RICHMOND, Virginia — On March 14, a solemn bell tolled in front of the Bell Tower at Virginia Union University as dozens of Virginians gathered to remember the thousands of lives lost to COVID-19 over the past five years. The event, which was part of Virginia’s annual Victims of COVID-19 Remembrance Day, was established by Delegate Delores McQuinn through legislation passed in 2021.
“Communities were changed as a result of it,” said McQuinn during the ceremony. “There will always be empty seats at the table. There will always be a mother or father who will no longer be with their children. People were left orphaned because of it.”
The commemoration also provided an opportunity for families, healthcare workers, and community leaders to reflect on the immense toll the pandemic took on Virginia, where more than 26,000 people lost their lives to the virus. Among those in attendance was Amy Boyle, who spoke about her sister, Dori Hammel, who died from COVID-19 on Jan. 10, 2022.
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Saying goodbye through a screen
“She was in ICU, and I couldn’t get to her,” Boyle said. “We said goodbye on an iPad with a nurse holding her hand.”
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The pandemic’s devastating reach was not limited to families — it also deeply impacted frontline healthcare workers who witnessed firsthand the heartbreak and trauma stemming from the crisis. With hospitals reeling from overcapacity, registered nurse (RN) Tamicka Smith recalled the harrowing experience of working at Chippenham Hospital during the height of the pandemic.
“Being a nurse, a lot of times I was the last person to hold your family member’s hand,” recalled Smith. “I was the last person to hear what they had to say and the person that had to tell you what your family said and how much they wanted you to be there with them and being so sad that you couldn’t.”
McQuinn herself contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, along with her husband and daughter, describing the experience as “a scary journey.” As she stood before the audience in Virginia, she emphasized the ongoing need for vigilance and support for those still suffering from the virus’s long-term effects, also known as “long COVID.”
“I want people to understand this is a serious disease, a serious virus,” said McQuinn during an interview in 2020. “This is the flu magnified by 10.”
The virus’ lingering effects
“Many are still grappling with the emotional and physical toll of the pandemic,” noted McQuinn, adding, “It’s essential that we continue to offer support and compassion as we navigate the long road to recovery.”
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, who played a key role in Virginia’s COVID-19 response as the former director of the Richmond-Henrico Health Districts and later as the state’s vaccine coordinator, reflected on the lessons he learned from the crisis.
“I would say some of the biggest lessons learned have been one, the importance of communication, right?” said Avula. “One of the things that was so valuable for me as a leader in that, for the community, is to have a regular dialogue, a regular opportunity to share what’s happening, and I’ve tried to carry some of those principles into this new role as mayor.”
Avula also emphasized the role of science and data in the decision-making process — a crucial factor in guiding public health policies throughout the pandemic.
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