Covid: a year in pictures in Bracknell 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.

READ MORE: Gyms are closed in lockdown - but this one is thriving

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.

ALSO READ: Maps show how Coronavirus has spread in Bracknell as schools open

It's been a year like no other.

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

March 2020

Pic by Niru Mayer

England entered its first full national lockdown on March 23.

The usually hectic streets were deserted around the town centre and there was an eerie emptiness in The Lexicon. 

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 Bracknell 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

Frontline Frimley Park NHS staff kept spirits high through an intense period during the first weeks of lockdown.

It came after the first nationwide Clap for Carers on Thursday, March 26.

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.

May 2020

Heartbroken mum Tasha Breadmore gave birth to her baby boy Albie two weeks before her late grandmother Shirley Sutton was admitted to Frimley Park Hospital, after she was displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

Tasha and Shirley with baby daughter Elsie

At the same time her nan Shirley was admitted, Tasha's mum Vicki was also rushed into hospital after "suddenly" feeling unwell.

Her 83-year-old nan Shirley passed away on Sunday, April 5 after testing positive for Covid-19.

Read her tribute- Heartbroken mum pays tribute to 'beautiful' nan who died from Covid-19

June 2020

Boris Johnson granted permission for all non-essential shops to reopen.

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 the 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

Scientists created a new map to predict the UK's Covid-19 hotspots over the next couple of weeks - and it wasn't good news for Bracknell.

Bracknell was above the Covid hotspit level and officials were battling to reduce the number of infections.

Kaspa's desserts also closed down after six people test positive for coronavirus.

Residents who visited Kaspa’s needed to self-isolate and get tested if they showed symptoms, in line with national guidelines.

November 2020

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

Pictures from the town centre show people rushing to the shops as rumours circulated about the upcoming announcement from Boris Johnson.

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 Bracknell areas entering the Tier 3 restrictions.

Nine areas in Bracknell Forest saw spikes in Covid cases. 

Wick Hill saw the biggest increase and the biggest overall rate of cases in the area, with the map indicating by colour the concerning recent trend for the area.

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.

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

Bracknell Forest had seen a significant drop in 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.