S. spend on average 6 hours in the classroom per day, and the number is even longer for teachers who often come in early and stay late. Vaccination not only protects other children in the classroom, but it protects the larger community that helps the school environment to function efficiently for both students and staff. COVID Survivors for Change is committed to supporting students, parents and administrators in their work to ensure that children are safe in school and vaccinated against COVID-19.

ABOUT COVID SURVIVORS FOR CHANGE

COVID Survivors for Change is a nationwide community of Americans fighting for a stronger pandemic response to save the lives of others. We advocate for more support for COVID survivors, to remember those who have died, and for public health measures that will prevent future pandemics. We know that so much of this pandemic was preventable and we are committed to working together to keep families safe. We do this by offering trauma-informed programs and support groups, sharing and amplifying survivor stories, and impacting legislative and cultural change. For more information, please visit: COVIDsurvivorsforchange.org.

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Survivors Launch 50 State Delegations to Call for Stronger Safety Measures, Support Funds for Long-Haulers and More Than 120,000 Children Who Lost Caregivers

A Year After the National COVID Remembrance on National Mall, COVID Survivors Placed Empty Chairs at Statehouses to Honor the More Than 700,000 Killed and Millions Whose Lives are Forever Changed by COVID

NEW YORK ––  Throughout the week of October 1-7, members of COVID Survivors for Change in all 50 states took action to call on their state governments to address the gaps in prevention measures and resources that allow the pandemic to continue to devastate families. A year after the National COVID-19 Remembrance in Washington D.C, hundreds of survivors rallied for safe returns to schools, met with lawmakers to demand American Rescue Plan resources for long-haulers and surviving children, and gathered in state capitals to memorialize the millions impacted by COVID.  

As part of the COVID Survivors Week of Action, survivors in all 50 states set out empty chairs to honor Covid victims at their statehouses and launched new survivor-led delegations demanding stronger COVID prevention measures, greater support for long-haulers and those who lost loved ones, and the formation of a bipartisan commission to prevent future pandemics. In the last week, survivors called, wrote, and connected with elected officials including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, Georgia Senator Jon Ossof, Georgia Rep. David Scott, Georgia Rep. Rick Allen, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, to push for initiatives to support COVID-19 survivors. More than 300 letters were sent all across the country by more than 100 state delegates. 

“My dad would be so proud to see the advocacy and community that’s developed in his honor – I only wish he didn’t have to sacrifice his life for it,” said Tanya Washington, a Georgia-based member of COVID Survivors for Change whose vaccinated father died from COVID-19 after contracting it from a coworker. “Survivors and families like my own are still grieving, and need our lawmakers to understand that their refusal to act has changed our lives forever. In spite of our grief, we’re speaking out to make sure that our loved ones’ deaths weren’t in vain.” 

“A year ago, I never would’ve imagined I’d be using my voice to help other survivors,” said Maya McNulty, a New York-based member of COVID Survivors for Change who battled COVID in March of 2020, was hospitalized for 69 days and still struggles severely with long haul symptoms. “As a result of contracting long haul COVID, this year I’ve had to re-learn how to walk, talk and eat on my own again. This week of action, I demanded that lawmakers provide financial support to those of us struggling with long COVID, and put more recovery resources in place. For long-haulers like me, this support would mean that I finally could have a piece of my life and independence back.”  

“Almost every American knows someone who’s been impacted by COVID-19,” said Chris Kocher, Executive Director of COVID Survivors for Change. “This virus has disproportionately affected people of color and frontline workers, and that’s why it’s important that every single legislator understands that for some people, there is no return to ‘normal.’ As people continue to die from COVID and millions more struggle with long haul symptoms, there are actions that must be taken to make sure we’re all protected. That’s why we’re pushing so hard to be heard.”

The COVID Survivors Week of Action follows nationwide marches led by COVID survivors in August,  for support for those who are still struggling with the lasting effects of the virus and in remembrance of the nearly 700,000 killed. The flagship march took place across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, and more than 30 others took place in Atlanta, GA, Phoenix, AZ, and cities across the country.

