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Covid day of reflection 2025: Share your memories of lockdown Day of reflection in UK marking fifth anniversary of start of Covid
(about 20 hours later)
A procession is being held at the national Covid-19 memorial wall to mark the day of reflection on Sunday A procession was held at the national Covid-19 memorial wall to mark the day of reflection
Towns and cities across the UK are holding a day of reflection on Sunday with 2025 marking five years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. People have been coming together to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in a nationwide day of reflection.
Health trusts and councils are among the groups organising events being held in hospitals, parks and town halls. Hundreds of events and spaces for reflection were organised by communities to remember those who died.
There will also be a procession along the Covid-19 memorial wall in London, which runs beside the River Thames, that ends with a ceremony outside Lambeth Palace. A procession has taken place along the Covid-19 memorial wall in London and ended with a ceremony outside Lambeth Palace.
The day of reflection was announced in December by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who said the events would be organised locally.
"The pandemic impacted us all in different ways, with many sadly losing loved ones and others making great sacrifices in their lives," she said.
"This Covid-19 Day of Reflection will allow people the space and time to reflect and I would encourage everyone to take part in a way that feels right for them."
Flowers were thrown and a fire boat performed a water salute on the River Thames
The memorial wall, which runs beside the River Thames, was created in 2021 when a man, whose father died after contracting Covid-19, painted a red heart on the South Bank.
The procession was followed by the ceremony and a minute's silence was held. Flowers were also thrown from Lambeth Bridge.
By late October 2023, there had been at least 232,000 deaths in the UK related to the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organisation.By late October 2023, there had been at least 232,000 deaths in the UK related to the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organisation.
The day of reflection was announced in December by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who said the events would be organised locally so people could mark the occasion in the way they felt most appropriate. About 3,000 photos of the faces of some of those who died were passed around, representing just over 1% of the total death toll in the UK, organisers said.
"The pandemic impacted us all in different ways, with many sadly losing loved ones and others making great sacrifices in their lives," she said. "This Covid-19 Day of Reflection will allow people the space and time to reflect and I would encourage everyone to take part in a way that feels right for them." First Minister of Scotland John Swinney laid a wreath during the event at Glasgow Green
The memorial wall was created in 2021 when a man, whose father died after contracting Covid-19, painted a red heart on the South Bank.
There are now more than 200,000 hearts painted on the wall, covering a stretch of a third of a mile (500m). Many have names and dates written inside.
The memorial is maintained by a group of volunteers who rely on public donations. They want it to be recognised as a permanent installation by the government so it can be legally protected.
The government tried to reduce the spread of Covid-19 by implementing lockdown measures from 2020 onwards
Sunday's procession will be followed by a ceremony and a minute's silence, as well as flowers being thrown from Lambeth Bridge.
One of the people participating in the procession is Dr Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association council (BMA).One of the people participating in the procession is Dr Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association council (BMA).
He said: "The emphasis of the day will rightly be one of solemnity and heartfelt reflection, as each of us remembers just how the effects of the pandemic forever changed us personally, professionally and as a society."He said: "The emphasis of the day will rightly be one of solemnity and heartfelt reflection, as each of us remembers just how the effects of the pandemic forever changed us personally, professionally and as a society."
Other events include a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral, an outdoor event at Glasgow Green including a piper, choir and minute's silence, and a remembrance concert with music, poems and readings in Belfast.Other events include a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral, an outdoor event at Glasgow Green including a piper, choir and minute's silence, and a remembrance concert with music, poems and readings in Belfast.
National Memorial Arboretum managing director Philippa Rawlinson lay flowers
NHS Charities Together will pay tribute to the critical role played by the NHS, its workforce and charities in supporting patients and communities during the pandemic.
It will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which commemorates the thousands of people who died.
The day of reflection was one of the recommendations made by the UK commission on Covid commemoration, which was tasked by the government to find the best ways of marking this period.The day of reflection was one of the recommendations made by the UK commission on Covid commemoration, which was tasked by the government to find the best ways of marking this period.
A local artist created a pavement mural in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral to mark the day
Baroness Morgan of Cotes, who heads the commission, said when the day of reflection was first announced: "As each year passes since the height of the pandemic it can feel as if Covid is more and more of a distant memory.Baroness Morgan of Cotes, who heads the commission, said when the day of reflection was first announced: "As each year passes since the height of the pandemic it can feel as if Covid is more and more of a distant memory.
"And yet I know from the conversations the UK Covid commemoration commissioners had, that those who lost loved ones appreciate a day when many others will also remember those who lost their lives with them.""And yet I know from the conversations the UK Covid commemoration commissioners had, that those who lost loved ones appreciate a day when many others will also remember those who lost their lives with them."
A public inquiry into the government's response to the pandemic is under way with hearings taking place now on the procurement of personal protective equipment for the NHS.A public inquiry into the government's response to the pandemic is under way with hearings taking place now on the procurement of personal protective equipment for the NHS.