Blue lights shine on the Town Hall & Minster this weekend

Grimsby’s iconic Minster and Town Hall will be turned blue this weekend to celebrate the incredible work of our NHS staff, as well as all key workers and others in our communities who have helped us through this challenging year.

The blue lights are also an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives in the pandemic.  They will shine after dark on the Grimsby town centre buildings every night over the weekend.

Monday marks the NHS’s 73^rd Birthday. The coronavirus pandemic means the NHS has been through a year like no other in its history. However, it has also been an extremely challenging time for the country as a whole and many people have stepped up to either continue to do vital jobs under difficult circumstances or give up their own time to support others in their communities.

Hospitals have cared for around 400,000 seriously ill COVID-19 patients, including more than 100,000 admitted in January alone, along with millions more besides.

At the same time the NHS has rolled out the biggest vaccination programme in health service history; the fastest in Europe and most precise in the world.

So far in North East Lincolnshire more than 184,000 doses of the vaccine have been given in the first six months of the vaccination programme.

The NHS simply could not have achieved all this without the skill and dedication of our people along with the support of thousands of returners, volunteers, other keyworkers and, of course, the public who played their part by following social distancing rules and have rolled up their sleeves for their COVID jab.

“Lighting up the Town Hall and Grimsby Minster is our chance to say thank you to the huge army of people who have supported the efforts of the NHS as our whole area came together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic,” said Cllr Margaret Cracknell the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at North East Lincolnshire Council.

“While we are not out of the woods yet with cases still rising in North East Lincolnshire, the NHS Birthday is a point to pause, celebrate what has been achieved and say a big thank you, as well as remember the many thousands of people who have lost their lives as a result of COVID-19.

“Please continue to remember how devastating COVID-19 can be and continue to do your own bit by sticking to the hands face and space guidance and having both doses of your COVID vaccine.”