'Moment of Silence' on May 4 to Commemorate Those Lost to COVID-19 in Ames, Story County

AMES, IA – Organizations in Ames and Story County are invited to participate in a moment of silence to commemorate lives lost to COVID-19.

The one-minute moment of silence will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, which is the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 related death at Mary Greeley.

“We originally planned this as a Mary Greeley event and expanded it when other area organizations expressed interest in participating,” said Amber Deardorff, vice president for clinical and support services. “The impact of the pandemic still weighs heavily on all of us. This moment of silence reflects that, while also serving as a reminder of the importance of getting vaccinated so we can move on from this challenging time. 

A proclamation about the moment of silence will be read at the Ames City Council meeting on April 27.

Since the pandemic began, more than 11,000 Story County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Forty-seven residents have died from the virus while many more have faced serious illness, extended hospitalization and lasting health concerns.

Mary Greeley has treated COVID-19 patients from throughout central Iowa. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Mary Greeley has treated and discharged 568 COVID-19 patients. Fifty-seven people have died from COVID-19 at Mary Greeley.