THIS week (Wednesday, September 23) marked six months since lockdown was imposed, and restrictions are tightening again after a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Here are the key dates and events in Herefordshire since the unprecedented restrictions were announced:

As March began, fears about the virus grew, with supermarket shelves stripped by panic-buying.

On March 23 all but key services and facilities were shut down.

RELATED NEWS:

Schools closed for all but the children of key workers, and home learning began.

People across the county began clapping for carers on March 26.

Ledbury Reporter: Families were separated. Picture: Kate PreeceFamilies were separated. Picture: Kate Preece

On March 28, non-essential shops were forced to close, and pictures of rainbows started to appear across the county as Herefordshire thanked its key workers.

With world borders closing, some Herefordshire people were left stranded abroad with no way of getting home.

In April, the call went out to mobilise a volunteer army for Herefordshire’s fight against coronavirus, while the council set up a response team to help those who most needed support.

Within a week more than 800 people offered to help with tasks including food and medicine deliveries across the county.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care after contracting coronavirus.

On May 10, a recovering Mr Johnson announced the first easing of lockdown. People could sunbathe in parks and leave the house more than once a day, but had to keep two metres away from others and were encouraged to wear face coverings.

Ledbury Reporter: Hereford police paid tribute to NHS workers at Hereford County HospitalHereford police paid tribute to NHS workers at Hereford County Hospital

Some schools reopened in June, but many, such as Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies, said they were not reopening without further measures.

Black Lives Matter protests took place in Herefordshire after the death of George Floyd.

On July 4 drinkers were welcomed back to Herefordshire’s pubs, with queues seen outside hairdressers and barbers on June 13 as customers returned for the first time in four months.

A coronavirus outbreak among workers at a vegetable farm in Mathon made national news.

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.

Children returned to school in September, but on September 22, new restrictions were announced including a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants in England.