Coronavirus: Woolwich Ferry does doughnuts in the Thames to support Clap for Carers

Joe Gamp
·Contributor, Yahoo News UK
Updated ·2-min read

The Woolwich Ferry in London was spotted sounding its horn and spinning in the River Thames in support of healthcare staff battling coronavirus.

The Thames ferry - which for years has connected south and north London - took place during the latest Clap for Carers event on Thursday evening.

Video footage showed the car-passenger ferry - which has operated in south-east London since 1889 - diverting from it’s usual route to support NHS frontline workers.

The commuter ferry spun in a circle and honked its horn in the middle of the River Thames while the applause took place.

Handout video grab issued by Becky Stout of the Woolwich Ferry in London sounding its horn and spinning during the Clap for Carers event last night.
Handout video grab issued by Becky Stout of the Woolwich Ferry in London sounding its horn and spinning during the Clap for Carers event last night.

Junior doctor Becky Stout, who filmed the tribute, posted on Twitter: “Big thumbs up from the Woolwich Ferry for NHS workers tonight!”

Members of the public have applauded the health service from their doorsteps and balconies for NHS staff for the last four weeks.

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Carrie Symonds, who is expecting her first child with the Prime Minister in early summer, said she was “clapping harder than ever” to thank healthcare workers on Thursday.

“Clapping harder than ever tonight for our carers. You are the best of Britain,” she told her Twitter followers.

Meanwhile, the Met Police force admitted social distancing was not observed by some of the police officers and gatherers at the Westminster Bridge clap for carers demonstration.

Emergency vehicles assembled and flashed blue lights while emergency service workers clapped at 8pm.

London Ambulance staff, police officers and firefighters take part in the weekly "clap for our carers" as they stand on Westminster Bridge backdropped by a scaffolded Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, during the lockdown to try and stop the spread of coronavirus, Thursday, April 16, 2020. The applause takes place across Britain every Thursday at 8pm local time to show appreciation for healthcare workers, emergency services, armed services, delivery drivers, shop workers, teachers, waste collectors, manufacturers, postal workers, cleaners, vets, engineers and all those helping people with coronavirus and keeping the country functioning while most people stay at home in the lockdown. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
London Ambulance staff, police officers and firefighters take part in the weekly Clap for Carers event on London's Westminster Bridge. (AP)

Footage from the event yesterday shows a large crowd of people on the bridge mingling near police officers and firefighters, despite Britons being told to observe social distancing with people outside their household and to only leave their houses if necessary.

On Friday, 847 new coronavirus hospital deaths were recorded in 24 hours, bringing the UK toll to 14,576 people.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now reached 108,692 - up by 5,599 from the amount published by the Department of Health on Thursday.

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