Minute of Silence for UK Health Worker Deaths

▶️ Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, senior political figures and employees of the National Health Service (NHS) observed a minute of silence on Tuesday, April 28 for key workers who have died as a result of the spread of the new coronavirus.

👉Johnson, who returned to work on Monday following extended hospitalization and recovery after contracting the virus, joined in the tribute with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, from the Cabinet office.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock also expressed cautious optimism Monday about the COVID-19 outbreak in that country, but said the government is sticking with its lockdown restrictions to continue “flattening the curve.” More than 100 key workers have died from the virus, including medical staff and other key workers such as transport employees.

The British government has been criticized during the pandemic for not acting fast enough to implement lockdown measures, and for an alleged shortage of personal protective equipment – claims it denies. So far the country has seen 158,348 infections of the new virus, with 21,157 deaths.