Coronavirus minute’s silence: How to take part in tribute to key workers and NHS staff

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Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health and social care workers, as well as transport and supermarket workers, have continued to work in order to help the population manage the ongoing outbreak.

Last week, the government announced that 84 health workers, including 69 NHS workers and 15 care workers, had died due to the virus.

The news came amid ongoing pressure on the government to address shortage of personal protect equipment (PPE).

A flight from Turkey that was meant to contain 400,000 pieces of PPE was said to only have enough to ‘last a few hours’.

Furthermore, it was reported earlier this month that 26 Transport for London workers had died from Covid-19.

In order to pay tribute to key workers who have died due to Covid-19, a minute’s silence is going to be held in their honour.

Here is how you can participate:

The one minute silence is due to be held at 11am on Tuesday 28 April.

The event coincides with International Workers’ Memorial Day, an annual observance that pays tribute to workers who have become unwell, injured, disabled or have died due to their work.

The hashtag for the campaign to use on social media is “#neverforgotten”.

The minute’s silence has been organised as part of a collaboration between public service trade union Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives.

In a statement released by the three organisations, they stated that International Workers’ Memorial Day “has never been more important” in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Every year, the sacrifice of workers around the world is recognised, but this year has a special significance because of the pandemic,” said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

“Thousands of key staff are on the frontline while the rest of us are in lockdown. That’s why we’ve issued this call for the whole country to take part and remember the sacrifices they’ve made. The best tribute we can all pay them is to stay inside to protect the NHS.”

Unison general secretary Mr Prentis recently sent a letter to first secretary of state Dominic Raab urging the government to formally back the one minute silence.

In the letter, which Mr Prentis shared on Twitter, he explained that several organisations, including the Trades Union Congress, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the The Teachers’ Union, have publicly backed the campaign.

“Health and social care workers on the frontline across the country are losing their lives to coronavirus. This is a tragedy for their families, friends, colleagues and the nation,” Mr Prentis wrote.

He added that culture secretary Oliver Downden said that his department would be “looking into” the event, describing it as “a very good idea”.