North East communities fall silent in honour of frontline key workers who have died during coronavirus pandemic

The nation has fallen silent in tribute to key workers.

From NHS staff and care workers to bus drivers and porters, all were remembered in the countrywide commemoration, which was also observed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The Prime Minister returned to work just this week after contracting coronavirus himself. He had to spend a number of nights in intensive care.

More than 24,000 deaths involving coronavirus have been registered across the UK, and more than 100 frontline NHS and care workers are confirmed to have lost their lives after testing positive for the virus.

The minute’s silence took place on Tuesday following a campaign from Unison, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal of College of Nursing.

Here are some of your messages in tribute to NHS and key workers from our social media pages:

Julie Peel: “Wonderful selfless people who gave their lives for us. RIP.”

Joan Lavelle: “True angels.”

Jonathan Martin: “Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

Lauren Latimer: “And other key workers. RIP to them all.”

Joanne Whitaker: “Silent heroes.”

Julie Brennan: “Thinking of all loved ones and key workers who have lost their lives to Covid-19.”

Agnes George: “Thoughts with all affected by this awful virus.”

Demi Welch: “Rest in peace to all of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19.”

Isabel Braid: “And all key workers.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.