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The National Covid Memorial Wall will be preserved to
remember the lives lost during the pandemic
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COVID-19 Day of Reflection will take place annually each
March
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New COVID-19 commemorative green spaces delivered in
partnership with NHS Charities Together and Forestry England
The government has today published its response to the UK
Commission on Covid Commemoration's report.
The Commission, headed by of Cotes, was created under
the previous administration to make recommendations on how the
United Kingdom can commemorate the loss of life and honour the
sacrifice and public service of key workers during the pandemic.
The government has committed to take forward a number of the
recommendations in the report, including:
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Preservation of the National Covid Memorial
Wall: Created by the bereaved, for the bereaved, the
government will work with The Friends of the Wall and local
partners, to preserve the National Covid Memorial Wall as a
memorial to the lives lost in the UK to COVID-19.
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A UK wide COVID-19 Day of Reflection: The Day of
Reflection will continue to take place annually in March as
an opportunity to come together to remember the lives lost
and the sacrifices made. It will also pay tribute to the work
of health and social care staff, frontline workers,
researchers and all those who volunteered and showed acts of
kindness during this unprecedented time.
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Creating new spaces for reflection: In partnership with
NHS Charities Together and Forestry England, new COVID-19
memorials will be created across the country that will
reflect the importance of green spaces to the nation during
the pandemic.
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Fellowship scheme on future natural hazards: A new
fellowship programme has been launched focusing on natural
hazards and resilience as part of the UK Research and
Innovation (UKRI) Policy Fellowship programme.
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Commemoration web pages: New gov.uk web
pages have also been published bringing together information
about COVID-19 commemorative activity, including oral
histories that share memories and first-hand experiences of
the pandemic. They will also include information on memorials
that the public can visit, and about the Day of Reflection.
Culture Minister said:
“The pandemic had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. It
is right that this period in our shared history is appropriately
remembered. I would like to thank , all of the Commissioners,
and the bereaved family groups who contributed to the work of the
UK Commission on Covid Commemoration.
“It is important that we honour the lives lost and remember the
sacrifice and courage of key workers who contributed so much to
keep the public safe and keep our public services running during
this time, often at huge personal cost.
“Each of the more than 240,000 hand painted hearts on the
National Covid Memorial Wall is a poignant and powerful reminder
of the scale of loss of life to the pandemic. Many families did
not have the opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one. Today, we
commit to ensuring that those who died are not forgotten.”
of Cotes said:
“I would like to thank Ministers and DCMS officials for their
considered and thoughtful response to the recommendations of the
UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. It was a privilege to chair
the Commission and I remain mindful that while people want the
space and time to reflect on their individual and collective
loss, they also wanted us to look ahead in our recommendations
and to try to build resilience in preparation for a future
pandemic or other hazardous event.
“As we said in our report, the period when bereaved families
could not have the usual physical and social contact will never
be forgotten. But equally the efforts and sacrifices of frontline
workers, the volunteering and community spirit we saw and the
amazing achievement of UK science in developing the vaccines
should also not be forgotten. It is right that, as a country, we
take the time to remember the COVID-19 pandemic, to address what
happened and then to focus on preparedness for the future. The
Government response will facilitate this and I am delighted that
we have reached this point.”
You can read the full government response here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-government-response-to-the-report-by-the-uk-commission-on-covid-commemoration
