St George’s Hall to host Liverpool’s Covid-19 Day of Reflection

The civic heart of Liverpool, St George’s Hall, will become the city’s focal point for remembering the Covid-19 pandemic as part of a national Day of Reflection on Sunday, 9 March.

Marking five years since the pandemic began, the Day of Reflection will honour those we lost, the resilience of communities, and the acts of kindness that defined a difficult chapter in our history.

In Liverpool, the Great Hall in St George’s Hall will be transformed into a special space for people to visit, remember those we lost, acknowledge and celebrate all the acts of kindness that took place across our communities and reflect on the profound impact of the pandemic on our everyday lives.

The stunning venue will be beautifully illuminated by paper lanterns, representing the challenges people lived with throughout the pandemic – whether that be the loss of a loved one, isolation, economic hardship or mental health struggles, but also acknowledging the tremendous resilience shown throughout.

A gentle and poignant soundscape will play, creating an ambience for quiet contemplation, and a Book of Commemoration will allow people to leave a message of reflection if they wish to do so. 

Members of the public are invited to reflect on their experiences and memories within the Grade I listed neo-classical masterpiece, situated off Lime Street, which will be open from 10am-4pm for this unique event.

The event has been organised by Liverpool City Council and the lanterns will be supplied by local arts organisation, the Lantern Company.

For more detail, visit St George’s Hall website.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said:

“Five years ago the world changed and we’re still feeling that ripple-effect today.

“It was an incredibly tough time for Liverpool – case rates and deaths were high, businesses were under huge pressure to stay afloat and people were lonely and fearful of what could happen – it was a chapter of history which we will never forget.

“But throughout this extraordinary crisis, the true spirit of Liverpool shone through, communities came together to help and support one another. This city stepped forward, blazing a trail for others to follow when it came to mass testing and paving the way for large cultural events to start welcoming people once again – things we should all be proud of.

“On Sunday March, St George’s Hall will be a hub to reflect on this time of so many mixed emotions,acknowledging our city’s resilience, strength, and solidarity, and looking ahead to the future with hope.”

Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, Matthew Ashton, said:  

“Every single one of us has been affected by Covid. The intensity of our shared experience should never be underestimated – along with the disease itself, we had to juggle not being able to see our family and friends, social distancing, wearing face coverings, working from home, home schooling – all of which have impacted on our individual  mental health and wellbeing, and on the health and economic prosperity of our city overall.

“Thankfully we are well into our recovery journey, and one of the most important lessons we have learnt, is the power of strong communities and partnerships. Throughout, stakeholders from across the city have worked closely with health professionals to ensure the best outcomes for our communities, and although the pandemic may be over, these partnerships will continue to provide support in this recovery phase.

“Liverpool’s event is a way for us to process what has happened over the past five years and I encourage people to take some time out of their day, honour those we lost and celebrate all of our remarkable achievements during this unprecedented period.”

Get the latest news for Liverpool here.