THE nation is to pause in remembrance of those who have died during the coronavirus pandemic, one year after the UK was first plunged into lockdown.
A national day of reflection, organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie, will take place today.
A minute’s silence will be held at 12pm followed by a bell toll, and people are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm with phones, candles and torches to signify a “beacon of remembrance”.
The Prime Minister has said he will observe the minute’s silence privately at noon while it will also be held in the Houses of Parliament.
London’s skyline will turn yellow with landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium lighting up at nightfall.
More than 250 organisations are supporting the day of reflection, including 82 leaders from religious groups and cross-party politicians, care organisations, charities, businesses, emergency services, public sector bodies and community groups.
It comes as the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that across the UK, 147,681 deaths have now occurred where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
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