What can we learn from the coronavirus pandemic?
This week marks a year since the World Health Organisation declared covid-19 a global pandemic.
This week (March 11th 2021) marks a year since the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic.
Since then, we've lived through three lockdowns, tier systems and many restrictions.
Reflecting on the past year in West Yorkshire, virologist Stephen Griffin said:
"Our reaction to the pandemic has been poor, you can see that from the horrendous death rate as well as from the terrible damage to society and to the economy.
"I think the most telling aspect, is that we've had to have 3 lockdowns. They didn't establish some pretty fundamental public health initiatives, which even without the vaccine have been shown throughout the world to be able to deal with this."
The rate in Leeds has been falling, and currently stands at 99.9 per 100 thousand people. This has fallen from 100.6 per 100 thousand people.
He continued:
" Parts of our county has been under lockdown a lot longer than other places, I think we've had a lot to deal with and we've coped tremendously well and I hope the government recognise that."
Roadmap out of lockdown:
Looking towards the future, people across West Yorkshire are now getting their vaccines, and children across the county went back to school this Monday (8th March), in the first step of the roadmap out of lockdown.
From 29 March, larger groups will be able to meet outside, including in private gardens (a maximum of six people or two households).
Tennis courts, golf courses and other outdoor sport facilities will also reopen on 29 March.
More restrictions could ease from the 12th April.