Ilhan Omar breaks down in tears as Congress holds moment of silence to honor 600,000 Americans who have died during panedmic
Rep. Ilhan Omar has broken down in tears as members of Congress held a moment of silence to honor the 600,000 Americans who have lost their lives to Covid-19.
The United States on Monday crossed the grim milestone of 600,000 Covid-19 deaths, as slowing vaccination rates threaten the Biden administration target of having 70% of U.S. adults receive at least one shot and 160 million fully inoculated by July 4.
The moment of silence honoring those who had died during the pandemic was held outside the US Capitol in Washington D.C. on Monday.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers gathered on the east front steps of the U.S. Capitol building yesterday evening.
Democratic Representative from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar was emotional during the event and was pictured wiping away tears
Congressional leaders hold a moment of silence to honor the 600,000 American lives lost to Covid-19 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on June 14
The United States on Monday crossed the grim milestone of 600,000 COVID-19 deaths
The early success of the U.S. vaccine rollout has had a huge impact on the pace of COVID-19 fatalities in the country
Democratic Representative from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar was emotional during the event and was pictured wiping away tears.
Ms. Omar's father lost his life during the pandemic and passed away due to medical complications after contracting Covid-19 last June.
'It is with tremendous sadness and pain to say goodbye to my father, Nur Omar Mohamed,' she said on Twitter at the time.
'No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew and loved him.'
Also among the group on Monday evening was Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and D-N.Y., House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (centre), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (right), and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (left), along with other lawmakers, prepare to hold a moment of silence for 600,000 American lives lost
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks with Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after a moment of silence by congressional leaders to honor the 600,000 American lives lost
Following the moment of silence that was held, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Scollin from the Air Force Band sang 'God Bless America.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later tweeted: 'This evening, Members of Congress held a bipartisan Moment of Silence for the 600,000 American lives lost to COVID-19 at the U.S. Capitol.
'Get vaccinated. Save lives.'
The early success of the U.S. vaccine rollout has had a huge impact on the pace of COVID-19 fatalities in the country.
It took 113 days to go from 500,000 total U.S. COVID-19 deaths to 600,000 - the second slowest 100,000-death jump since the pandemic began. The nation went from 400,000 to 500,000 deaths in just 35 days.
'My heart goes out to those who've lost a loved one.... We have more work to do to beat this virus and now's not the time to let our guard down,' said President Joe Biden on the sidelines of NATO meetings in Brussels, Belgium, urging people to get vaccinated.
Following the moment of silence that was held, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Scollin from the Air Force Band sang 'God Bless America'
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar tears up as members of Congress hold a moment of silence for the 600,000 American lives lost to COVID-19, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on June 14
The U.S. seven-day COVID-19 death average has fallen by almost 90% from its peak in January. The country reported 18,587 coronavirus-related deaths in May - about 81% less than in January, Reuters data showed.
While the epicenter of the pandemic has shifted to places like Brazil and India in recent months, the United States remains the hardest-hit nation in terms of cumulative deaths.
But the country has so far vaccinated 166 million adults with at least one dose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the rate of shots administered has dropped significantly from a mid-April peak.
The average seven-day COVID-19 hospitalization number has also plummeted since April due to vaccinations. On June 2, total hospitalized patients fell below 20,000 for the first time since June 24, 2020.
However, hospitalization among teenagers has increased as more easily transmitted virus variants began to spread, according to recent CDC data.
Rep Ilhan Omar cries as members of Congress observe a moment of silence for the 600,000 American lives lost to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 14
The rate of hospitalization due to COVID-19 increased among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in April to 1.3 per 100,000 people from a lower rate in mid-March, the agency reported.
Overall, daily new COVID-19 cases have also been dropping since March, with the country reporting the lowest number of cases per capita in May of this year, according to a Reuters analysis.
With vaccinations down to about 1.10 million doses per day last week - some 67% lower than the highest seven-day rate - the Biden administration and state governors have come up with all manner of incentives to get unvaccinated people to roll up their sleeves. These include free childcare and rides to vaccination centers, extended Friday night hours at pharmacies and the chance to win $1 million or college scholarships in a lottery.
As of Sunday, nearly 52% of the U.S. population has received their first vaccine dose, according to the CDC.
