UK to carry minute's silence for fallen key workers
A minute's silence will be held over the UK later to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on Monday, will join the tribute, which starts at 11:00 BST.
A lot more than 100 NHS and care staff have died with the virus, as have many transport and other key workers.
NHS England medical director Stephen Powis said he hoped "the complete nation" would show how much their "contribution is remembered and appreciated".
Chief nursing officer Ruth May added: "Every death is a tragedy but we feel the increased loss of fellow health and care staff particularly keenly."
It comes as hospitals in England start planning to restore some NHS services that needed to be postponed as a result of the pandemic.
The most recent daily figures show an additional 360 persons died with the virus in UK hospitals, taking the full total number of deaths to 21,092.
This number includes 82 NHS staff and 16 care personnel who were confirmed to have died in hospital in England. The other day, BBC analysis of the published figures found that at least 103 health staff had died with the virus over the UK.
The entire UK deaths figure will not include persons who died locally - for example in care homes, or people who have died within their own homes.
The minute's silence to honour key workers follows a campaign by the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing, and the union, Unison.
It has received the backing of the federal government and the prime minister, who has only returned to work after being treated in intensive look after the virus.
"We will be asking every person who works in the federal government to participate and we would hope that others will take part nationwide as well," the PM's official spokesman said.
'Tremendous debt'
A flag is to be flown at half mast at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is among many medical venues around the country where staff will pause to pay their respects to their colleagues.
Dame Donna Kinnair, leader and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said as soon as "provides together a sombre but grateful nation".
She added: "This should not be the last time that sacrifice is recognised. The united states and its own leaders owe a significant debt to these key personnel and the many more who are on shift again today."
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, said way too many front-line workers had lost their lives, adding: "We owe it to them to make certain they've got the right equipment, in the proper place, at the proper time."
On Monday, the federal government announced that groups of front-line NHS and social care staff who died with the virus would get a £60,000 compensation payment.
Prerana Issar, NHS chief persons officer, said that NHS England was considering how exactly to formally commemorate those who've died while working to care for others after the health service was through the peak of the virus.
Transport for London said the underground and bus network will be brought to a halt for the silence as the workforce honoured its colleagues, with passengers being asked to join in.
