A MINUTE’S SILENCE
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION ON ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST LOCKDOWN
THE one-year anniversary of the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown will be marked today with a minute’s silence and landmarks lit up in yellow lights.
The ‘national day of reflection’, first proposed by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, will serve as a memorial to all those killed by the disease.
Boris Johnson will be joining in with the minute’s silence at 12pm, which will be observed in the Houses of Parliament and across the country.
People are also being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm, shining mobile phone lights, candles and torches to help create a ‘beacon of remembrance’ to victims. The prime minister said: ‘The last 12 months has taken a huge toll on us all, and I offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones.’
He added: ‘We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year.
‘It’s because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all.’
London landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium will be lit up at nightfall. Other notable buildings that will be illuminated include Belfast City Hall and Cardiff Castle.
Official statistics show that at least 126,000 people in the UK have died of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, although the true figure is likely to be much higher, as over 146,000 death certificates mention the illness.
The death toll across the world is approaching 3million.
The anniversary is likely to lead to renewed pressure on the government to hold a public inquiry into its handling of the pandemic, amid claims at least 20,000 lives could have been saved if lockdown began just a week earlier.