Two months after a ‘mysterious new disease’ killed one person in China in January 2020, England was plunged into lockdown.
As the weeks went by phrases like Clap for Carers, travel corridors, Eat Out To Help Out and Rule of Six soon became everyday speak as we adjusted to our new way of life.
Now, 365 days on from that first lockdown, Metro.co.uk takes a look at how the last year has unfolded.
All the key moments from England’s Covid lockdown:
A mysterious new disease kills one person in China and crosses the ocean to Japan, prompting concerns it could hit other countries.
All but essential travel to Wuhan City, where the Covid outbreak originated, is advised against by the Foreign Office
Shops sell out of face masks and hand sanitisers amid fears coronavirus is about to reach the UK.
The World Health Organisation makes the announcement following an emergency meeting in Switzerland. They confirmed there are now 98 cases in 18 countries outside China.
Peter Attwood, 84, dies in hospital after coming down with a cough and fever before Christmas. His death is not formally confirmed as having been attributed to Covid-19 until the end of August.
The death count goes beyond the number taken by the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS. The daily number of deaths from the virus also tops 100 for the first time as the contagion continues to spread.
Coronavirus is recorded in London for the first time. The new case means there are nine people in the UK infected with the coronavirus, while more than 1,750 have been tested.
Guidance published by the Government says face masks are only recommended to be worn by ‘symptomatic individuals’ to reduce the risk of transmitting the killer infection to other people.
Boris Johnson says the UK will come through the coronavirus outbreak ‘very well in the end’.
Donald Trump reveals his plans in a rare Oval Office address, while criticising the European Union for allowing the virus to take hold. The measures do not initially apply to the UK or Ireland.
Boris Johnson announces the plan to hold a press conference every day to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak.
Britons are advised against ‘all but essential’ travel to anywhere in the world as coronavirus sees borders around the globe shut down.
Boris Johnson orders a lockdown of the UK for three weeks, telling people they must ‘stay at home’ or face a fine.
Thousands of people across the country take to their doorsteps to Clap For Carers in the first of what becomes a weekly event.
Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock test positive for Covid-19, while chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty says he has symptoms and is self-isolating.
War veteran, Tom Moore, completes 100 laps of his garden, eventually raising over £32 million for the NHS ahead of his 100th birthday.
Boris Johnson’s chief adviser is investigated by police for breaking lockdown rules. Cummings travelled 260 miles to Durham to go to his parents’ house while his wife was displaying Covid symptoms, but ignored calls to resign or apologise. He also admitted to driving to Barnard Castle to ‘test his eyesight’ before returning to London.
Children in England return to the school gates for the first time since lockdown began, with some having their temperatures taken by teachers before they are allowed in.
After three months of lockdown, shops across England welcome back customers, while zoos and safari parks are allowed to open their doors. A staff member at Primark describes the first day of re-opening as ‘hell’.
People living in England receive the green light to travel abroad to 73 countries from July 10, without needing to self-isolate on their return. The destinations are dubbed ‘travel corridors’ by the government.
Thousands of pub drinkers swarm the streets as lockdown restrictions are eased on ‘Super Saturday’. England’s first night out after three months is labelled ‘absolute madness’, with many drunken punters accused of flouting social distancing guidelines.
Spain becomes the first country to be removed from the Government’s ‘travel corridor’, sparking a rush of tourists to get back from the country without needing to go into self-isolation for two weeks.
The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme launches, with restaurants, pubs and cafes offering half-price meals to diners during August.
Plans to limit social gatherings to no more than six people both inside and outside come into effect.
The Prime Minister announces new restrictions including a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants in England will begin from September 24.
The Prime Minister introduces a three-tier system of local alert levels for England, with the Liverpool city region the only area to be placed in the tier three – very high – category.
The UK exceeds one million lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the outbreak, according to Government data. Boris Johnson announces a second nationwide lockdown, with the closure of hospitality and non-essential shops.
Analysis by Pfizer and BioNTech shows their vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19, making it the first effective coronavirus jab. The developers describe their findings as a ‘great day for science and humanity’.
New Covid Christmas rules are announced to allow families from different homes to celebrate together under ‘Christmas bubble’ plans.
The UK becomes the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. England’s national lockdown comes to an end and is replaced by a strengthened three-tier system.
Mr Hancock tells MPs a new strain of coronavirus has been identified in southern England, with the number of cases involving the new variant ‘increasing rapidly’.
The Prime Minister cancels Christmas for almost 18 million people across London and eastern and south-east England by moving them into a newly created tier four for two weeks. The world quietly celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Eve in a year like no other.
Boris Johnson announces a third national lockdown for England with schools shut to most students and people urged to stay at home to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by surging coronavirus infections.
The number of Covid deaths registered in the UK tops 100,000. The UK is the fifth country to pass the tragic milestone, after the US, India, Brazil and Mexico.
Captain Sir Tom Moore, the NHS fundraiser who inspired a nation in lockdown, dies in hospital aged 100. He initially set out to raise just £1,000 to support the health service, but his mission went international and praise and donations poured in, taking his final total to £32.7 million.
The first passengers start to arrive at Government-approved hotels as the travel quarantine scheme begins in England. UK and Irish residents arriving into the country after visiting or passing through ‘red list’ countries must quarantine in a designated hotel room for 10 days.
The Prime Minister reveals England’s roadmap to exiting the coronavirus lockdown. He explains there are four steps to unlocking the country, but with five weeks between each stage to assess the impact it is having on infections.
Millions of pupils head back to school in England as the process for unravelling the lockdown takes its first big step.
The European Medicines Agency announces that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective amid blood clot fears.
Boris Johnson warns that the UK should be ‘under no illusions’ that a third wave of Covid-19 infections sweeping across Europe will ‘wash up on our shores as well’.
How has the year of lockdown affected you? Which key event would you add? Let us know by getting in touch at hey@metro.co.uk.
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