Nearly 2,000 purple flags were placed along a Michigan boulevard to honor the lives of nursing home workers and residents who have died in the state from the 2019 novel coronavirus.
A memorial service also was held to remember the approximately 2,000 residents and employees last Thursday, the Detroit Free Press reported. The service included 1,900 flags being placed in the ground to remember the victims. The initiative was led by SEIU Healthcare Michigan.
“We can’t bring back those that we have lost,” Ken Haney, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Michigan, said during the service.
“But we can demand accountability and actions from our leaders that will change the foundations of our nursing home industry to make sure essential workers have the protection, the training and support needed throughout the pandemic and beyond.”
There had been more than 10,240 coronavirus cases reported among Michigan nursing home residents and staff members as of Sunday, according to the state.
