Celebrate our NHS heroes with Clap For Carers tonight

People across Southport are getting ready to join a national salute to honour our amazing NHS staff who are trying to battle Coronavirus.

It was revealed this week that Southport & Ormskirk NHS Hospitals Trust is now treating patients locally for Covid-19.

And new figures from Public Health England today show how cases in Sefton have doubled since Tuesday from 10 to 20.

We all realise the dangers our NHS staff face, and the work they are doing to save lives.

So this evening (Thursday, March 26), everyone in Southport is being invited to join a mass round of applause from their doorsteps, windows and balconies at 8pm.

The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, is being staged because “during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful”, according to the organisers.

Time to praise Great British workforce keeping us all alive during Coronavirus

The Wembley Arch, the Principality Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall and Lincoln Cathedral are said to be among some of the landmarks which are set to be lit up in blue during the salute.

It is part of the #lightitblue campaign which has been organised by members of the events and entertainment industry as a way to say thank you.

Gary White and Chuck Crampton, who jointly started the #lightitblue campaign, said that all venues will use existing LED technology to create a flash of blue on facades and screens.

It means that people at different venues will be able to show their support while staying at home in line with current Government advice during the pandemic.

They said: “The events and entertainment industry finds itself in an unprecedented state of enforced inaction.

“The best thing we can do – apart from staying at home – is to use our skills and networks to say thank you to everyone who is supporting the NHS and risking their own health to help others during this pandemic.”