Grief and pain, strength and resilience: New Rochelle marks 1 year since virus case made it 1st US hotspot

One year ago, a one-mile containment zone was set up around Young Israel of New Rochelle where "patient zero" attended worship.

News 12 Staff

Mar 4, 2021, 12:42 AM

Updated 1,314 days ago

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Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the first coronavirus case in New Rochelle - the second case in the entire state.
News 12's Nadia Galindo takes us to the ground zero of the pandemic to reflect on a chaotic and trying year.
One year ago, a one-mile containment zone was set up around Young Israel of New Rochelle where "patient zero" attended worship.
About 1,000 people were asked to self-quarantine as the virus spread.
New Rochelle was the first coronavirus hotspot in the country, forcing the city into the national spotlight.
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson says the first days of the pandemic were chaotic and surreal, forcing city leadership to prepare for anything and everything.
Schools shut down, a mobile morgue was brought in, and a year later, more than 108,000 Westchester residents have contracted COVID-19.
Mayor Bramson says he learned the importance of building relationships.
"It's been a year on the one hand, of grief and pain on the other hand of strength and resilience and we try to hold onto the positive as we move forward and finally see some light at the end of the tunnel," he says.