The Entire U.K. Just Stopped To Applaud Healthcare Workers & The Videos Are Mind-Blowing

Something extraordinary happened a few days ago. From someone who personally witnessed it, the whole of Britain basically stopped what they were doing at 8 p.m. and went outside their homes to personally applaud the country’s NHS – the National Health Service offers free healthcare to the country’s 66.4 million inhabitants.

The coronavirus pandemic that’s currently seeing U.S. healthcare services pushed to the limits is happening in the U.K., too. Saturday proved the country’s darkest hour yet as the COVID-19 death toll sky-rocketed by 260 to its current figure of 1,019. With the whole of the U.K. on law-ordered lock-down, the mass applause and fireworks saw people cheering their doctors, nurses, ambulance workers, and others while social distancing.

Videos of the country-wide “thank you” quickly circulated on social media, also being shared by British celebrities including Harry Potter actress Emma Watson. The 29-year-old star shared a video to Instagram, with the view count currently sitting at 3.9 million.

Keep scrolling for moving footage of the Royal Family’s children, plus ordinary Brits standing outside their homes to show their heartfelt thanks to those working on the front line.

Last week proved immensely challenging for Brits as the country’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus. Just hours after he released the news, two of his cabinet members also revealed they have COVID-19.

As to the U.K., the lock-down is tough (and it may get tougher). Brits are now forbidden from meeting in groups of more than two, dead city streets have an eery feel as grocery shoppers must wait in line, six feet apart, outside stores to even be let in – the lines of spaced-out people stretch up otherwise empty streets. All non-essential work is also a home deal, all restaurants, bars, and non-essential businesses are closed, and police now have the power to fine anyone breaking the social distancing ban.

The British government has just announced spending £5.8 million ($7.2 million) to personally send mailed letters to all residents begging them to stay home.

COVID-19 has also hit British celebrities. Actor Idris Elba revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus earlier this month, with 71-year-old son to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles also positive.

As to Emma Watson, she seems to have become the unofficial British face of the celebrity world fighting coronavirus. The actress has urged her followers to stay home, writing:

My grandma is over 70, so particularly vulnerable… My Mum is a type 1 diabetic and my best friend is a health care professional. #Istayhomefor them. ❤️ Who are you staying home for? ⁣ Sending love. E xxx
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Thank you to @michelleobama for the tips. 🙏

If saving lives means something to you, please stay home and hit share.