Covid-19: A year in Buckinghamshire
Today marks a year since we first went into lockdown
Today marks one year since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that everyone across the UK was to stay at home for the first time, as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the nation.
It has been an extraordinary 12 months which have changed our lives in terms of health, financial well-being and simple social contact with family and friends.
And it has been a year in which everyone became interested in the daily numbers of the pandemic.
One year on, what does the data tell us about how Covid-19 has hit Buckinghamshire?
Cases and deaths
Since the early days of the pandemic, we have been provided with regular updates on the number of new positive cases and, sadly, reported deaths.
In Buckinghamshire, 30,714 people had tested positive for Covid-19 by the morning of March 18, Public Health England data shows.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 1,163 deaths involving the virus were provisionally registered in the area up to March 13.
Of those, 739 occurred in hospitals, while there were 348 deaths in care homes and 55 at private homes.
A further 21 deaths occurred in hospices, other community establishments or elsewhere.
It means deaths which happened outside hospital settings accounted for 37% of the overall toll.
READ MORE:
Bucks Council Leader looks back on dealing with a global pandemic while uniting 5 local authorities
A year on from the first confirmed Covid-19 related death in Aylesbury
Covid-19 hospitalisations dropping in Buckinghamshire
Health experts have repeatedly said "excess deaths" – the number of deaths above the annual expected number – are a better measure of the overall impact of the coronavirus pandemic than simply looking at mortality directly linked to Covid-19.
ONS figures on this show that 5,309 people died of all causes in Buckinghamshire between March 2020 and February 2021 – the latest available data.
That was 21% above the 4,385 deaths which occurred over the same period a year earlier.
The labour market
As well as being the biggest health crisis in decades, the coronavirus pandemic has also brought rapid change to the UK's jobs market.
Unemployment rates have surged along with a rise in job uncertainty, and many more people are seeking support from unemployment benefits.
One of the defining elements of the Government's response to the spread of Covid-19 was the launch of emergency income support schemes to protect jobs.
Back in March last year, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, or "furlough" scheme, to help firms struggling with the impact of the virus.
By the end of May, just two months later, businesses had already put around 63,000 employments on furlough in Buckinghamshire.
At the same time, people in the area had made roughly 21,300 claims made under the separate Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
In January, 38,600 jobs were on furlough in Buckinghamshire, with 19,200 reliant on the SEISS scheme.
ONS figures show that in early March last year, 5,570 people in Buckinghamshire were claiming out-of-work benefits.
By mid-January, that figure had risen well over double to 14,855.
The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.
The ONS has regularly cautioned that changes to Universal Credit in response to the virus mean more people can get the benefits while still being employed, which mean the figures can't be used to measure unemployment on a local basis.
It also said a small number of people who can claim both JSA and UC could be counted twice.
Vaccinations
After an extremely difficult year for many of us, the vaccine rollout is providing a glimmer of hope for a life not bound by restrictions.
NHS data shows 142,100 people in Buckinghamshire had received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by March 14.
More than 25 million people across the UK have had their first jab.
READ MORE: Chance to give feedback on Buckinghamshire's vaccine rollout
Lockdown is easing
8 March: ALL pupils in England back to school
From 8 March 2021, all pupils in all year groups were allowed to go back into the classroom. Outdoor after-school sports clubs and activities were also allowed to resume.
8 March: Socialising outdoors with one other person
Two people from different households are now allowed to meet up outdoors in parks and public spaces. This means that people can sit down for a picnic or a drink, whereas previously, you could only meet someone outside your household for exercise.
29 March: Stay at Home rule liften
From 29 March, once the school Easter holidays have started, the Government will lift the stay at home rule but will continue to encourage people to stay local.
29 March: Larger group gatherings outdoors
From March 29 the "rule of six" will be re introduced alongside the the two household rule.
The "rule of six" means that up to six people from different households can meet outside.
More people will be able gather together if they are only from two households, giving greater flexibility for families and friends.
29 March: Outdoor sports facilities allowed to open
Outdoor sports facilities including tennis and basketball courts will be permitted to reopen from 29 March.
29 March: Organised adult and children's sport
Meanwhile organised adult and children's sport, such as grassroot football clubs, can also resume from March 29
29 March: Weddings with 6 people
From 29 March, weddings with 6 people will be permitted to take place. The number of guests allowed to attend weddings will increase as we move through the roadmap.
12 April: shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues
From 12 April at the earliest, shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions, including zoos, and outdoor hospitality venues will be permitted to reopen.
12 April: Beer gardens reopen
From 12 April, outdoor beer gardens will also be allowed to reopen.
12 April: Gyms reopen
Gyms are expected to reopen from 12 April.
17 May: Indoor mixing
From May 17 at earliest, two households or groups of up to six people can mix indoors and limited crowds will be allowed to return to sporting events. Children's play areas will be opened alongside hotels, and limited groups will be allowed in theatres.
17 May: Possible foreign travel
Foreign travel may be permitted from 17 May.
17 May: Indoor hospitality
Indoor hospitality including pubs and restaurants could reopen from 17 May.
21 June: Nightclubs could reopen
From 21 June all remaining restrictions on social distancing could be lifted, and larger events may be allowed to resume, including theatres. Nightclubs may also be allowed to reopen.
21 June: Bigger weddings
Bigger wedding celebrations may be permitted from 21 June.