One year since first Covid case in Basingstoke

Cases began to slowly spread and by March 9, Italian coffee company Lavazza, which has two factories in Basingstoke, confirmed two members of its Basingstoke workforce had been struck down with the illness. 

The town was rightfully scared and shocked, we never could have imagined that a year down the line, cases would be in their hundreds.

Some find it hard to remember what life was like before Covid, and many struggle to imagine a future without daily death counts, face masks and hand sanitiser.

But through it all our town has remained strong and united and our NHS heroes have enabled us to eventually see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The front page on March 12, after the first Covid cases were confirmed in Basingstoke

Here we take a look back at the milestones of the last year that changed life as we know it.

March 3

First Hampshire coronavirus case confirmed.

March 9

Basingstoke recorded the boroughs first two coronavirus cases.

March 12, 2020

Scores of major sporting and cultural events are suspended, along with local elections, as the UK’s coronavirus death toll rises to 11.

March 18

It is announced that schools across the UK will close to all pupils except those of key workers, as the coronavirus death toll climbs to 104.

March 20

Mr Johnson orders pubs and restaurants across the country to close, with cinemas, nightclubs, theatres, gyms and leisure centres also told to shut their doors.

March 23

Announcing the first lockdown, Mr Johnson tells the UK public that they will only be allowed to leave their homes for limited reasons, including food shopping, exercise once per day, medical need and travelling for work when absolutely necessary.

All shops selling non-essential goods are told to close, gatherings of more than two people in public are banned, events including weddings – but excluding funerals – are cancelled.

April 16

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces that lockdown measures will be extended for at least three more weeks.

May 10

Mr Johnson tells people they are allowed to sunbathe in parks and leave the house to exercise more than once a day.

May 11

Garden centres can reopen and people will be allowed outdoors for unlimited exercise for pursuits such as tennis, golf, lawn bowls and basketball.

May 30

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announces that elite sport events will begin behind closed doors from June 1.

June 1

Lockdown measures are eased, with schoolchildren in England in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 returning to the classroom.

June 15

England’s retail parks, high streets and shopping centres welcome customers, while zoos and safari parks open their doors for the first time since March.

Places of worship reopen for private prayer, while some secondary school pupils have begun returning to their classrooms.

July 4

Pints are poured in pubs and couples finally say “I do” as lockdown restrictions are eased across England.

July 13

Beauty salons, nail bars and tattoo shops in England welcome customers for the first time in four months following the relaxation of social distancing measures.

July 17

Mr Johnson eases the work-from-home guidance.

July 30

People from different households in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire are banned from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens following a spike in cases.

July 31

Measures due to be lifted on August 1, including allowing small wedding receptions, reopening bowling alleys and casinos, and pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues, are delayed for at least two weeks.

September 22

The Prime Minister prepares to announce new restrictions including a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants in England from September 24.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove recommends that people now work from home if able to do so.

October 12

The Prime Minister launches a three-tier system of local lockdown levels for England.

November 5

People in England are told to stay at home for four weeks as the country is placed under another national lockdown, with the closure of hospitality and non-essential shops.

December 2

England’s national lockdown comes to an end and is replaced by a strengthened three-tier system.

December 17

Mr Hancock announces Tier 3 restrictions – the highest level of measures – for several local authority areas from December 19, affecting about 38 million people.

December 16

Vaccine roll out began at Hampshire Court Hotel.

December 19

The Prime Minister cancels Christmas for people across London and eastern and south-east England by moving them into a newly created Tier 4 for two weeks – effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November.

In the rest of England, the planned Christmas easing of the restrictions – allowing three households to meet over the festive period – is severely curtailed to apply to Christmas Day only.

December 26

Basingstoke and the rest of Hampshire (with the exception of the New Forest) move to tighter Tier 4 restrictions.

December 30

It is announced that an additional 20 million people in England will move to the tightest restrictions, making a total of 44 million in Tier 4, or 78 per cent of the population.

January 4, 2021

Mr Johnson announces a third national lockdown for England, which will see schools shut to most students and people urged to stay at home to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by surging coronavirus infections.

February 22

Boris Johnson announced the roadmap out of lockdown detailing key sates when socialising in parks and public spaces with one other person will be permitted.

Now

Today, residents sit at home, in their third lockdown. On Monday, children are due to fully return to school.

This year has changed the borough, we have lost loved ones and livelihoods but a glimmer of hope is now shining in the distance.

A four-stage government roadmap has seen furlough extended, but there is optimism for a 'normal' summer - and first new shoots of spring are appearing.