Viewing The National COVID memorial wall

Around 150,000 hand drawn hearts have been painted onto a wall along the south bank of the River Thames. Each heart represents one life lost in the UK to coronavirus so far. Hearts will continue to be added as the UK Covid-19 death toll continues to climb.

Becky Kummer, whose father died from coronavirus in April 2020, has described her involvement in the wall’s creation as ‘therapeutic’: ‘I’ve done a lot of my grieving in isolation,’ she said. ‘Being here has meant feeling like part of a coming together to memorialise all of our losses.’

Co-ordinated by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, the installation stretches almost 500 metres between Westminster and Lambeth bridges, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Walking the wall takes about 10 minutes — an experience that is as heart-wrenching as it is uplifting.

As the effects of the pandemic continue to rage, this moving display publicly commemorates those we’ve lost. Let’s hope it stays!