Key workers who have lost their lives in the coronavirus pandemic were remembered today in a UK-wide silence.
People across Britain paused for a minute at 11am in sombre tribute to the sacrifice made by those on the front line, in roles ranging from doctors and nurses to carers, cleaners, porters and bus drivers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has just returned to work after recovering from Covid-19, joined the silence, which the Unison union, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal of College of Nursing had campaigned for.
(From left) Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak also takes part in the minute’s silence at 10 Downing Street in Westminster at 11am today
Prime Minister Boris Johnson , who has just returned to work after recovering from Covid-19, joined the 11am silence today
Staff become emotional outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester today during the minute’s silence held across Britain
NHS staff at Aintree University Hospital in Merseyside clap after observing a minute’s silence this morning
Staff stand inside Camberwell bus depot in South London today during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to key workers
National Shop Stewards Network protesters outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London during a minute’s silence this morning
Staff stand outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to dead NHS staff today
Staff and shoppers pause for the minute’s silence inside a Morrisons supermarket in Plymouth, Devon, this morning
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh to observe a minute’s silence this morning
Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital in the rain this morning as they take part in the nationwide minute’s silence
NHS staff, volunteers and supporters gather in the car park at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset this morning
Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the RCN, said: ‘I am heartened to hear how many people took part in the minute’s silence to honour the memory of staff who have tragically died during the pandemic.
‘We thought it was important to pay tribute publicly to those who have lost their lives to the virus, and I am proud that so many took the time to do so this morning.’
She issued an urgent call for protection of workers, saying the death toll must not be allowed to rise further.
‘An even greater task now remains – to stop more joining the tragic number of those who have died. All key workers, healthcare staff among them, must be afforded the greatest protection.’
Staff at various healthcare sites planned to gather safely where they could to remember colleagues. The deaths of more than 90 frontline NHS workers have been confirmed since March 25.
People on Calton Hill in Edinburgh stop during their daily exercise to pay their respects to the frontline workers this morning
NHS staff stand outside the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire this morning to take part in the minute’s silence
The minute’s silence is marked at Westminster Abbey this morning as people across Britain remember key workers
NHS staff pause for a minute’s silence to honour key workers including hospital staff at Salford Royal Hospital this morning
Nurses and other staff stand outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, for the silence this morning
The miunute’s silence was also observed by members of the emergency services at Glasgow Airport this morning
Recently-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer observes the minute’s silence in Westminster at 11am this morning
A police officer observes the silence today at Guy’s Hospital in London in honour of key workers who have lost their lives
Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade at Chelsea fire station in West London observe the minute’s silence this morning
Paramedics pause during a minute’s silence held in memory of NHS workers outside Glenfield Hospital in Leicester today
Carers and bus drivers are also among those who have died while carrying out their vital work during the pandemic. In a snapshot of how the silence was being marked across the UK:
- Flags were due to be flown at half-mast from Chorley and Royal Preston Hospitals.
- Underground and bus networks in London were to be brought to a halt for the silence as the workforce honoured its colleagues.
- In Northern Ireland, staff in the emergency department of the Ulster Hospital formed a guard of honour in the corridor ‘to show solidarity with our colleagues’. Senior nurse Roisin Devlin said: ‘In healthcare, teamwork is so important and, when you lose a member of that team, it is like losing a family member.’
- In Scotland, a short ceremony was held at Holyrood ahead of the silence, led by Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh, with a representative from each of the five parties also present, and in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon market the event at St Andrew’s House, joined by the health secretary, chief medical officer and chief nursing officer.
- In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford and Health Minister Vaughan Gething marked the silence at the Welsh Government headquarters in Cardiff.
NHS workers hold a minute’s silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon, this morning
Frontline NHS staff at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton-on-Tees join in the minute’s silence this morning
People queue outside Costco in Thurrock, Essex, this morning during a minute’s silence paying tribute to key workers
ristina, Bruno and Katja, the bakery staff at Paul in Wimbledon, South West London, observe the minute’s silence today
A veteran in Royal Hospital Chelsea uniform pauses for the silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London today
Hospital workers and police officers stand together after the minute’s silence at University College Hospital in London today
People observe a minute of silence outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London this morning
NHS workers Joe McStominey, Linda Hobson and Michael Barclay at the Eldon Square Memorial in Newcastle this morning
Nurses in the maternity ward at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust pause for the minute’s silence this morning
St John Ambulance personnel in Northern Ireland take part in the silence for key workers at 11am this morning
Staff on the maternity ward at King’s College Hospital in London take part in the minute’s silence this morning
An empty Parliament Square in London today during a minute’s silence paying tribute to the NHS staff and key workers
A police officer stands in the rain outside 10 Downing Street in London today as the minute’s silence takes place
Today’s silence – held on International Workers’ Memorial Day – was in stark contrast to the enthusiastic, loud clapping which has become a weekly focal point across the UK.
Andrea Sutcliffe, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) chief executive and registrar, said: ‘Our tribute in silence today is as important as the noisy cheering for the NHS, social care and key workers on a Thursday evening.’
The Society of Occupational Medicine, whose members include more than 1,700 doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and technicians, has said the goal should be zero work-caused fatalities.
It is calling for the Government to prevent any further work-related deaths and for employers to carry out risk assessments so people can safely return to their jobs whenever the lockdown is eased.