To remember the Kentuckians that were lost during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Gov. Andy Beshear, Steven Stack from the Department of Public Health and Kentuckians impacted by the virus held a ceremony and issued a proclamation recognizing March 6 as “A Day of Compassion” on Wednesday.
The ceremony started with a bell ringing performed by Kandie Adkinson, during the pandemic she would ring the bell to represent those who have died from COVID-19.
Stack shared that the first COVID-19 case in Kentucky was diagnosed on March 6, 2020 and throughout the pandemic over 19,650 Kentuckians died from the virus. While reflecting on the lives lost to COVID-19, Stack also spotlighted the work done in the state to inform Kentuckians almost daily about the status the pandemic.
One of the Kentuckians heavily impacted by the virus was LeRoy Mitchell. Mitchell shared that his sister died of COVID-19 and he was hospitalized by the virus and placed on an oxygen ventilator.
Mitchell says he contracted the virus in January 2021 and it was not until August 2021 that he was able to fully recover. COVID-19 is still prevalent today, and Mitchell advised attendees to remain vigilant of the virus.
Next, Virginia Moore the sign language interpreter who stood alongside Beshear for his COVID-19 updates was spotlighted. Moore passed away in May of 2023, so her partner Rowena “Row” Halloway remembered Moore’s impact.
Halloway shared that once Beshear started his COVID-19 updates, Moore approached him with the idea of including a sign language translation to expand the number of Kentuckians they were able to communicate with. Halloway says many other state governments followed suit and included ASL in their COVID-19 updates when they saw Moore translating for Beshear.
When remembering those who died from COVID-19, Halloway says when people die maintaining their memory and speaking their name keeps them alive and told attendees to never forget those that the virus took away from them.
Beshear reflected on Kentucky’s first COVID-19 case. Remembering the day, Beshear says he had finished up his work early and was on his way home went he got the call about the first case.
To conclude the ceremony, Beshear shared that the pandemic showed people that is important to be kind and caring of others. Beshear presented a first-time proclamation recognizing March 6 as A Day of Compassion.
Beshear says the proclamation will be spotlighted each year on March 6 as long as he is governor.
Photo courtesy of Governor Andy Beshear on Facebook