Coronavirus UK: One minute’s silence for NHS dead on Tuesday

Britain will hold minute’s silence at 11am today to pay tribute to NHS staff and key workers who have died battling coronavirus pandemic

  • Boris Johnson will observe the minute’s silence after overcoming coronavirus 
  • A campaign was launched last week to honour frontline workers who have died
  • More than 90 frontline NHS workers have died from the virus since March 25  
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The nation will fall silent today to pay tribute to NHS staff and other key workers who have lost their lives in the fight against coronavirus.  

The tribute will be led by Boris Johnson, who returned to work yesterday after being struck down by the virus, at 11am.

Government workers will be asked to take part and the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it is hoped others will participate ‘nationwide’.

More than 90 frontline NHS workers have died after contracting COVID-19 since March 25, and there have also been many lives lost in other key sectors, including private social care and transport. 

Boris Johnson and rest of nation will observe minute’s silence for key workers who have died

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the Scottish Government would take part in the minute’s silence – and invited other Scots to join in.

She said the tribute would be ‘particularly, but not exclusively’ for health and care workers.

The Unison union, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing launched a campaign last week for the nation to take a moment to honour frontline staff who have died during the crisis.

UK records 360 more virus deaths 

The UK today announced 360 more coronavirus deaths – the lowest daily count recorded since March 30 when just 180 fatalities were registered.

England declared 329 more COVID-19 deaths, Scotland 13, Northern Ireland 10 and Wales eight, taking the total number of COVID-19 victims past 21,000.

Although the statistics are known to drop following the weekend, the sharp fall adds to evidence that the peak of the UK’s epidemic has blown over, with April 8 known to be Britain’s deadliest day (980).

The daily death toll is 22 per cent lower than the 449 coronavirus deaths announced last Monday and half the 717 declared fatalities on April 13.

In a message of hope for millions earlier, Boris Johnson – back in charge after weeks recuperating from a serious scare with the killer disease – said we are near the ‘end of the first phase’ of COVID-19 and hinted that an ‘exit plan’ will be fleshed out within days.

However, the PM made clear there is little chance of a loosening starting soon, urging people to be ‘patient’ as it is not yet the time to ‘go easy’ on social distancing rules.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also sounded a downbeat note this evening, telling the No10 briefing that there is still a ‘long, long way to go’. 

Between them, the organisations represent more than a million NHS and public service workers including porters, refuse collectors and care staff.

The PM’s official spokesman said yesterday: ‘We will be supporting the minute’s silence.

‘We will be asking everybody who works in the Government to take part and we would hope that others will take part nationwide as well.’ The silence will coincide with International Workers’ Memorial Day.

Ms Sturgeon added: ‘The silence will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have died as a result of their work to serve, care for and save others and it will be a further reminder that of all the duties Government bares during a situation like this, the most vital is our obligation to keep care and health workers safe.

‘I want to stress again today that I and the Scottish Government are acutely aware of that responsibility and will work each and every day to do everything we can to fulfil that obligation.’  

Yesterday Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed 82 NHS workers and 16 social care staff have died of the virus so far.  

During yesterday’s Downing Street press conference Mr Matt Hancock promised the family’s of all medics who have lost their lives on the frontline will get a £60,000 life assurance payout. 

He said: ‘I feel a deep personal sense of duty that we must care for their loved ones.

‘Today, I am able to announce that the Government is setting up a life assurance scheme for NHS and social care frontline colleagues.

‘Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential frontline work will receive a £60,000 payment.

‘Of course, nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything we can to support families who are dealing with this grief.’

Pictured: Dr Medhat Atalla who died following treatment for COVID-19 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), in South Yorkshire, where he worked as a consultant geriatrician

Pictured: Dr Medhat Atalla who died following treatment for COVID-19 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), in South Yorkshire, where he worked as a consultant geriatrician

Father-of-seven Thomas Harvey, 57, also died in the fight against coronavirus. He was a mental health NHS worker at Goodmayes Hospital in east London

Father-of-seven Thomas Harvey, 57, also died in the fight against coronavirus. He was a mental health NHS worker at Goodmayes Hospital in east London

Grandfather Gareth Roberts, 65, came out of retirement to work as a nurse again and died after contracting COVID-19

Grandfather Gareth Roberts, 65, came out of retirement to work as a nurse again and died after contracting COVID-19 

Yesterday, Britain recorded its lowest death toll since March 30, with 360 coronavirus fatalities nationwide.   

The daily death toll is 22 per cent lower than the 449 coronavirus deaths announced last Monday and half the 717 declared fatalities on April 13.

In a message of hope for millions earlier, Boris Johnson – back in charge after weeks recuperating from a serious scare with the killer disease – said we are near the ‘end of the first phase’ of COVID-19 and hinted that an ‘exit plan’ will be fleshed out within days.

However, the PM made clear there is little chance of a loosening starting soon, urging people to be ‘patient’ as it is not yet the time to ‘go easy’ on social distancing rules.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also sounded a downbeat note this evening, telling the No10 briefing that there is still a ‘long, long way to go’.