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Across the United Kingdom, people have taken to their windows and front porches to applaud everyone in the National Health Service for their work in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Key points:
- The movement was widely spread on social media
- Similar events have taken place in other countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and India
- Britain has reported 578 deaths and more than 11,000 confirmed cases of the virus
Clapping, banging pots and pans, cheering and waving at neighbours with whom they are no longer able to shake hands, vast numbers of people took part in the initiative — which mirrors similar events in other countries.
Sporting and entertainment venues including London's Royal Albert Hall and the National Theatre were among dozens of landmarks that lit up in blue across the capital in tribute to the NHS logo, as the Clap For Carers initiative kicked off at 8:00pm on Thursday (local time).
The movement was widely spread on social media and called on people across the country to deliver a round of applause in appreciation for doctors, nurses, and all those tackling the COVID-19 outbreak.
"During these unprecedented times they need to know that we are grateful," organisers said.
Royals, Boris Johnson join the applause
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his next-door neighbour, Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, joined the applause from the front of 10 Downing Street.
In a video posted on his Twitter page, Mr Johnson thanked NHS staff and said the Government would support them "in any way that we can".
Mr Sunak then said: "Whatever you need, that's what you're going to get."
In an Instagram post, Kensington Palace showed the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, applauding.
In a video posted on social media, their grandfather, Prince Charles could be seen with his wife Camilla clapping from separate rooms in self-isolation within their Scottish home, Birkhall.
It was the first time Charles has been seen publicly since he tested positive for COVID-19. His symptoms are said to be mild.
#Clapforcarers trended across the country as people posted thank you messages to healthcare workers and videos of their neighbours applauding.
Star Wars actor John Boyega tweeted that hearing his neighbours express their support for the NHS was "beautiful" while London's Thames Clipper boat service added horns to the collective cheers.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
Similar events have taken place in other countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and India, where people took to their balconies and stood near open windows to clap, clang metal vessels and ring bells to cheer emergency workers.
A dire situation for health workers
Frontline doctors have warned they do not have enough personal protective equipment and feel like "cannon fodder" in the fight against the virus and have complained about a lack of testing for healthcare workers.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
As the health service becomes increasingly stretched by the number of cases, the Government is opening a temporary hospital at an exhibition centre in east London and asking manufacturers to produce thousands of ventilators.
Britain has reported 578 deaths and more than 11,000 confirmed cases of the virus, with experts warning that the worst is yet to come.
Amid nationwide shutdowns and isolation measures, the Government has been scrambling to buy equipment to keep its citizens alive.
On Tuesday the Government issued a call for 250,000 volunteers to sign up to help the NHS and vulnerable people hit by the coronavirus crisis, and Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday that 560,000 people had already volunteered.
Johnson's spokesman said the scheme would not be closing and it would be "fantastic" if it could get to 750,000.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
ABC/wires
Topics: covid-19, diseases-and-disorders, healthcare-facilities, emergency-care, social-media, united-kingdom