ABOUT COVID SURVIVORS FOR CHANGE

COVID Survivors for Change is a nationwide community of Americans fighting for a stronger pandemic response to save the lives of others. We advocate for more support for COVID survivors, to remember those who have died, and for public health measures that will prevent future pandemics. We know that so much of this pandemic was preventable and we are committed to working together to keep families safe. We do this by offering trauma-informed programs and support groups, sharing and amplifying survivor stories, and impacting legislative and cultural change. For more information, please visit: COVIDsurvivorsforchange.org.

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Wearing Yellow for Remembrance, COVID Long-Haulers and Families of Those Who Died from COVID to Take 615,000 Steps for Every Person Killed

As They Continue to Struggle with Lasting Impact of COVID, Survivors and Long-Haulers Hold Dozens of Marches Across the Country Calling for Support

New York, NY – On Saturday, August 7th, hundreds of COVID survivors who are part of the COVID Survivors for Change nationwide network will join with co-sponsors Yellow Heart Memorial and Faces of COVID Victims to march across the Brooklyn Bridge to remember those who’ve died from COVID and urge lawmakers to take action to support the ongoing needs of survivors. They aim to take at least 615,000 steps – one step for every person killed.

This flagship march is part of the largest nationwide day of awareness and action for COVID survivors. All across the country on August 7th, COVID survivors will wear yellow – the color of COVID remembrance – and safely hold dozens of marches and gatherings. As the number of COVID cases continues to rise, they’re asking elected officials to strengthen prevention measures to end the pandemic, prioritize COVID survivors for relief resources, improve health and mental health care for long-haulers and surviving children, memorialize those who died, and form a non-partisan commission to ensure this never happens again.

WHAT: Hundreds of COVID survivors march across Brooklyn Bridge to raise awareness & call for action

WHEN: Saturday, August 7, 2021 – march at 11am, speaking program at 1pm
 

WHERE: 

• Survivors gather to march at 11am at Cadman Plaza Park, North Lawn (between Cadman Plaza W and Cadman Plaza E, Brooklyn, NY 11201) 
• March concludes with rally and remarks at 1pm at City Hall Park (East side near Park Row, New York, NY 10007)

WHO: Families whose loved ones died from COVID, COVID long-haulers, survivor and COVID organizations

• Rosie Davis (TX), founder of the Yellow Heart Memorial whose mother Mary died from COVID in a nursing home in Irving
• Hannah Ernst (NJ), 15-year-old founder of Faces of COVID Victims who had planned to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with her grandfather before he died from COVID-19
• Chris Kocher (Queens, NY), executive director of COVID Survivors for Change
• Nick Guthe (CA), writer and director whose wife Heidi Ferrer died by suicide after struggling with debilitating long-haul COVID symptoms
• Diana Berrent, founder of Survivor Corps
• Seventeen supporting organizations, including COVID-19 Long-Haulers Outreach, COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project, Covid-19 Loss Support for Family & Friends, COVID Survivors from Texas, Covid Wellness Clinic, Faith & Grief, Long Covid Kids HQ Global USA, Inlovingmemory19, Long Covid Support, MakeGoodTogether, MaskTogetherAmerica, Pandemic of Love, PolyBio Research Foundation, Solve M.E., Survivor Corps, Young Widows and Widowers of Covid-19

VISUALS: Large group of COVID survivors wearing yellow clothing and yellow hearts, holding signs and photos of lost loved ones

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE: With COVID survivors and leaders from COVID Survivors for Change, Yellow Heart Memorial, Faces of COVID Victims, and other groups

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.

