East Yorkshire marks a year since the UK's first Covid patients were treated here
Two hotel guests in York were transferred to Cottingham after becoming ill
Last updated 29th Jan 2021
Today marks exactly a year since the UK's first two coronavirus patients were treated in East Yorkshire. The pair fell ill after arriving from China and were taken from a hotel in York to Castle Hill hospital.
From then on the virus has spread to more than three and a half million people across the country.
Trevor Bayfield from Yorkshire caught coronavirus whilst skiing in Italy early last year and he was told by doctors that he was one of the first people to be treated for the disease in the county. He was looked after at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham and told us:
"At the time when I had it (Covid), it wasn't so well known. People didn't know what to expect or how the virus would develop.
"I actually found myself a little bit alienated after I recovered, as people were very anxious when they were near me. As time went on people got to know more about the virus and realised that I had recovered".
As Trevor has antibodies, he now donates plasma to help other people who have the virus. He's donated 20 times, and isn't planning on stopping:
"I think the reaction of some of the people who've had Covid is 'oh well the vaccine is available now, so there's no urgent need for me to go'. However, the antibodies from a previous Covid patient have never been more precious.
"To be part of the plasma trial is such a great feeling, and I'm so glad to help out".