KINGSTON – March 8 marked one year since Ulster County was notified of its first case of COVID-19. “What followed that day was a year of challenge and crisis, but it also highlighted our resilience and sense of community,” County Executive Patrick Ryan said in an open letter to the community.
He noted Ulster County has lost over 200 residents to the virus “and the heart-wrenching reality is that, although we have made great progress, we’re still very much in it.”
Ryan reflected on how the community rallied and came together to support one another with “a growing sea of goodwill in the county and launched Project Resilience.”
The county delivered nearly a half million meals to residents in need and kept over 100 restaurants open through the support of volunteers and community donations.
“A small business owner went from altering prom dressed to making cloth masks for frontline workers, students at SUNY New Paltz worked countless hours throughout the night to produce face shields with 3D printers, distilleries stopped making alcohol and instead provided hand sanitizer for first responders during a mass shortage, and so much more,” Ryan reflected.
“As we have begun to turn the page on the virus, my optimism builds with each vaccine dose we administer, and we will continue to work to ensure all of our friends, family, and neighbors will have equitable access to the vaccine.”
One year after the pandemic hit, “we remember those community members who we have lost to this virus and honor their lives,” he said.
