RIP sir. Our hearts are very heavy for the colleagues and family of Randall French, the Troy police sergeant who had been battling complications due to COVID-19 at Albany Medical Center.

Heartbreaking news to learn about the passing of Troy police sergeant Randall French in a report by the Times Union. A little over two weeks ago, his wife Danielle posted a message to Facebook urging people to donate plasma part of the experimental treatment authorized for us on COVID-19 patients at AMC.  A short time later, according to the Times Union, she announced that the family was overjoyed to learn that a donor match had been located and that French received a blood transfusion.

On Thursday, we learned that his valiant fight against COVID-19 had come to an end.  In  a heartfelt Facebook post from the Troy NY PBA, they offered love and support to French's wife reassuring her that,  "you have not lost your TPD family. We are here for you every step of the way."

We echo the sentiments of the Troy Police in offering our deepest sympathy and condolences to the entire French family, the Troy Police Department and all of our local law enforcement feeling the effects of losing one of their own.

In closing, the Troy NY PBA president Nicholas Laviano offered one more sentiment, summing it the way only a fellow officer can, "Rest easy 601, we'll take it from here."

107.7 WGNA logo
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

 

From Wuhan to New York City: A Timeline of COVID-19's Spread

MARK RALSTON/AFP // Getty Images

Dec. 30, 2019: Chinese doctor sounds the alarm

Li Wenliang, a doctor working at Wuhan Central Hospital in Wuhan, China, sent out a text to a group of other doctors warning them to protect themselves against a new respiratory virus. Four days later, police summoned him and told him to sign a letter accusing him of false comments and disturbing the social order. Li died of the virus on Feb. 7.

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP // Getty Images

Dec. 31, 2019: Chinese health authorities notice mysterious cases of pneumonia

In the meantime, the government of Wuhan did in fact confirm that its health authorities were treating dozens of cases of pneumonia from an unknown origin. Several of the infected people worked at Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Wuhan is a city of 11 million people in China’s Hubei province and had become the start and center of a new epidemic.

Getty Images

Jan. 4, 2020: World Health Organization gets involved

The World Health Organization got involved and began tracking the situation in Wuhan. By the next day, the WHO issued its first publication on the cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, reporting on the status of patients and the response of public health officials. The organization issued its first guidance on the virus on Jan. 10.

NOEL CELIS/AFP // Getty Images

January 11: The first coronavirus death is reported

The first known death from the virus was reported by the Chinese state media. The victim was a 61-year-old man who was a regular customer at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and had underlying issues including “abdominal tumors and chronic liver disease.”

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP // Getty Images

Jan. 13: The virus spreads to other countries

The first case outside of China was confirmed Jan. 13 in Thailand. Within the week, cases were found in Japan, South Korea, and—on Jan. 20—the United States. The first American case was in Washington State where a man in his 30s developed symptoms after a trip to Wuhan.

You may also like: Space discoveries from the year you were born

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP // Getty Images

Jan. 23: Wuhan is locked down

By Jan. 23, 17 people in China were dead and more than 570 were infected. In response, the Chinese government locked down Wuhan to prevent further spread of the virus. Planes and trains in and out of the city were canceled while all bus, ferry, and subway service within the city was suspended.

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP // Getty Images

Jan. 30: WHO declares a Public Health Emergency

By Jan. 30, 9,800 people had been infected and 213 died around the world; the WHO declared the 2019-nCoV outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” The next day, the administration of President Donald Trump suspended entry into the United States for anyone who had traveled to China in the past 14 days who wasn’t an American citizen, family of an American citizen, or a permanent resident.

MARIA TAN/AFP // Getty Images

Feb. 2: First death outside of China

This first death reported outside of China was a 44-year-old man in the Philippines. He had traveled to the Philippines from Wuhan. By this point, more than 360 people died from the virus.

Carl Court // Getty Images

Feb. 5: Cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan

The Diamond Princess cruise ship became quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, after passengers became ill. Officials began testing passengers and, by Feb. 13, there were 218 confirmed cases on board—the largest number of positives outside China.

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP // Getty Images

Feb. 11: The disease gets a new name

The WHO gave the disease caused by the novel coronavirus a new name: COVID-19. It was was chosen because it did not refer to a geographical area, animal, or group of people and because it was relatively easy to pronounce. The WHO wanted to “guard against the use of other names that might be inaccurate or stigmatizing.”

You may also like: Major cities most at risk of rising sea levels

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP // Getty Images

Feb. 14: First death in Europe

The first COVID-19 death in Europe took place in Paris. The victim was an 80-year-old Chinese tourist and it was the first death outside of Asia. On the same day, Egypt became the first African country to report a case.

ATTA KENARE/AFP // Getty Images

Feb. 19: COVID-19 arrives in Iran

Iran reported there were two coronavirus cases in the country and that both had resulted in the patients’ deaths. The source of the virus in Iran is not known. One day later, on Feb. 20, the WHO reported the number of global cases to be roughly 75,000.

MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP // Getty Images

Feb. 23: Cases of COVID-19 explode in Italy

By Feb. 23, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy had grown from five to more than 150. The Lombardy region in the north of the country was the hardest hit, and officials locked down 10 towns in the area, closing schools and canceling events.

