Coronavirus one year on: the sadness and the pride

IT is one year ago this week that the dark shadow of coronavirus fell upon Herefordshire.

The first case of the dreadful virus thought to have originated in Wuhan, China, was detected in the county, and it prompted irrational panic-buying in some supermarkets.

Around that time attacks on the Press, including the Hereford Times, began on social media from those who claimed we were exaggerating the dangers.

Since then more than 300 local people have died with Covid-19 on their death certificate, and about 3 per cent of the local population has tested positive.

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In the UK almost 125,000 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, according to Government figures.

The Hereford Times has continued to report on the pandemic’s effects in our area every week since the crisis began.

But our front page on March 19, 2020, carried the headline We WILL get through this, and it has been our mantra ever since.

We WILL get through this. Hereford Times front page from March 19, 2020

We have tried to balance our reporting about the awful toll of the virus on local people with positive news, including reports about those in our communities doing so much to help others.

And we have championed – and will continue to champion – local businesses as they battle to overcome the immense challenges they face.

This has been a year of tragedy and misery, but let that not blind us to the inspiring response to adversity we have seen here.

One year on, we are left deeply proud to be part of Herefordshire.