Pictures that tell of 300 days since coronavirus lockdown

By March 23, when the first lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, schools had already closed and people were being encouraged to work from home.

When the lockdown was announced, strict new curbs on daily life included only being able to leave home once a day to exercise, to travel to and from work, shop for essential items, or any medical or care needs.

Shops selling non-essential goods were told to shut, with pubs and restaurants closing in the days before the lockdown announcement.

Then, the UK death toll was 335, and no deaths had been recorded in Herefordshire.

Now, that toll has passed 100,000 in the UK and 150 in Herefordshire.

Locked down High Town. Picture: Abhinav Varun Revis

We were told to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives, with the doctors and nurses continuing to fight the new virus.

March 26 was the first night the people of Herefordshire stepped out onto their doorsteps to take part in a humble act of gratitude.

Pensioners, parents, students and children stood poised in the chill in response to a social media campaign called #ClapForOurCarers.

Firefighters in Ross-on-Wye join the Clap For Our Carers tribute to NHS workers on the front line against coronavirus. Picture: Ross Fire Station

Then, at exactly 8pm, they broke into a round of applause for those in the NHS working so hard in the fight against coronavirus.

For such a simple gesture it was surprisingly moving.

There will have been many who shed a tear at the sounds of appreciation rippling through the darkness of a county in lockdown.

For many it was the lift they needed, neighbours coming together to honour our heroes.

Just three days after this event, which happened at the same time over the next 10 weeks, the first coronavirus death was reported at Hereford County Hospital.

That was on March 29.

As of 4pm on January 15, the toll of people who have died at the Wye Valley NHS Trust after testing positive for coronavirus had risen to 129.

A month later there were issues around the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

In true community spirit, Herefordshire pulled together and groups were formed to make scrubs and masks for carers and hospital staff.

Herefordshire GP, Sophie Whittal, loving her new scrubs and hat from The Love of Scrubs

For the Love of Scrubs Herefordshire, were among those who were busy making scrub bags for wards across Herefordshire and beyond.

Herefordshire's first coronavirus testing centre was set up in April as part of the UK-wide drive to increase testing for critical workers.

The facility for key workers in Herefordshire was set up at the Merton Meadow car park in Hereford and saw long queues as people booked to get themselves tested.

The mobile coronavirus testing centre at Hereford's Merton Meadow car park. Picture: PA Wire/Jacob King

In the months since, two more sites have been added to the list, with centres now also at Hereford Leisure Pool and in Leominster's Broad Street.

In June, as lockdown was eased further, food outlets began opening a drive-thru service.

The McDonalds drive-thru in Belmont Road was busy on the first day it reopened. Picture: Rob Davies

McDonalds in Belmont Road reopened which resulted in lengthy queues on the A465 as people were keen to get their first Big Mac in months.

Street markets also returned, and days later some schools reopened for the first time since March.

Broadlands Primary School in Hereford reopened to more pupils, with social distancing measures in place in the corridors. Picture: Rob Davies

Later in June, non-essential retailers were given the green light to reopen, with big names in Hereford among those to welcome shoppers again.

Dozens of people were queueing for Primark more than an hour before it reopened for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown started in March.

People queuing in Widemarsh Street to get into Primark. Picture: Ben Goddard

A coronavirus outbreak among workers at a vegetable farm in Mathon made national news in July, with more than 130 confirmed cases.

It was the first outbreak of its kind in the UK, but public health officials said it was "successfully contained" at AS Green and Co in Mathon, near Ledbury.

Karen Wright , right, Director of Public Health for Herefordshir, at the farm. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

People flocked to the county’s restaurants in August as the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme launched, while the NHS Spitfire flew over Hereford hospital in tribute to staff.

The NHS Spitfire flies over Hereford in August

Children returned to school in September, with some having not opened to all pupils since March.

We were still living under relaxed rules, with the rule of six in place indoors and out.

But as infections started to rise in October, the UK Government introduced a tier system for England.

The tiers were designed so restrictions could be more localised, and as coronavirus in Herefordshire appeared under control, it was placed in Tier 1.

This meant very few rules changed in mid-October, with pubs still able to serve alcohol on its own, and you could meet people you didn't live with.

But pubs on the border between England and Wales faced diferent rules.

The Bridge Inn at Kentchurch and the Angel Inn in Grosmont made a stark illustration of how different coronavirus rules affect people’s lives.

Wales entered a second lockdown on Friday as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country.

But for pubs on the border of the two countries, their future is uncertain as the cross-border rules made life difficult.

While on could open, many locals would not have been allowed to cross the border.

William and Kasia Chambers (left) from the Bridge Inn can welcome customers today, but one mile away Chloe Skinner and Jim Hamilton from The Angel Inn in Grosmont can't

But with the picture across the country continuing to get worse, there was a month-long national lockdown for England in November.

This brought infections down slightly, but the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19 meant the return to tiered restrictions were short-lived.

In less than two weeks, Herefordshire went from Tier 1 restrictions through to England's third national lockdown.

But even if we're locked down again, the vaccine is being rolled out.

Thosuands have now been vaccinated in Herefordshire, and for many that is a real sign of hope.

Meryl Amott and Frank Wood have been among the residents at Herefordshire Care Homes to have their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine

Six vaccination cetnres are now open, with two more sites for those living n Herefordshire expected to follow.

There is also the expectation pharamacies will start giving the jab.