State Senator James Sanders Jr. said: “Today is a grim day as we near the unbelievable milestone of one million deaths in the United States from COVID-19. This pandemic has changed our world and the way we look at disease and medical treatment forever. We have lost so many loved ones, so many special people, so many leaders. We have lost young people, seniors, and people of all races. Today is an occasion when we pause and remember all of those who were tragically taken from us by this dreaded pandemic. Here in my district, we had the first case of coronavirus, right in Far Rockaway and we were one of the hardest hit communities. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted and to take all of the necessary steps possible to prevent the spread of COVID.”