ABOUT YELLOW HEART MEMORIAL

The Yellow Heart Memorial is a national, grassroots memorial whose mission is to humanize every person who has died from COVID with a name and a face on a yellow heart, which is a symbol of covid. The Yellow Heart Memorial was founded by Rosie Davis, who held the first Yellow Heart Memorial in her backyard after losing her mother Mary Castro to Covid. From there the memorial came to life at the Irving Archives Museum in Texas with over 200 portraits from Faces of Covid Victims and 2,000 hearts with names from all over the world displayed. Since then, the Yellow Heart Memorial has grown to 8 state chapters, with Memorials in more than 10 states and 3 countries and growing every day, most recently by launching Healing Hearts to recognize Long Haulers.  The Yellow Heart Memorial is working with cities for permanent memorials across the United States and has already had 3 approved. 

ABOUT FACES OF COVID VICTIMS

Faces of Covid Victims is an international initiative created in August of 2020 by 16 year-old Hannah Ernst upon losing her grandfather, Cal Schoenfeld, to Covid-19. The project works to memorialize those lost to the pandemic by creating their portraits displayed in front of a yellow heart, the symbol of Covid-19. FOCV’s goal is to differentiate the victims who are blurred into the heartbreaking death toll, reminding the world that these were loved ones, not numbers. To date, she has been able to create over 2,000 memorials that work to honor, remember, and pay tribute to those who have passed away. For more information, please contact Faces of Covid Victims on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/facesofcovidvictims/

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Wearing Yellow for Remembrance, COVID Long-Haulers and Families of Those Who Died from COVID joined by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver and Local Health Officials

As They Continue to Struggle with the Lasting Impact of COVID, Survivors and Long-Haulers Hold Dozens of Marches Across the Country Calling for Support

ATLANTA – On Saturday, August 7th, dozens of Atlanta COVID survivors who are part of the COVID Survivors for Change nationwide network will march at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to remember those who’ve died from COVID and urge lawmakers to take action to support the ongoing needs of survivors. Led by Tanya Washington, whose vaccinated father died from COVID in March, they will be joined by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, local health officials promoting vaccination efforts, and co-sponsor organizations Yellow Heart Memorial and Faces of COVID Victims.

All across the country on August 7th, COVID survivors will wear yellow – the color of COVID remembrance – and safely hold dozens of marches and gatherings. As the number of COVID cases continues to rise, they’re asking elected officials to strengthen prevention measures to end the pandemic, prioritize COVID survivors for relief resources, improve health and mental health care for long-haulers and surviving children, memorialize those who died, and form a non-partisan commission to ensure this never happens again.

WHAT: Atlanta COVID survivors, lawmakers, and health officials march at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to raise awareness & call for action 

WHEN: Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 11am-1pm EDT

WHERE: The Park at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (435 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308) 

WHO: 

• Tanya Washington, member of COVID Survivors for Change whose vaccinated father died from COVID in March 
• State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur)
• Families and friends of people who lost their lives to COVID 
• COVID long-haulers
• Health officials who will encourage vaccination

VISUALS: Dozens of COVID survivors wearing yellow clothing and yellow hearts, holding signs and photos of lost loved ones

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE: With COVID survivors and leaders from COVID Survivors for Change

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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The color yellow – a symbol of remembrance and survival – shows support for the millions still suffering from long-haul Covid and grieving for loved ones 

As the country reopens and families gather for BBQs, thousands of Covid survivors, elected officials, and supporters will share photos of how they #AddYellow on social media 

WASHINGTON – This Independence Day weekend, many gatherings will be missing a family member, friend, or neighbor lost to Covid, and millions of Americans will still be living with long-haul Covid. That’s why Covid survivors across the country are asking Americans to “Add Yellow” to their red, white, and blue Fourth of July celebrations and post photos on social media with the hashtag #AddYellow. 

Yellow has historically symbolized support and remembrance for lost loved ones, and the yellow heart has become a symbol of Covid loss as well as hope and survival. Thousands of survivors who are part of the nationwide network Covid Survivors for Change, along with the Yellow Heart Memorial and other partner groups, will be adding yellow hearts, flags, flowers, and decorations to their parades and barbecues and sharing photos of how they #Add Yellow this Fourth of July. They’re encouraging all Americans to do the same to help remember the more than 600,000 killed and the millions of lives changed forever by the coronavirus pandemic, even as the country celebrates that this is a turning point in our recovery. 

