People coming together to mark five years since the start of the Covid pandemic
Hundreds of events and spaces for reflection have been organised by communities to remember those who died
Bereaved families and communities in South Wales, and across the South West, are coming together to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in a nationwide day of reflection.
Hundreds of events and spaces for reflection have been organised by communities to remember those who died.
Sunday will also be a chance to pause and think of the sacrifices made and pay tribute to the frontline health and social care workers, volunteers and researchers who played crucial roles.
The deadly virus shut down the world after it began to spread from Wuhan in China at the beginning of 2020.
The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, whose chairwoman Baroness Morgan of Cotes said: "It is right that, as a country, we take the time to remember the Covid-19 pandemic, to reflect on what happened, remember those whose lives were impacted in so many ways and honour those who tragically lost their lives.
"Today is an opportunity for communities to come together to reflect and commemorate their loved ones."
The bereaved will be join a walk along the National Covid Memorial Wall in London, followed by a ceremony and a minute's silence, and flowers being cast from Lambeth Bridge.
They will pass around 3,000 photos of the faces of some of those who died, representing just over 1% of the total death toll in the UK, organisers say.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The pandemic impacted us all in different ways, with many sadly losing loved ones and others making great sacrifices in their lives."
She said she hopes the day will "allow people the space and time to reflect" and added: "I would encourage everyone to take part in a way that feels right for them."
NHS Charities Together will pay tribute to the critical role played by the NHS, its workforce and charities in supporting patients and communities during the pandemic.
It will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which commemorates the thousands of people who died.
The experiences and challenges faced by black, Caribbean and African communities during the pandemic will be honoured in a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral.
Liverpool's St George's Hall will be city's focal point for the day's activities, while a commemoration, speeches and a showing of the Stories From The Pandemic documentary are part of events arranged in Sheffield by the city council and the community-led, NHS-funded programme Compassionate Sheffield.
A piper, choir and minute's silence will be part of an outdoor event at Glasgow Green, hosted by Covid-19 Families Scotland.
In Treorchy, South Wales, the bereaved will gather and remember their loved ones and place named flags in a yellow heart made of local stones.
Whilst, in the Rhondda, a heart shaped memorial has been restored in honour of the day.
Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees from Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru told us: "We are reflecting on that period, which was completely unprecedented - these truly were unprecedented times.
"For us though, too, it very much is a healing process.
"Our work brings people together, and for many of us, because the deaths during the pandemic happened so quickly - it almost validates that it actually happened.
"Whilst it was incredibly sad, we also want to start to remember our loved ones now for their wonderful lives - as well, of course, for their tragic deaths."
A group set up by bereaved families during the pandemic, called Memory Stones of Love, will hold a remembrance concert in Belfast.
There will be music, poems and readings and they will display their stones with inscriptions of those died during the pandemic.
And in Gloucestershire, a remembrance ceremony is being held at Gloucester Park.
City Councillors will be joined by the mayor and members of the public to unveil a memorial in honour of those who lost their lives.
Councillor Caroline Courtney said: "It's really important not to lose sight of the experiences that people had at that time.
"We want to remember all of that, but also, for us, it's really important that we continue to honour the vital work of those essential people who got us through those dark times.
"Everyone was impacted by the pandemic, and many are still living with those consequences.
"This memorial represents different groups of key workers who provided essential services during the pandemic - and that's what we're unveiling on Sunday."
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