Healthcare union to mark fifth anniversary of COVID lockdown with protest of current industry shortfalls

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of COVID-19 being classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It was also the day actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced they had tested positive, and the same day the NBSA suspended its season mid-game, serving as the ceremonial start of lockdown.

WHO determined the outbreak was an international public health emergency.

The last pandemic had been 2009’s H1N1 swine flu, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally.

As of June, 2024, nearly 1.2 million people in the US have died from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To mark today’s date, essential care workers will hold a remembrance event this afternoon to mark those lost and to call for more action.

The event will see current and former workers from hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers honor Rhode Island’s nearly 4,500 victims lost to the virus.

The event is organized by healthcare union SEIU 1199, who will speak out against what they say are the lessons not learned from the pandemic, like low wages, short staffing and inadequate supplies.

The event will be on the state house steps at 3:30 p.m.