A MAN has launched a petition for posthumous medals to be awarded to frontline staff and victims of the coronavirus.
Derrick Sequeira from Finchampstead, Wokingham, felt "moved" by the heroism and selflessness of NHS staff and key workers who are fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
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The petition titled 'Award posthumous medals to NHS and other frontline workers; victims of covid-19' was launched after Derrick heard how one carer 'sacrificed' their life to Covid-19.
He said: "At the end of March when I heard the news of the NHS staff and Carers that had died I was moved by their unselfish act. My thoughts turned to their families and loved ones and how they must have felt about the situation.
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"I’ve been so moved at how the UK continues to function whilst in lockdown. Our post and parcels continue to get delivered, supermarket shelves stocked, refuse collected, healthcare facilities and care homes working tireless to beat the virus. The selflessness of our key workers is incredible and it felt only fitting that we should commemorate those who have died as they bravely helped to fight the virus." A posthumous award will aim to serve 'as a token of appreciation of the ultimate price paid to bring Covid-19 under control'.
The petition further says that an award will give the victims families comfort and that the country recognises the dedicated of those who lost their lives.
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So far the petition has 95 signatures and needs 10,000 in order for the government to respond to it.
Mr Sequeira added: "If the signature reached the 10,000 mark then rightly or wrongly I believe that the politicians will have to do something tangible and not just focus on the living heroes. I would like them to also think about those workers that are in non-health care jobs such as supermarket staff, postal workers etc that may have died while serving the public." To sign the petition visit: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/312389
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