Contra Costa Observes 1st COVID-19 Deaths With Virtual Ceremony

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The first Contra Costa resident confirmed to have died from the coronavirus passed on March 22, 2020. More than 730 county residents have since died from COVID-19.

Contra Costa observed the one-year anniversary of the county's early COVID-19 deaths and those lost to the virus throughout the year with a virtual ceremony Monday shown live on Contra Costa Television — CCTV — and Contra Costa Health Services social media.

The "Hope and Healing Virtual Event" was held at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, 2500 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez.

The ceremony included remarks from health care workers and community leaders, an invocation, live music, and synchronized lighting of civic centers across the county, including Brentwood, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and Walnut Creek, along with Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, the Contra Costa County Administration Building and the Save Mt. Diablo Beacon.

A live musical performance was part of the event intended to honor their memories and promote community healing to help the county progress toward the pandemic's end, county officials said.

The event was recorded for rebroadcast on CCTV and on the CCHS YouTube channel.

WATCH IT HERE: