Covid: a year in pictures in Reading since first lockdown

In the past 12 months, we’ve had to adapt to measures never experienced before.

It has become the new normal to wear face coverings, maintaining a safe social distance and sanitise our hands wherever we enter.

Now we are in a third national lockdown which will slowly be eased over the coming months.

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Shops, cinemas, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs have sadly had to close their doors leaving us longing for the day we can reunite with our loved ones and enjoy doing the things we miss most.

Meanwhile, terms such as flattening the curve, self-isolating, quarantine, and contact tracing have become part of our vocabulary with press briefings from Downing Street becoming a regular fixture.

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 It's been a year like no other.

Here we look back at some of the key moments in Reading from the past year in pictures.

March 2020

England entered its first full national lockdown on March 23.

The usually hectic streets were deserted on the Riverside in The Oracle and there was an eerie emptiness in the shopping centre.

Schools, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, places or worship, libraries and gyms closed their doors and would remain shut for many months to come.

Rainbow art 

Children across Reading brightened the moods of passers-by with homemade rainbows to show their support to the key workers.

The trend started online around the same time Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that government were to close schools across the UK to all students, except the children of key workers.  

April 2020

Military personnel train at Newbury ambulance centre to help fight coronavirus.

Around 80 military staff from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force have been training in Newbury to help the ambulance service handle the outbreak.

Clap for Carers also returned and saw people around the country do a round of applause to say thanks to the NHS staff working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Reading turns blue to thank NHS and keyworkers

Some of Reading's iconic landmarks and the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) illuminated in blue as a mark of appreciation for key workers across the country.

May 2020

Reading has one of the South East's highest coronavirus death rates

At the time, Office for National Statistics data shows there were 57 deaths involving Covid-19 in Reading between the beginning of March and April 17 – a rate of 51.5 per 100,000 of the local population.

This was the sixth highest rate of the South East's 67 council areas, and twice the regional average of 26.8.

June 2020

One-way walking systems were introduced by Reading Borough Council (RBC) on streets including Union Street, Oxford Road by Broad Street Mall, Station Road and the station subway.

Night of terror in town 

At around 7pm on Saturday June 20 Police and emergency services attended the scene of a terror attack in Forbury Gardens where three people died. 

Multiple police cars rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area.

Non-essential retailers were able to open their doors for the first time since March. 

Signs encouraging us to social distance were appearing in high streets with queueing outside stores becoming the norm. 

The weather was hot and lockdown was starting to ease.

July 2020

July 4 was a big day in the calendar as pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopened for the first time in several months.

Many of us were finally able to lose our lockdown locks and get our first proper haircut.

September 2020

Reading started to see a big jump in coronavirus cases as health chiefs warn of challenging winter.

Public Health England figures show that 890 people have been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday (September 9) in Reading, up from 872 on Friday.

The rate of infection in Reading stood at 550.1 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 540.6.

November 2020

On the eve of a second national lockdown, many took to Reading town centre to access the shops again before they closed.

Pictures from Lower Earley's Asda store, in Chalfont Way, show empty shelves prior to the official news conference (Saturday, October 31) as rumours circulated about the upcoming announcement from Boris Johnson.

Queues also formed for Primark as shoppers hurried to get last-minute clothes before retailers closed before Christmas.

Pubs and bars were also busy on the evening before lockdown with revellers making the most of their chance to get out and about. 

Then came another lockdown which lasted until December.

December 2020

The second national lockdown in November ended on December 2 with Reading areas entering the Tier 3 restrictions.

Queues of people lined Westwood Road in Tilehurst as people wait for their Covid-19 vaccines.

January 2021

The country entered its third national lockdown after many children had returned to school for just one day following the Christmas break.

The lockdown came in response to a surge in coronavirus cases across the country. 

Prime minister Boris Johnson said people would only able to leave their homes for limited reasons, with measures expected to stay in place until mid-February.

The Royal Berkshire Trust has been caring for more coronavirus patients this month than at the peak during the first wave in 2020, figures reveal.

NHS England data shows that 236 people were being treated for Covid-19 at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust by 8am on January 12.

That was a rise of 54 per cent compared to the peak of 153 reported during April last year.

READ MORE - Royal Berkshire Trust caring for more coronavirus patients than at April peak

February 2021

Data released in February showed January had the highest number of Covid deaths since the pandemic began.

A total of 136 people died from Covid-19 in January at the Trust according to the latest data.

This number is more than a quarter of the total number of Covid-19 deaths recorded at the Trust since March 1, 2020.

March 2021

Reading had seen a significant drop on case rates, hospitalisations and deaths thanks to the impact of lockdown and the vaccine rollout with case rates in the area falling below the England and south-east average.

What happens next?

From March 29, the 'stay at home' order will be replaced with advice to 'stay local'.

Gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed outdoors only, including private gardens. Outdoor sport will also be allowed such as tennis and golf. 

Then from April 12, hairdressers, non-essential retailers and gyms will reopen with pubs and restaurants allowed to offer outdoor service only.