LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
LANDMARKS TURN YELLOW AS A NATION IN GRIEF REFLECTS ON A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN
PEOPLE across the UK yesterday took part in a minute’s silence to remember Covid-19 victims, marking one year since the first lockdown began.
First Minister Mark Drakeford paid tribute to people in Wales for uniting “in the darkest of times”.
Senedd Members, MPs, peers and members of Scotland’s and Northern Ireland’s devolved administrations marked the solemn anniversary at noon, while NHS and social care workers also joined the pause for reflection.
Cathedrals fell silent in honour of those who have died during the pandemic. And last night landmarks across the UK, including Cardiff Castle, the London Eye, the Scottish Parliament and Belfast City Hall were illuminated in yellow to mark the anniversary, in a move organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie.
Mr Drakeford said while the anniversary was a chance to focus on the huge loss of life, it could be marked with “a sense of hope” because of the country’s vaccination programme and plans to ease restrictions.
He took part in a minute’s silence with members of his cabinet and chief executive of NHS Wales Dr Andrew Goodall to reflect on those who have lost their lives.
Speaking on the steps of the Welsh Government’s Cathays Park building in Cardiff following the minute’s silence, he said: “A year ago, all four countries in the United Kingdom entered lockdown together.
“So much of our focus today is rightly on the huge loss of life the pandemic has caused. Our thoughts are with all the families who are mourning the loss of a loved one – just as our thoughts have been with all the people whose lives lie behind the numbers reported every day.
“They will be remembered in the hearts and minds of all those who knew and loved them.”
Mr Drakeford also spoke of hearing “inspiring tales of resilience, bravery and determination from every part of Wales”, including “everyday heroes” such as bus drivers, shop workers, intensive care nurses and teachers.
Mr Drakeford said: “In the darkest of times, we have come together as a country.
“And because of that, today we mark this anniversary with a sense of hope.
“Our fantastic vaccine programme is protecting thousands of people every day and we’re relaxing the restrictions we have lived with for so long.
“As the first shoots of spring appear, we can all have real hope that this year can be so much better than the last.”
Meanwhile, the Queen reflected on the “grief and loss felt by so many” as she paid tribute to the service of health and care workers in a message to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where the Duke of Edinburgh had heart surgery.
The Prime Minister, who has offered his “sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones”, observed the minute’s silence privately.
It came on the day new figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a total of 149,117 people have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.
Earlier, Downing Street said Mr Johnson had reflected with Cabinet ministers yesterday morning on what had been “a very dark and difficult year” for the nation.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The PM said that we mourn all those we have lost and send our deepest sympathies to their families, friends and loved ones.
“The PM said the last year had also shown the great strengths of the British public, which had demonstrated such resilience and fortitude and had shown such willingness to work together for a common good.
“The PM and Cabinet paid tribute to the extraordinary service of everyone in the NHS, social care and in the public sector over the past year, along with all those who had kept the country going – from bus drivers to shop workers.
“The PM said the ability of British scientists to respond to the pandemic had been incredible.
“He said that, if asked last March, he would not have believed it would have been possible to have developed a vaccine and delivered it to half of the UK adult population within 12 months.
“The PM said this was an absolutely astonishing achievement, which is a tribute to British science but also to British business.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was among those who joined the minute’s silence to remember those who have lost their lives.
Earlier, he tweeted: “As we mark one year since our country entered the first lockdown, my thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones since the pandemic began.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted yesterday morning: “One year on. Thinking today of all those who have lost a loved one to Covid, and to everyone who continues to make heartbreaking sacrifices as we continue to navigate our way through this terrible ordeal, together.
“Also, many people have lost loved ones to causes other than Covid over the past 12 months. The restrictions in place have made the grieving process even more difficult than it would have been – my thoughts are with you too.”
Elsewhere, Professor Calum Semple, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies
(Sage), said he thought a third wave of coronavirus could potentially hit in the summer.
The UK is expecting another wave of infections at some point, mostly among the unvaccinated, but some scientists have suggested this will not be until the autumn or winter.
Prof Semple said: “The concern at present is that in countries where there’s less vaccination and a very strong third wave, that’s the perfect breeding ground for further variants of concern.
“So, at this point, Britain has got its act together, the concern is as this third wave is going on elsewhere, that will generate new variations.
“Even within Britain there is a likelihood of a third wave in potentially July and August time, when we do unlock society.”