Region observes a minute of silence to remember key workers who have died

The region fell silent this morning to commemorate key workers who have died from coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who battled the illness himself, was among those observing the minute’s silence on Tuesday at 11 am.

Hospitals, homes and places still working during the lockdown, paused to mark the sombre occasion, remembering the thousands of people to have died so far during the outbreak.

  • Watch Katie Cole's full report here:

On Monday 27 April, it was announced the region had lost another health care worker. Fiona Anderson, a community staff nurse at the Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre, lost her life after testing positive for COVID-19.

Margaret ‘Margie’ Blyth, who had served the North East Autism Society for 18 years, passed away at the Sunderland Royal Infirmary, aged 66. The charity’s Chief Executive described Margie as a “local hero”.

  • Northumbria Specialist Care Hospital, Cramlington

  • Tyne and Wear Metro, Gateshead Interchange

  • Sunderland Minster, Wearside

  • North East Ambulance Service HQ

  • York train station

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