KIND ACTS HAILED AS COUNTRY FALLS SILENT
THE man in charge of fighting the pandemic in Staffordshire has hailed acts of kindness carried out by people across the county during what had been an “incredibly challenging” year.
Dr Richard Harling, director of health and care at Staffordshire County Council, was speaking on the anniversary of the country first being put into lockdown.
In East Staffordshire, there have been 415 deaths since the start of the pandemic, and yesterday families there joined the rest of the country in observing a minute’s silence for those who have died during the pandemic as part of a National Day of Reflection.
Looking back on the past year, Dr Harling said: “I think it has been incredibly challenging. No one could have expected or foreseen how the last 12 months have gone.
“My sympathies go out to those that have lost loved ones this year, and it has been a struggle with many people being distant from their family and friends.
“We have seen this year a testimony to public and resilience of the people of Staffordshire, with people stepping forward with simple acts of kindness. One of the things that has really stood out to me this year was the fact that we are helping one and another out and we have been working tirelessly.
“It has been tough when the virus has shown exactly how fast it can spread and when cases went through the roof in November it led to the lockdown that we are still in.”
In the week leading up to Friday, November 20, last year there were 3,025 Covid cases in the county, with an infection rate of 343.9 per every 100,000 people. Today the figures are considerably less with 609 cases with a rolling rate of 69.2 in the week leading up to March 17.
Burton was at the centre of an outbreak in August and became an area of great concern as cases rose worryingly in wards around the town centre.
Dr Harling said the rate in Burton was still being monitored, adding: “I still think that the rate in Burton is still a bit higher than we would like, but I don’t think it’s out of control. We’re concerned where cases are persistently high over long periods of time which is what we saw in Burton, and I’d like to see the rate carry on the way down.
“Rates like this are usually down to more people over a smaller area, with high-density housing and families mixing. These are the conditions in which the virus thrives in, and we have to ask people to go above and beyond.”
Dr Harling has also spoken on the toll that the year has taken on public sector workers.
He said: “We have worked long hours over the year and on those occasions when the virus has been on the up again, it has been difficult not to be disenchanted.
“But to have even one working vaccine in this period of time has been a huge achievement and the fact that the NHS is doing such an amazing job is so incredible.”
THE Queen and Prime Minister have led tributes acknowledging the grief and loss of the past year as the nation fell silent on the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
The nation paused at midday in remembrance of those who have died during the crisis as part of a national day of reflection, organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie. The minute’s silence was observed by members of the public, health and care staff and politicians across the UK, with cathedrals and both Houses of Parliament falling silent. It was followed by a bell toll.
At 8pm, people stood on their doorsteps with phones, candles and torches to signify a “beacon of remembrance”.
More than 250 organisations supported-the day of reflection, including 82 leaders from religious groups and cross-party politicians, care organisations, charities, businesses, emergency services, public sector bodies and community groups.
The Queen reflected on the “grief and loss felt by so many” in a message accompanying flowers sent to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London, where the Duke of Edinburgh had heart surgery. The message read: “As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took part in a private moment of reflection in Westminster Abbey, observing the minute’s silence in the abbey’s Shrine of St Edward the Confessor.
William then lit a candle in remembrance at the altar of the shrine, and Kate placed fresh daffodils next to the candle.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who observed the minute’s silence privately, offered his “sincere condolences” to people bereaved. He said: “The anniversary of the first lockdown is an opportunity to reflect on the past year – one of the most difficult in our country’s history. We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year.”
At a Downing Street press conference, he said that “at the right moment” a permanent memorial to those who died from coronavirus would be built and the “whole period” would be commemorated.
Hailing the vaccination programme, Mr Johnson added: “Cautiously but irreversibly, step by step, jab by jab, this country is on the path to reclaiming our freedoms.”
But he said we had to be “very wary” of the potential for a third wave.
According to the latest available data from the Office for National Statistics, across the UK, 149,117 deaths have now occurred where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
To mark the anniversary, London’s skyline turned yellow with landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium lit up at nightfall. Other notable buildings illuminated include Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall.