Bereaved families in Wales are expressing their disappointment over the lack of nationwide anniversary events planned to commemorate the Covid-19 outbreak. While communities across the UK are set to come together on Sunday, March 9, marking five years since the beginning of the pandemic, those who lost loved ones in Wales feel neglected. The campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru highlighted the absence of official events scheduled despite the establishment of Covid memorial gardens. In response, the Welsh government emphasized that community-led events are being organized to observe the day of reflection.
Within Wales, over 12,300 individuals lost their lives as a result of the outbreak, with more than 43,000 hospitalized. Criticism has been directed towards the Welsh government’s handling of the situation, with calls for a dedicated Wales-specific inquiry rejected in favor of evidence being heard as part of a broader UK review. As the fifth anniversary approaches, recommendations from the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration have led to the implementation of an annual UK-wide day of reflection. Community groups are spearheading events across the four nations, featuring moments of silence and commemorative walks to honor the lives lost during the pandemic.
Despite commitments to partake in the four-nation day of reflection, bereaved families are disheartened by the refusal to host events at the Covid memorial woodlands established in Wales. The founders of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru have been actively advocating for a more significant commemoration, with Ms. Marsh-Rees, who lost her father to the virus, lamenting the missed opportunity to utilize the memorial woodlands for official events. Reflecting on her personal loss and the impact of the pandemic, Ms. Marsh-Rees underscores the importance of commemoration in providing solace to the bereaved and fostering community resilience in the aftermath of a mass fatality incident.
In light of the approaching anniversary, concerns have been raised regarding the Welsh government’s commemorative efforts, or lack thereof. While plans are in motion for a new Covid Memorial Trust to oversee commemorations by 2026, the absence of formal events on the fifth anniversary has drawn criticism from various quarters. In response to these concerns, government officials are now pledging their attendance at memorial sites and the illumination of public buildings in Cardiff. Additionally, a stone heart-shaped memorial in the Rhondda valley is undergoing restoration ahead of an event on Sunday, serving as a poignant symbol of remembrance during these challenging times
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