This time a year ago the world watched on as we heard about a new contagious illness in China called Coronavirus, or Covid-19. We were told it came from someone eating a bat from a wet market in Wuhan. Life carried on as normal for the rest of the world for the next few weeks until the virus gradually spread around the entire world.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson started a 3-week lockdown on the evening of 23rd of March 2020
This was then extended on 16th April for a further 3 weeks
On the 5th April he was admitted to hospital after 10 days self-isolating with the Corona Virus
On the 6th April he is in intensive care with deteriorating symptoms
The Queen addressed the nation at 8pm on 5th April
USA President Donald Trump suggests injecting disinfectant could be a cure! Prompts warning statement from manufacturers not to do this!
Excel now known as NHS Nightingale and will be a hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators. Similar venues being used in cities across the country. Opened by Prince Charles at 11am on 3rd April
Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community – told not to go out for 12 weeks
From Thursday 26th March at 8pm and every Thursday night thereafter, we all stood united on our doorsteps, balconies and open windows and applauded and cheered for all our amazingly brave NHS staff who so courageously and selflessly battled on to try and save as many lives as possible
Petrol price close to home was £0.99 Was this an opportunity to go green, only time will tell.
Schools closed on Friday 20 March. Remote learning in place
Self-distancing measures required
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (2 mtrs) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, line ups outside the store doors
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed People who can work from home
Parks trails, entire cities closed or restricted to locals only in their bubble.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
The Olympics & Paralympic’s, where athletes would have made their mark and additional Euro 2020 were postponed to 2021.
Concerts tours festivals entertainment events cancelled
Weddings family celebrations holiday gatherings cancelled
Only very few people allowed to attend funerals & social distancing rules must be adhered to
No masses – churches are closed
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now…. Don’t socialize with anyone outside of your home bubble
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and all other TV networks are on in every home daily now
Children’s outdoor play parks are closed
We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks gowns gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill in many parts of the world.
Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA Italy Spain China and more. Temporary Morgues set up in the UK
Panic buying sets in and we have limits on toilet paper disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods hand sanitizer Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China and borders are closed
Manufacturers distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks hand sanitizer and PPE
Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules
Stadiums and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Public Park areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self-isolate
Press conferences daily from the PM and other government officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths
Government incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads
People wearing masks and gloves outside
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families
A 99 year old WWII veteran Captain Tom Moore raised an amazing £29 million for NHS charities walking 100 lengths of his garden before he turned 100. His target was £1000. People from all over the world donated to his cause.
1.72 Million deaths globally so far as at 23.12.2020
68,319 of them in the UK
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020.
Travel restrictions and having to quarantine for 2 weeks when returning from some foreign holiday destinations and this could change daily.
Three tiers of regional severity issued. Tier 1 Medium risk, tier 2 very high risk, tier 3 extremely high risk.
Second lockdown in UK November 2020 moving back into tier severity December 2020.
Vaccines arrive in UK in December – Army deployed to help vaccinate the public starting with the NHS and people over 80 years of age.
Pubs and restaurants still closed.
18th December 2020 – UK has had 1,948,660 cases to date, and 68,319 deaths related to covid-19.
Three households could form a temporary “Christmas bubble” to meet together indoors from 23-27 December cancelled plan!
19th December, PM announced tier 4 for London & the South East with Wales going into lockdown. A new mutation of the virus, 70% more transmissible than the previous strain with 6 in 10 new cases, stops the UK for the festive period.
1 day of mixing on 25th December. No travelling between tiers 1 through to 4.
What a crazy year 2020 turned into
We now all wait anxiously to see what 2021 holds for us.