Victor Moriyama // Getty Images

Feb. 26: First case reported in Latin America, more cases in Europe

A 61-year-old man from São Paulo, Brazil, who had recently returned from Italy tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, more and more cases were reported in Europe. Two days later, other countries with reported infections were Belarus, England, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, and Wales.

Jane Barlow-WPA Pool // Getty Images

Feb. 28: Cases spike in Europe, first U.S. death

By Feb. 28, there were more and more cases reported in Europe. At this time, 800 patients had been confirmed infected in Italy, and cases in 14 other countries could be traced back to Italy as well. On the same day, the United States confirmed its first COVID-19 death in Seattle.

You may also like: 54 American cities with dangerous ozone conditions

Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency // Getty Images

March 7: Death toll continues to rise

By March 7, COVID-19 had killed nearly 3,500 people and infected 102,000 in more than 90 countries. Iran became one of the worst situations totaling 4,747 cases and 124 deaths.

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP // Getty Images

March 11: WHO declares COVID-19 to be global pandemic

In response to the quick spread of COVID-19, the WHO declares the outbreak to be a global pandemic. In a briefing, WHO director-general said, “We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus.”

Doug Mills-Pool // Getty Images

March 11: Trump announces a European travel ban—sort of

As the epicenter of the virus shifted from China to Europe, President Trump made an announcement saying he would block all travelers from European countries except Britain for 30 days. He walked the statement back a few hours later, saying that this would not apply to U.S. citizens, residents, or their spouses, but not before many travelers had spent thousands on tickets to return home.

Drew Angerer // Getty Images

March 13: Trump declares a national emergency

President Trump declared a national emergency and said he would make $50 billion available to states and territories to fight COVID-19. By this time, the global death toll had passed 4,600 and there were 126,100 confirmed infections worldwide.

JOEL SAGET/AFP // Getty Images

March 15: Europe shuts down

In response to the virus’ quick spread, some Western European countries began to shut down nonessential businesses. In Spain, which had the second-highest death rate in Europe after Italy, residents could only leave home to buy essential supplies or to work. In France, cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, and cinemas were closed.

You may also like: 25 endangered animals that only live in America

STR/AFP // Getty Images

March 19: China reports no new local infections

China reported no new local infections, a signal that China’s epidemic could be winding down. However, although no new local infections were recorded, there were 34 new infections confirmed among patients who had traveled to China from elsewhere. On the same day, Italy overtook China as the country with the most deaths worldwide.

David Ramos // Getty Images

March 20: Deaths exceed 10,000 globally

Confirmed deaths from COVID-19 exceeded 10,000 worldwide. Cases began to rise exponentially, for example, from 2,958 to 13,957 overnight in Germany. China had a second day with no new domestic cases reported.

Leon Neal // Getty Images

March 23: United Kingdom locks down

While the United Kingdom had initially considered a “herd immunity” approach to COVID-19, the country eventually decided to follow the lead of the rest of Europe and close all non-essential stores, ban meetings of more than two people, and require people to stay at home except to buy food or medicine.

NARINDER NANU/AFP // Getty Images

March 24: India, a country of 1.3 billion people, shuts down

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown. At the time, the number of cases reported in the country of 1.3 billion people was around 500. Some migrant workers were forced to walk hundreds of miles back to their homes.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP // Getty Images

March 24: Tokyo Summer Olympics postponed

It was announced that the Tokyo Summer Olympics would be postponed for one year in response to COVID-19. This was the first time Olympic games have been canceled since World War II. Only three games have been canceled since the beginning of the Olympics, all due to wars.

You may also like: 50 fall flowers that bloom in October

ALEX EDELMAN/AFP // Getty Images

March 25: United States government announces $2 trillion aid plan

After negotiations, the White House and Congress came to an agreement on a $2 trillion aid plan to help businesses, workers, and the health care system. The plan passed the Senate in a unanimous 96–0 vote.

David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe // Getty Images

March 26: Record unemployment filings in U.S.

It was reported that a record 3.3 million people in the United States filed for unemployment the previous week. This was a rise of more than 3 million from the previous week, which saw unemployment claims by just 281,000 people. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said unemployment could reach 20% due to COVID-19.

Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images

March 26: Global COVID-19 cases surpass 500,000

Over 500,000 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed around the world. In Europe, the number of cases exceeded 250,000, more than half of which were in Italy and Spain. Italy’s death toll reached 8,215.

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP // Getty Images

March 27: United States surpasses Italy for most cases worldwide

With 82,000 known cases, the United States officially had more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than any other country in the world. New York state was hit especially hard, with half of the total cases nationwide. New York City alone had 23,000 cases and 365 deaths.

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez // Getty Images

March 27: Nearly half of all Americans under lockdown

In response to the country’s rapidly growing numbers, the local governments of the United States put roughly half the population under some kind of lockdown. Twenty-three states issued stay-at-home orders and 10 other states and territories ordered nonessential businesses to close.

 

More From 107.7 WGNA