Annual Covid memorial day recommended to ensure victims are never forgotten

18 September 2023 , 14:47

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The National Covid Memorial Wall, dedicated to those who lost their lives to the virus, stands on the embankment on the south side of the River Thames (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

An annual Covid remembrance day should be held and memorials built across the UK to ensure pandemic victims are never forgotten, the official commission has said.

In a report today, the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration suggested holding a national day of reflection each year and a string of new Covid memorials across the UK, alongside the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. It has identified 10 potential green spaces for monuments - and proposed a fund to let local authorities create smaller commemorative spaces in their areas.

A Remembrance poppy-style symbol could be created to represent the pandemic, the commission said. It also said schoolchildren must be taught about what happened during the pandemic and testimonies gathered from bereaved families, key workers, scientists and volunteers for museums to record.

Boris Johnson established the Commission on Covid Commemoration in 2022 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Chairwoman Baroness Nicky Morgan said: "The Covid pandemic changed the lives of everyone across the UK and its impact is still felt very deeply by those who lost loved ones and those who are still suffering from the effect of the virus. That’s why it is so important that we don’t let this vitally important period in our history be forgotten and we hope our recommendations will mean that the loved ones we have lost and the sacrifices made by so many during the pandemic will be remembered for years to come.”

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: "The impact of Covid will never be forgotten and we must find a fitting way to remember and reflect on the pandemic for generations to come. The Commission has made a number of valuable recommendations and my department will now consider the best ways to commemorate this unprecedented period in our history."

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A national day of reflection has been held in recent years on March 23 - to mark the anniversary of the first lockdown. The Mirror has been campaigning for a lasting memorial to those who lost their lives to the virus.

The recommendations will now be considered by the Government.

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Lizzy Buchan