Coronavirus in Herefordshire: two years since lockdown

The onset of the global pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, sparked fear and confusion across the world and the county alike.

In the country, which has a population of around 193,000, more than 400 people have died with Covid-19 on their death certificate and there have 47,050 positive tests reported.

At the beginning, local people scrambled to supermarkets across the county leaving shelves empty of pasta, bread and toilet paper, among other things.

This happened regardless of assurances from retailers that there was no need to stockpile food.

Medicine aisles were also hit by stockpilers, with supplies of paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin running out in some shops.

Empty shelves in supermarkets in Hereford as panic buying set in. Pictures: Charlotte Moreau

But it was on March 23, 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced strict new curbs on life in the UK to tackle the spread of the disease.

THe rules were simple. Only leave home to shop for basic necessities, to do one form of exercise a day, for any medical need or to care for a vulnerable person, or to travel to and from work, but only if absolutely necessary

Hereford's High Town on March 24, 2020. Photo: Rob Davies

Restrictions have since been in place in various forms as the pandemic has evolved over the two years – and even now with most legal measures over in England, masks are still needed in healthcare settings.

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

The initial lockdown was eased in June 2020, and people flocked back to shops as they reopened for the first time since March.

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

In July 2020, more than 200 workers were quarantined at Rook Row Farm in Mathon after an outbreak.

This was believed to be the first outbreak on a farm in the UK.

Staff at Hereford County Hospital sang You'll Never Walk Alone a part of Clap for our Carers in 2020. Picture: Wye Valley NHS Trust

During that first lockdown, people clapped for our carers on a Thursday evening, stayed home as much as possible and all adapted to new ways of life. This ranged from parents becoming teachers as schools closed, except to children of keyworkers, to not seeing loved ones in care homes.

Booking systems were introduced at Herefordshire Council's tips, a measure that still continues today, and social distancing measures were rolled out across the county.

The Old Bridge in Hereford was closed for most vehicles due to social distancing. Picture: Rob Davies

Locally, the council took the Government initiative and used plant pots to widen footpaths into roads, it introduced new 20mph speed limits and closed the Old Bridge in Hereford to most traffic to encourage walkers and cyclists  – a move that led to protests.

A new regional tier system of restrictions was introduced in October as cases began to rise again.

A national lockdown was reintroduced during November 2020 to be lifted briefly in December and replaced with a new tiered system. That was the time Herefordshire went from the lightest to strictest measures in just a few days.

But after a surge in cases over Christmas, a new strict lockdown was introduced in January.

By March 2021, restrictions were being eased again and children returned to school, but parents were still affected by closures of school class "bubbles" as children tested positive.

The Barrels in Hereford, run by Phil Pryce, is one of the pubs in Hereford planning to reopen its beer garden in April 2021. Picture: Rob Davies

Pubs and restaurants, which along with most businesses have faced a tough two years due to restrictions, were keen to reopen beer gardens as rules allowed from April 2021.

Indoor dining soon followed, and then nightclubs finally opened again in July.

After summer 2021 passed relatively free of restrictions, come the autumn, the Government revealed its Plan B for England should the NHS need protecting once more.

People were queueing outside Elgar House, Holmer Road, as a walk-in Covid jab clinic opened. Picture: Rob Davies

With everyone already offered two doses of the Covid vaccine, plans were sped up for the booster programme. This led to queues outside some centres, including Hereford's Elgar House in Holmer Road.

To date in Herefordshire, 154,483 have had a first dose, 147,462 a second and 123,632 a third or booster.

Plan B was still needed though.

Face masks became mandatory again before Christmas in England, with Hereford shoppers appearing to be abiding by the rules. Picture Rob Davies

That plan was rolled out, meaning masks were once again needed in shops, as well as other measures including Covid passes for nightclubs.

But in England, they never closed, with long queues outside Play Nightclub Hereford in Blue School Street on New Year's Eve.

Revellers queueing outside Play Nightclub Hereford, in Blue School Street, on New Year's Eve

But those measures were lifted earlier this year, and since then laws surrounding self-isolation have ended. It is now only guidance to self-isolate after a positive test, with free lateral flow tet set to be scrapped at the end of the month.

Marie Curie is commemorating March 23 – two years after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first UK-wide lockdown – as the National Day of Reflection.

The charity is urging people to come together to remember the lives of those lost to Covid-19, and support the millions of people across the UK who are grieving – as figures reveal the extent of the death toll in Herefordshire.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in Herefordshire 415 deaths involving Covid-19 had been provisionally registered up to March 12.

Of these, 247 were in hospitals and 130 in care homes, while 26 occurred in private homes and 10 in hospices.

There were also two deaths elsewhere.

It means deaths outside hospital settings accounted for 40 per cent of the overall toll.

The figures include deaths that occurred up to March 4 which were registered up to eight days later.

ONS data is based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate.

The deadliest week of the pandemic so far came in the seven days to January 29 2021, when 26 people lost their lives in Herefordshire.

The deaths in the area were among 18,961 registered across the West Midlands up to March 12, and 159,419 across England.

Claire Collins, Marie Curie's bereavement coordinator, said coming together on March 23 is a way to "reflect on our collective losses in a mindful way".

She added: "There are still millions of people living with the deep trauma of losing a loved one during the last two years and we hope everyone finds comfort and embraces the day, whether you have had a close bereavement or not."

A minute's silence will be held at midday on Wednesday, March 23 to commemorate the day, and people are being encouraged to shine a light at 8pm or display flowers in their window to show support.