British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Finance Minister Rishi Sunak led the nation in a round of applause on Thursday night - an initiative in dubbed as "Clap for our Carers" meant to honour health workers tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. United Kingdom's youngest royals - Prince William and Kate Middleton's children - were among those whose videos caught the social media by storm.
Mr Johnson shared a video on Twitter where he can be seen standing outside 10 Downing Street in London, clapping with Rishi Sunak standing by his side. "On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank all the incredible nurses, doctors, NHS support staff & carers who are working flat out to fight coronavirus Clapping hands sign #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS To help them, and protect the NHS, we need everyone to stay at home #StayHomeSaveLives," British PM Boris Johnson tweeted with the clip.
On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank all the incredible nurses, doctors, NHS support staff & carers who are working flat out to fight coronavirus ???? #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 26, 2020
To help them, and protect the NHS, we need everyone to stay at home #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/kpdQ5KHQiy
"Thank you NHS (National Health Service)... thank you very much," he is heard saying in the video.
In a video shared by the Kensington Palace's official account, children of Prince William and Kate - Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - were seen cheering medical workers. The clip was liked by tens of thousands of users.
To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you.#ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS pic.twitter.com/XnaUPJyDoX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2020
The "Clap for our Carers" initiative was widely spread on social media, encouraging people to deliver a round of applause on Thursday night (at 2000 GMT) for all those tackling the COVID-19 outbreak. "During these unprecedented times they need to know that we are grateful," a message shared with the posts read.
Britons around the country took to their balconies and front gardens and took part in the initiative.
In a video tweeted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, sounds of claps, whistles could be heard. "LONDON. We just sent a message loud and clear to every single NHS worker: Blue heart You truly are the best of us. Blue heart Your hard work and dedication is saving lives every single day. Blue heart We couldn't be more grateful @GSTTnhs #ClapForCarers," Mr Khan wrote.
LONDON. We just sent a message loud and clear to every single NHS worker:
— Mayor of London (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MayorofLondon) March 26, 2020
???? You truly are the best of us
???? Your hard work and dedication is saving lives every single day
???? We couldn't be more grateful@GSTTnhs #ClapForCarers pic.twitter.com/ZfmBIB6glb
Similar videos flooded social media. "#ClapForCarers #Southend did us so proud!!! This was outside the hospital and made me and my A&E colleagues cry. Thank you!," a user tweeted with a video.
"Edinburgh at 8pm - I'm watching all the videos having just finished another day. What amazing support all over the country. And all my #nhs colleagues will get up tomorrow and do it all again (or get home for a sleep) #ClapForCarers," a tweet by CMO Scotland read.
Another post by a user read: "The last few weeks have been the toughest in my career. Could not ask for a better Team Blue heart#NHSThankYou #ClapForCarers."
So emotional to hear the applause at 8pm ???????? in support of NHS staff this evening.
— Margaret Rogan (@rogan_margaret) March 26, 2020
We're all just ordinary people in extraordinary times and we're scared too. You can help us....#StayHomeSaveLives
Thank you to everyone who #ClapForCarers ???? pic.twitter.com/QVi1SLxOEi
Similar scenes were witnessed in India on Sunday when people across the south Asian country - who were observing a 14-hour self-quarantine call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - came out in their balconies and clapped, clanged utensils to show support for those working to provide essential services despite COVID-19 scare.
In United Kingdom, number of coronavirus cases have surged past 11,000, more than 500 have died. Hospital bosses and doctors on Thursday warned of being swamped by a "tsunami" of COVID-19 patients in London, news agency AFP reported.
The chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents the heads of hospital trusts in the state-run National Health Service, said there had been an "explosion of demand" in the capital. Chris Hopson told BBC radio that hospital bosses said there had been "wave after wave after wave" of admissions of seriously ill patients, with a surge in numbers predicted in the coming weeks. "The word that's often used to me is a sort of continuous tsunami," he said.
Earlier this week, the British Prime Minister announced shutdown of non-essential shops and services, and banned gatherings of more than two people to cut close-contact transmission of the virus.
Worldwide, over 4 lakh people have got infected, more than 13,000 have died due to coronavirus pandemic.
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