Day of Reflection 2024: How people are coming together to remember those lost to Covid-19
National charity Marie Curie is calling for people to come together once again to reflect in a way of their choosing for this year’s Day of Reflection, which will take place on the new date of Sunday 3 March 2024.
This new date is in accordance with the recommendations of the independent UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. It’s hoped that this day can give those grieving an opportunity to share, to remember and to discuss the continued impact of Covid-19 for families of lost loved ones.
This new date is in accordance with the recommendations of the independent UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. It’s hoped that this day can give those grieving an opportunity to share, to remember and to discuss the continued impact of Covid-19 for families of lost loved ones.
Transcript
00:00 "This year the date for the Day of Reflection is March 3rd and on that day we are asking
00:09 everybody to come together as a nation to remember and reflect on all those people who
00:14 have died, particularly during the pandemic, whether that was because of Covid or any other
00:21 illness, but they were bereaved during that period."
00:27 Local charity Marie Curie is calling for people to come together once again to reflect in
00:32 a way of their choosing for this year's Day of Reflection, which will take place on the
00:36 new date of Sunday 3rd March 2024. This new date is in accordance with the recommendations
00:42 of the independent UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. It's hoped that this day can
00:47 give those grieving an opportunity to share, to remember and to discuss the continued impact
00:52 of Covid-19 for families of lost loved ones.
00:55 "I think in society we've kind of more or less forgotten about those awful years, but
01:01 in our hospice in Marie Curie, you know, we are still seeing people sadly who, because
01:09 of all those restrictions, maybe they were delayed having a diagnosis, maybe they were
01:15 delayed having treatment, maybe they were delayed even getting a GP appointment, you
01:20 know, when they started to feel unwell and they have since died as a result of all those
01:25 restrictions during the Covid period. So their family members, you know, they are grieving
01:32 and they will, you know, they'll talk to us about those delays and link it to Covid and
01:39 restrictions. So they are still very much in that world of Covid and the pandemic. And
01:44 of course now with the inquiry going on into Covid, all those family members who sadly
01:53 did lose someone during that period of time, if their grief had become dormant at all,
02:00 it's now reawoken."
02:02 According to data from a new poll, grief continues to rock the nation post-Covid. Whether you
02:07 take part in an event, take time to reflect or share the name of a lost loved one, Marie
02:11 Curie encourages us to remember those who died during the pandemic. It's hoped that
02:16 this day, whilst being a sad one, will create a unification for those looking to come together
02:21 amid their loss.
02:23 "Grief is very individual and no two people will grieve the same. And, you know, we recognise
02:27 that for some people that, you know, it's a very solitary thing that they go through,
02:32 through choice. They want to grieve on their own and not display emotion in front of others.
02:37 But for a vast majority of other people, the coming together, whether as family, friends,
02:44 you know, society, just coming together and having a common sad purpose in remembering
02:51 someone, having permission that on this day it's okay to remember and to be emotional."
02:56 If you're struggling, you can call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.
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