COVID-19 Day of Reflection 2025

The COVID-19 Day of Reflection will take place this year on Sunday 9 March.  This will be an opportunity to come together to remember all those who were, and continue to be, affected by the pandemic.

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 virus was relatively unknown and the impact that the pandemic would shortly have on our daily lives and on the global economy, was hard to comprehend.

As the rate of cases continued to rise throughout the pandemic, emergency services and frontline workers faced enormous pressures, tirelessly working to ensure the safety of others. Whilst lockdown measures enforced the instruction to 'stay at home', many community members tried to help relieve pressures by volunteering to deliver essential items including food, prescriptions and face masks to vulnerable people. These efforts and sacrifices should not be forgotten.

Despite lockdown measures, many businesses, organisations and local authorities had to adapt in order to continue to deliver vital services.

Just some of the changes to service delivery within the Council included many employees volunteering to help deliver food boxes to families whose children were eligible for free school meals; our waste operatives resumed bin collections and re-opened Household Waste Recycling Centres under social distancing guidelines; and employees also operated a dedicated COVID-19 Helpline, offering support to residents who were at high risk of severe illness from the virus. Our Care at Home team showed great commitment, resilience and empathy in their continuing support in the community throughout the whole pandemic.

We thank all employees across the Council for their outstanding efforts during this time.

While the pandemic is over, COVID-19 has had a lasting effect on our communities.  Our Health and Social Care Partnership has worked hard to develop supports to help tackle the challenges faced by those who suffer from long-covid. Information on the support available can be found at https://hscp.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/LongCovid.

South Ayrshire Council's Chief Executive, Mike Newall said: "It's difficult to believe that five years ago we were bracing ourselves for the unknown storm that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Every aspect of life was affected, from not being able to spend time with loved ones and friends; and legal enforcements to stay at home; to adapting how organisations operated, with staff having to work from home where possible or businesses closing. In respect of the Council, many of our employees took on new roles to support vulnerable members of our communities, and our COVID-19 Helpline helped over 13,400 residents.

"Whilst I'm pleased that these difficult times have passed, we can still see remnants of how the pandemic has shaped our lives. It's incredibly important that we use the Day of Reflection to remember friends and loved ones who sadly passed away as a result of the virus, and were unable to say goodbye. We must also never forget the incredible work of the NHS, emergency services and volunteers, or of the community spirit that emerged. This highlighted that even in the darkest of times, light still shines."

You can find out how to get involved in the Day of Reflection here: https://dayofreflection.campaign.gov.uk/events/