The coronavirus pandemic, a virus rarely heard of at the beginning of 2020, has sadly claimed the lives of hundreds of people in Herefordshire.

While the number of deaths in Herefordshire is much lower than in some neighbouring counties, tragically 286 people have died from Covid-19, with that being the main cause on their death certificate.

Care home outbreaks were one reason behind a high death toll in some areas, with Ross-on-Wye GP Dr Simon Lennane previously admitting that was why the area saw a higher number of deaths at the start of the pandemic.

But in Herefordshire, September 2020 and January 2021 were the most deadly months, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

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The data shows the number of deaths recorded in the county between March and February where coronavirus was the main cause.

The figures are broken down by areas known as midde super output areas (MSOA), which are statistical areas used for figures.

There are 23 of these in Herefordshire, and across England the population in each MSOA averages 8,000.

The graph below shows how many deaths were recorded in each month in each MSOA in Herefordshire.

This second graph groups that data together and shows how many deaths were recorded in each month.

People across the UK have taken part in a minute’s silence to remember Covid-19 victims, marking one year since the first lockdown began.

MPs and peers in both Houses of Parliament and ministers in the devolved nations marked the solemn anniversary at midday, while NHS and social care workers also joined the pause for reflection.

MPs observe a minute's silence in House of Commons during the National Day of Reflection on the anniversary of the first national lockdown. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire

Cathedrals in Blackburn, Winchester, Gloucester and York Minster also fell silent in honour of those who have died during the pandemic.

The Queen reflected on the “grief and loss felt by so many” as she paid tribute to the service of health and care workers in a message to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where the Duke of Edinburgh had heart surgery.

The London Eye, Tate Britain, Blackpool Tower, the Scottish Parliament, Belfast City Hall and other buildings will be lit in yellow on Tuesday evening to mark the occasion.

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The public have also been urged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm with a candle or light.

The Prime Minister, who has offered his “sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones”, observed the minute’s silence privately.

It came on the day new figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a total of 149,117 people have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.

Candles are lit during the National Day of Reflection at Blackburn Cathedral, on the anniversary of the first national lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Earlier, Downing Street said Mr Johnson had reflected with Cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning on what had been “a very dark and difficult year” for the nation.

A No 10 spokesman said: “The PM said that we mourn all those we have lost and send our deepest sympathies to their families, friends and loved ones.

“The PM said the last year had also shown the great strengths of the British public, which had demonstrated such resilience and fortitude and had shown such willingness to work together for a common good.

“The PM and Cabinet paid tribute to the extraordinary service of everyone in the NHS, social care and in the public sector over the past year, along with all those who had kept the country going – from bus drivers to shop workers.

“The PM said the ability of British scientists to respond to the pandemic had been incredible.

“He said that, if asked last March, he would not have believed it would have been possible to have developed a vaccine and delivered it to half of the UK adult population within 12 months.

“The PM said this was an absolutely astonishing achievement, which is a tribute to British science but also to British business.”

• The Hereford Times is publishing a special 32-page coronavirus anniversary supplment FREE inside the paper on Thursday, March 25.