THE CITY of New York has been showing its appreciation for emergency service workers on the front lines as cases of coronavirus in the city surpassed 38,000.
The east coast city, which has a population of over 8 million, has become the epicentre of the virus in the United States, with 914 deaths related to Covid-19.
Temporary hospitals have been set up in Central Park, and a 1,000 bed hospital ship, the Comfort, docked in the city yesterday afternoon.
Last night, the most iconic building in New York City's skyline, the Empire State Building, lit up in red and white to show solidarity with the thousands of emergency service staff who are giving their all to fight against the spread of the virus and protect the people of the city.
The building's signature white lights have become a flashing siren, which building officials are calling "the heartbeat of America", to raise hopes and spirits during the unprecedented crisis.
It will remain this way until the crisis has passed.
On the Empire State Building's official Twitter page, a spokesperson posted a photo of the building's poignant new look, with a message stating "We'll never stop shining for you".
[1/2] We’ll never stop shining for you.
Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle, our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight. pic.twitter.com/OYkblLTRHN— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) March 30, 2020
"Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle, our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight."
Additionally, the city will simultaneously play New York's unofficial theme song, Alicia Keys' 2009 number 1 'Empire State of Mind' at 9pm every night as the 381 metre tall siren flashes over the city.
New Yorkers have been posting images and videos of the tribute lights, which can be seen all across the city.
Intense, beautiful, poignant. ❤️🚨🗽 pic.twitter.com/qU9mCrF0LF
— swnyc (@slwolfe2) March 31, 2020
A little on the nose, Empire State Building. pic.twitter.com/kixDjTU4lk
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) March 31, 2020
Yesterday. US President Donald Trump announced that social distancing measures would go on until at least 30 April, to give the country the best chance to flatten the curve, save lives and prevent the health service from being overwhelmed.
Mr Trump said that coronavirus deaths in the US are expected to reach their peak in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director, and Mr Trump's top scientific advisor in relation to the virus, has warned that the outbreak could kill up to 200,000 people in the United States.