To participate in #AddYellow, Covid survivors encourage people to:

• Make yellow decorations like hearts, flags, sparklers, cups, and picnic blankets part of their holiday gathering with family and friends, or add yellow decorations to their home or yard
• Post a photo of the yellow items on social media using the hashtag #AddYellow to show solidarity with survivors or honor a loved one lost to Covid
• Learn more at covidsurvivorsforchange.org/add-yellow

“July 4th will be an incredibly difficult day for my family, as it marks the one year anniversary of my father’s passing.” said Elizabeth Dougherty-Feeney, a Pennsylvania-based member of Covid Survivors for Change, whose father Ray died from Covid. “I will #AddYellow for my father and I know that seeing our friends and neighbors blanket the community and social media in yellow this 4th of July will bring us great comfort knowing that so many are standing in solidarity with survivors like me”

“This Independence Day, we’re grateful that over 300 million Americans have been vaccinated and that many aspects of life may be beginning to go back to pre-pandemic normalcy – but sadly, not everyone has a normal to return to,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of Covid Survivors for Change. “Millions have lost loved ones to Covid or still suffer from long term health and economic effects of the virus. The simple act of adding yellow to your red, white, and blue this holiday will show Covid survivors that they’re not alone and not forgotten.”  

“This year’s July 4th celebrations are bittersweet for survivors like me,” said Rosie Davis, co-founder of Yellow Heart Memorial and a Texas-based member of Covid Survivors for Change whose mother Mary died from Covid. “As thankful as I am to see our nation making progress in the fight to end the pandemic, Covid long haulers and survivors still need support and compassion as we deal with the effects of this deadly virus. When you #AddYellow this weekend, you’re helping our voices be heard.” 

Participants are encouraged to get creative with #AddYellow by taking photos at iconic locations, at family gatherings, or in places with significant personal meaning. Sample tweets and Facebook posts and graphics for social media and more information on #AddYellow can be found at covidsurvivorsforchange/add-yellow. 

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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Survivors Call on Congress to Honor the Families Forever Changed by Covid by Passing the American Families Plan and Fully Funding Paid Leave for All  

NEW YORK –  As the nation nears the grim milestone of 600,000 Americans killed by Covid-19, the non-partisan grassroots survivor network, Covid Survivors for Change, released the following statements.

“As a police officer, my husband did everything he could to keep our community and family safe,” said Jerri Vance, a Covid Survivors for Change member in West Virginia and mom of three children whose husband died from Covid-19, as did her mother-in-law. “But the pandemic proved that while he was working to keep us safe, our lawmakers weren’t doing their part. Those of us whose lives have been upended by Covid-19 deserve more than sympathy from our elected leaders – we deserve a vote on the American Families Plan and all the support we need to keep our families afloat in a nightmare beyond our control.”  

“There are no words to fully express the pain I feel for every family who, like mine, will never see their loved one again because of Covid-19,” said Veronica Ahumada, a Covid Survivors for Change member in North Carolina whose father was killed by Covid-19 and whose husband has been out of work since March 2020. “My family is devastated and I know there are far too many of us grappling with this crisis that reshaped our lives. It stole two people I love. It compromised my family’s financial security and our sense of safety. We were forced to mourn alone. We need our lawmakers to honor our loved ones by taking action to prevent something like this from ever happening again, by passing paid leave for all and funding long-term support for Covid survivors in need. My family will never be whole again, but I will do everything in my power to prevent others from knowing this kind of trauma.”

“Our hearts go out to the millions of Americans who now intimately know the trauma of Covid-19,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of Covid Survivors for Change. “Those who’ve been taken by the pandemic, as well as the millions of Americans now living with Long Covid, deserve our compassion and our action. Congress should honor what we’ve lost by passing the American Families Plan immediately as well as additional support for Covid survivors in need.”

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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