We look back over a year lockdown and look ahead to the roadmap out

It was exactly 12 months ago this evening when Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared on our television screens telling us we had to 'stay at home'.

After weeks of what seemed like purgatory, watching as country after country entered lockdown, England was plunged into the most drastic restrictions on everyday life since the Second World War.

Schools were closed; clubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, bookies and gyms had to shut their doors from midnight, and sporting fixtures were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister announced the unprecedented lockdown measures in a dramatic night-time TV address telling us to 'Stay at home, Protect our NHS and Save lives'.

We Brits were told we were only allowed out once a day to exercise – the first of what turned out to be many contradictions between the guidance and the law, which has never actually limited the amount and frequency of exercise.

And a year on, we are pretty much in the same position as we were on that fated day 12 months ago.

Clubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, non-essential retail, bookies and gyms are still closed, we are still being told to stay at home except for a number of limited reasons and we are still working from home.

Since the start of pandemic, across the county of Devon, 32,905 people have tested positive for Covid-19, and 1,033 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.

But despite the tragic toll that the last year has taken, it could have been so much worse.

Per population, at upper tier authority level, Plymouth has had the fewest deaths of anywhere in England, with Cornwall second, and Devon third.

At lower tier level, the South Hams is the lowest, with West Devon second, North Devon third, Torridge fifth, Plymouth sixth, Exeter ninth and Mid Devon 10th.

Tamerton Foilot, Teignmouth North, Barnstaple Sticklepath, and Dunkesewell, Upottery and Stockland have yet to see a death related to Covid-19 (as have Torpoint, Mid Saltash and the Isles of Scilly across the Tamar).

For cases, Devon has had the second lowest overall infection rate (with Cornwall the lowest), and Torbay third, and Plymouth sixth.

At a lower tier level, Torridge has the lowest infection rate in England (and is the only place yet still in three figure for cases with 975), South Hams 2nd, North Devon 3rd, West Devon 4th, Teignbridge 5th, Cornwall 6th, Mid Devon 7th, and East Devon 9th in the bottom ten.

Of the areas that have gone longest since recording a cluster of three or more cases, nine of the top 12 are in Devon, with one in Cornwall and one being the Isles of Scilly.

Devon's Director of Public Health Steve Brown has said that since the vaccination programme began, the numbers of people with coronavirus needing hospital treatment or dying have reduced significantly, but 'no vaccine is one hundred per cent effective'.

The latest research shows that the vaccine gives about an 80 per cent protection against needing treatment in hospital, and an 85 per cent protection from dying from coronavirus.

Mr Brown added: "There will still be people who catch coronavirus, and particularly those most vulnerable – the elderly and those who have clinical risk – who will potentially get coronavirus and still become seriously ill.

"We are going to continue to get small outbreaks in settings such as care homes, workplaces and schools. But whenever we get an outbreak, the response is quick and swift.

"Agencies (including Public Health Devon, Devon County Council, NHS Devon, Public Health England) come together. We look at how we can put in additional resources, such as additional staff or other appropriate resources, and we step up the cleaning regime for example.

"Such measures are designed to protect and safeguard those people in that setting, and to try to reduce any onward transmission.

"Even when you've been vaccinated, it's still really important that you continue to adopt public health measures – stay at home.

"If you do need to go out, make sure that you keep social distancing, wear those face coverings when indoors in public spaces, and wash your hands regularly."

The roadmap out of lockdown

March 29:

Outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either six people (the Rule of Six) or two households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

The 'stay at home' rule will end on March 29.

Not before April 12:

Step 2 will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres.

Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas.

Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.

Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated ('table service').

While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

Not before May 17:

Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of Six or two households will apply.

As soon as possible and by no later than Step 3, the Government also plans update the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging – although advice has been to social distance from anyone not in your household, it has never been law.

Indoor hospitality will reopen and other indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children's play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.

The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number).

In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals.

Not before June 21:

The government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission.

This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home.

By Step 4, the government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact and they hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances.