[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, on an entirely different subject, on 
March 26, 2020, America passed a grim milestone when 1,000 Americans 
died that day of COVID--front page news. Two months later, after 
Memorial Day, we passed another terrible milestone when 100,000 had 
died of COVID. As many Americans had died from COVID as from the 
Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined. By this past 
September, the number of Americans who had been lost to COVID hit 
695,000--memorialized in a heartbreaking sea of small, white flags that 
covered our National Mall. This weekend, the United States hit another 
staggering milestone--900,000 Americans dead from COVID. In Illinois, 
there have been 31,000 lives lost.
  COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the United 
States, behind only heart disease and cancer. At the rate we are going, 
experts say it is likely the United States will reach 1 million COVID 
deaths in just a few weeks.
  What makes these numbers even more tragic is that so many of the 
deaths could have been prevented. COVID vaccines are safe and free and 
highly effective at preventing COVID hospitalization and death. Think 
about this: According to new data from the CDC, unvaccinated 
individuals are 97 times more likely to die of COVID compared to those 
who have been vaccinated and boosted--97 times more likely to die if 
you are unvaccinated.
  Just last night, I watched ``60 Minutes.'' There was a presentation 
by nurses in Louisville, KY, the home State of the Republican leader. 
They talked about the devastating toll on their emotions and even their 
physical bodies when it comes to the deaths that they have to witness 
every day. They are beaten down, these nurses. They say that some 25 
percent, if I remember correctly, have already resigned and have said 
they can't take it anymore. And to think how many of those 
hospitalizations could have been avoided if vaccinations had become 
universal across this country as they should be.
  Well, this evening, Members of Congress will gather on the steps of 
the Capitol for a moment of silence to remember the 900,000 souls we 
have lost to this virus. May their families and loved ones find peace.
  We have the tools and knowledge to bring this pandemic under control 
if only we would use them.

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