DC Mayor Bowser's sister dies from COVID-19 as city passes 1,000 deaths

WASHINGTON — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that her sister, Mercia Bowser, 64, died Wednesday morning from pneumonia she developed as a complication from COVID-19.

“Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic,” Bowser wrote in a tweet.

Mercia Bowser's death came the same day that the city surpassed 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. The mayor declared a day of remembrance for those who have died in D.C. and also order flags to fly at half-staff this week for the more than 500,000 people who have lost their lives to COVID-19 nationwide.

Bowser said her sister had worked with Catholic Charities and the D.C. Office on Aging.

"We’re grateful to the doctors & nurses at Washington Hospital Center, who heroically treated her for COVID19 related pneumonia," she said. "We thank you for your kindness & will share how our family will honor Mercia, my only sister & oldest sibling, & her beautiful spirit in the coming days."

The city has seen about 40,000 coronavirus cases during the pandemic, and vaccines have begun rolling out with about 7.7% of its population fully or partially vaccinated so far.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC Mayor Bowser's sister dies of COVID-19 as city passes 1,000 deaths