Coronavirus: Carrie Symonds and Colonel Tom Moore thank 'NHS heroes' during Clap for our Carers event
The prime minister's fiancee and the army veteran paid tribute as the nation joined in thanking healthcare workers.
Thursday 30 April 2020 21:50, UK
The prime minister's fiancee Carrie Symonds and the fundraising army veteran Colonel Tom Moore paid tribute to our "NHS heroes" during the weekly Clap for our Carers event.
Colonel Moore, who has raised £30m for the health service by walking laps of his garden, celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday.
Minutes before the nation joined in a round of applause for NHS workers, the army veteran posted on Twitter: "What a wonderful day full of well wishes, kindness and plenty of cake! Can't think of a better way to finish than clapping extra loudly for all the @NHSuk heroes who continue to do such a magnificent job for us all."
The prime minister's fiancee Carrie Symonds, who gave birth on Wednesday morning, also gave a special thanks to the NHS on Twitter while the clapping took place.
She wrote: "Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday."
In reference to the birth of her son, she added: "I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too.
"Thank you so, so much!"
Chancellor Rishi Sunak posted a photo of himself with the prime minister as they applauded NHS workers from Downing Street.
The chancellor wrote on Twitter: "We're past the peak, it's Captain's Tom's birthday and we have the best carers of anywhere in the world.
"So much to clap for tonight."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on , , ,
Britons across the country came out of their homes to applaud NHS workers for the sixth weekly Clap for our Carers event.
Families have been expressing their gratitude to all health and care workers every Thursday at 8pm.
People have been showing appreciation from their doorsteps, windows and gardens, in the form of clapping, banging on pots and pans, and even setting off fireworks.
The clapping came hours after the prime minister declared the UK is "past the peak and on the downward slope" of the coronavirus outbreak.
Boris Johnson, speaking at the daily Downing Street COVID-19 briefing, also revealed he will next week set out the government's plan for easing lockdown measures.
Mr Johnson thanked the public for their "massive collective effort" in protecting the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.
The prime minister also confirmed on Thursday that another 674 people in the UK died after contracting the virus.