New York plans to build memorial to COVID-19 essential workers

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced on Tuesday the creation of the Essential Workers Advisory Committee to advise building a memorial to honor essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cuomo said the monument will honor 17 essential worker groups including doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters and store employees, according to WABC news.

“There can be no way to ever fully repay the essential workers who aided in our recovery from this devastating, once-in-a-century pandemic,” Cuomo said. “These true heroes continue to aid and inspire us and they have our utmost respect. To honor them, we want them to create a monument to stand for all time as New York emerges tougher and stronger than ever.”

“Covid was a war. And they were war heroes. They gave their lives in the midst of that war to save others.”@NYGovCuomo says a memorial will be built to honor #Covid19 essential workers pic.twitter.com/3eWZjA15JR

— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) April 6, 2021

New York was an early hotspot during the start of the pandemic last spring in U.S.

The 23-member advisory committee includes individuals represent some of the worker groups who will help decide the design, location and installment of the monument.