The last hurrah? Brits prepare for 10th weekly salute
The last hurrah? Britain takes to the streets in 10th weekly salute to NHS key workers – as the event’s founder says this should be the final one
- Britons all over the country marked the 10th weekly Clap for Carers event tonight, paying tribute to the NHS
- The event sees people pay tribute and show appreciation to NHS and key workers amid coronavirus outbreak
- The founder of Clap for Carers, Annemarie Plas, said earlier she wants to focus on improving lives of workers
- She paid tribute to Britons for taking part in the weekly applause but said it was time to move on after tonight
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Britons have taken to the streets for the 10th weekly NHS Clap for Carers this evening, after the event’s founder said it should be the last one.
People all over the country have been taking to their doorsteps, balconies and windows to cheer and applaud NHS staff and key workers over the past ten weeks, amid the fight against coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his cabinet, celebrities and even royals have been getting involved as the nation pays tribute to key staff helping to keep the country going during the pandemic.
And the PM led the applause this evening, standing outside Number 10 and clapping enthusiastically on the day he announced the easing of Britain’s coronavirus lockdown.
Annemarie Plas, the founder of the initiative, was also pictured enthusiastically marking the occasion, after saying that tonight’s event should be the last.
She called on Britons to concentrate on other ways to support the NHS and told Good Morning Britain that it’s time to move on.
The mother believes it’s now time to concentrate on concrete steps to improve conditions for key workers.
Annemarie Plas, the founder of the Clap for Carers event, joins members of the public enthusiastically taking part in tonight’s applause, which is the tenth weekly and may be the last one
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the Clap for Carers applause this evening, on the day that he announced the easing of Britain’s lockdown
Annemarie Plas, 36, a Dutch national living in south London who created the weekly 8pm Clap For Our Carers, stands with other residents in south London, as she joins the applause. She has called on this week to be the last one
Two children hold a banner outside Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool to join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers
The Prime Minister put on another animated display during tonight’s clap, giving a thumbs-up to the camera after applauding
Residents in Tonbridge, Kent, take part in the tenth Clap for Carers, on what the organiser says should be the last week that the national event takes place
People applaud on their balconies for the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Hemel Hempstead this evening
Staff at St Mary’s Chippy in Milton Keynes stand outside and join in with what is expected to be the final Clap For Our Carers
Members of the public come together in Bromley to applaud the NHS this evening, for the 10th weekly Clap for Carers event
NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow participate in what could be the final Clap for Carers and key workers
NHS staff and members of the public gather outside the Royal London Hospital, during the potential final clap for our carers
She told Good Morning Britain that it’s time to move on but praised people who’d taken part.
Although she hopes neighbours will still come out onto their doorsteps to socialise at 8pm on Thursday, the mother believes it’s now time to concentrate on concrete steps to improve conditions for key workers.
Ms Plas, a Dutch national living in South London, said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support for the cacophonous ritual, but said it was better to stop when it was at ‘its peak’.
An NHS doctor has also backed calls to end Clap for Carers because the weekly ritual has become a ‘stunt’ hijacked by politicians, she said.
London hospital doctor Meenal Viz, who has worked on the front line during the coronavirus pandemic, said she supports ending the event after tonight amid concerns it has become too political.
Staff members at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool wear PPE as they join the applause to salute local heroes
Two members of NHS staff embrace as they prepare to join the applause at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool
An NHS worker takes a photo outside the Royal Stoke University Hospital before the 10th Clap for Carers
Supporters and NHS staff from Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool prepare for the applause during Thursday’s Clap for Carers
The crew of a European Aviation Group flight, about to depart for China to collect PPE, stand in front of their plane at Bournemouth International Airport, alongside staff and fire fighters, as they join in the Clap for Carers event
The flight was about to depart for China to collect PPE as staff and fire fighters from Bournemouth Airport join in the applause
The National Trust’s Bodnant Garden near Colwyn Bay, Conw, bathed in rainbow light ahead of the weekly Clap for Carers
Dr Viz, 27, said the weekly applause had started from everybody showing gratitude for the NHS, showing their love for ‘this amazing healthcare system’.
‘But it went from that to being a stunt that the politicians chose to do,’ she added.
‘They used it and abused it, so they could show the public they were supporting it and then go straight into Number 10 Downing Street and make decisions which negatively impacted on the NHS and care workers.
‘I’m not saying they should not support it – by all means applaud. But don’t let your actions betray that. The Government has failed to protect the NHS.’
Dr Viz, who is seven months pregnant with her first child, is backing a crowdfunding campaign to challenge the Government over personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff.
Annemarie Plas, the founder of the event, called on Britons to concentrate on other ways to support the NHS and make tonight the last one. London hospital doctor Meenal Viz, who has worked on the front line during the coronavirus pandemic, said she supports ending the event after this week amid concerns it has become too political
Dr Viz said: ‘It’s not just a shortage of PPE.
‘From a mental health perspective we have been put in a warzone and only been given a butter knife.
‘I think ending the clap is a very powerful statement by the public to say we’re not happy with this.
‘It’s a very brave move by Annemarie Plas. In fact I think by not clapping it is showing more support for the NHS.
‘It has been a morale boost. But I hope the gratitude was not just through the clap. I hope support continues in other forms.’
Dr Martin Porter also appeared on GMB today and said there was a risk the weekly clap would lose its importance.
‘With all of these things if you carry them on for too long fatigue sets in,’ he said, but added: ‘It’s been a beautiful thing.’
Former glamour model Linda Lusardi – who herself battled coronaviurs – disagreed and worries that people will forget about the dangers of coronavirus.
‘If we lose that completely people are just going to think this virus has gone away, which it hasn’t,’ she said. ‘We’re not out of the woods yet.’
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