New Yorkers Give Citywide Applause for Essential Workers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Participants shared videos of the two-minute clap on social media.

Essential workers
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Image via Getty/Angela Weiss/AFP

Essential workers

As the fight against coronavirus continues, New Yorkers are expressing gratitude to those who've kept the Big Apple up and running.

On Friday night, residents across all five boroughs gave a round of applause to the city's essential workers. Those individuals include first-responders, electricians, restaurant workers, truck drivers, grocery store employees, and health care workers—everyone who has risked their health to serve their neighbors and communities.

The citywide initiative was promoted on social media with the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare. It encouraged New Yorkers to go to their front doors, windows, roofs, and balconies—while adhering to social distancing guidelines—to clap for 2 minutes beginning at 7 p.m collectively. 

Other countries like England and Italy have launched similar initiatives.

Tonight we are joining the #ClapBecauseWeCare initiative with a two-minute clap in celebration and appreciation of all essential workers. Join us and the rest of NYC at 7 PM EDT from where ever you are.
Repost: CoffeeCakesCafe on IG #CPFanywhere pic.twitter.com/Off1QT43bW

— City Parks Foundation (@CPFNYC) March 27, 2020

New Yorkers were encouraged to post videos of their applause on social media. Check out some of the posts below.

#clapbecausewecare #nyc Thank you everyone delivering, cooking, stocking, treating, saving lives!! pic.twitter.com/K1QdstLQaJ

— Rob Wolf (@RobWolfBooks) March 27, 2020

You can’t see it - because most of our windows don’t open wider than four inches - but you can hear all of Brooklyn hooting in support of essential workers. #clapbecausewecare pic.twitter.com/gKITyArbJO

— Chris Rovzar (@Rovzar) March 27, 2020

#Harlem is Beautiful! My entire neighborhood cheering the healthcare workers & first responders. #ClapBecauseWeCare #COVID19 #HealthcareHeroes pic.twitter.com/6St1psZPe4

— Rachel A. Adler (@RachelA_Adler) March 27, 2020

Greenpoint saying thank you at 7pm #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/pXX53iF5BS

— BlondieNY@mstdn.social (@BlondieNY) March 27, 2020

#ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/caKljjalf3

— Avi Friedman (No Blue Check Here) (@realFriedmanAvi) March 27, 2020

My city. 😭❤️ #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/rnEKB6yAmq

— Cliff (@fordrevo) March 27, 2020

#ClapBecauseWeCare on the UWS! pic.twitter.com/9q5yQntIyH

— Meg Lewis (@_meglew) March 27, 2020

Applauding our amazing healthcare and essential workers in New York and around the country. All of you are heroes.. Thank You! #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/cogPaJWRrF

— David Ocampo Grajales (@DavidOcampoNJ) March 27, 2020

Clapping up a storm in the Heights. #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/lHh3h1jXN7

— Joe Cutrufo (@JoeCutrufo) March 27, 2020

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