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| Covid day of reflection in UK marks fifth anniversary since pandemic | Covid day of reflection in UK marks fifth anniversary since pandemic |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| People have been coming together to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in a nationwide day of reflection. | People have been coming together to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in a nationwide day of reflection. |
| Emotional scenes were played out across the nation on Sunday as the bereaved and their communities hosted hundreds of events. | Emotional scenes were played out across the nation on Sunday as the bereaved and their communities hosted hundreds of events. |
| Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved." | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved." |
| The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. | The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. |
| BBC News is inviting readers to share their memories of the Covid-19 pandemic by using the form below. | BBC News is inviting readers to share their memories of the Covid-19 pandemic by using the form below. |
| In London, sobbing could be heard as bereaved relatives, led by a Highland piper, joined well wishers to walk beside the National Covid Memorial Wall. | In London, sobbing could be heard as bereaved relatives, led by a Highland piper, joined well wishers to walk beside the National Covid Memorial Wall. |
| They passed 3,000 photographs of the faces of some of those who died, which represents just over 1% of the total death toll from Covid in the UK, organisers said. | They passed 3,000 photographs of the faces of some of those who died, which represents just over 1% of the total death toll from Covid in the UK, organisers said. |
| Choir song and a water cannon salute on the Thames from a London Fire Brigade fireboat brought the event to a close. | Choir song and a water cannon salute on the Thames from a London Fire Brigade fireboat brought the event to a close. |
| Flowers were thrown and a fire boat performed a water salute on the River Thames | Flowers were thrown and a fire boat performed a water salute on the River Thames |
| A minute's silence was held after the chimes of Big Ben and long-stemmed red carnations were cast into the River Thames. | A minute's silence was held after the chimes of Big Ben and long-stemmed red carnations were cast into the River Thames. |
| Lynn Jones fought back tears as she remembered her "fit and healthy" 66-year-old husband Gareth who died after "spending seven weeks in hospital battling the virus on his own". | |
| She told those gathered at the London event that the Covid wall "is an expression of so many emotions - rage, love, grief, pain and unbearable sadness". | |
| Well-wishers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent heard a new poem from the writer, poet, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen, who spent time in hospital with Covid during the pandemic and was placed into an induced coma. | |
| First Minister of Scotland John Swinney laid a wreath during the event at Glasgow Green | First Minister of Scotland John Swinney laid a wreath during the event at Glasgow Green |
| Across the UK, just under 227,000 people died who had the virus listed as a cause of death - with more than 16,000 in Scotland. | Across the UK, just under 227,000 people died who had the virus listed as a cause of death - with more than 16,000 in Scotland. |
| A choir sang and a poem was read to take people into a minute's silence at the reflection event in Glasgow Green. | A choir sang and a poem was read to take people into a minute's silence at the reflection event in Glasgow Green. |
| Doves were released and the event also included a wreath being laid, a plaque unveiling and individual yellow roses being left in memory of loved ones. | Doves were released and the event also included a wreath being laid, a plaque unveiling and individual yellow roses being left in memory of loved ones. |
| National Memorial Arboretum managing director Philippa Rawlinson lays flowers | National Memorial Arboretum managing director Philippa Rawlinson lays flowers |
| Earlier, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who took part in the Glasgow ceremony, sent his "deepest condolences" to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic. | Earlier, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who took part in the Glasgow ceremony, sent his "deepest condolences" to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic. |
| Speaking before the service he added: "Children stopped going to school, many shops and businesses were closed, and we were no longer able to spend time with friends and family as normal." | Speaking before the service he added: "Children stopped going to school, many shops and businesses were closed, and we were no longer able to spend time with friends and family as normal." |
| Other events include a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral and a remembrance concert with music, poems and readings in Belfast. | Other events include a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral and a remembrance concert with music, poems and readings in Belfast. |