It's Been One Year Since The UK Entered Its First Lockdown

Announcing the first lockdown in an address to the nation, Boris Johnson said: "Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together, to halt the spread of this disease, to protect our NHS and to save many, many thousands of lives.

"And I know that as they have in the past so many times, the people of this country will rise to that challenge, and we will come through it stronger than ever.

"We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together."

But he, like most others, underestimated how deadly and enduring the disease would prove to be, to the point that we are once again in lockdown, a year on.

To mark the morbid milestone, a minute's silence will be held at midday, and people are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm and hold torches and candles to symbolise a 'beacon of remembrance'.

Landmarks such as the London Eye, Wembley Stadium, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall will be illuminated in yellow, while churches will toll bells.

Looking back on a year of lockdowns, the Prime Minister said it had been one of the worst years in the country's history.

He said: "The last 12 months has taken a huge toll on us all, and I offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

"Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year - one of the most difficult in our country's history.

"We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year. We have all played our part, whether it's working on the front line as a nurse or carer, working on vaccine development and supply, helping to get that jab into arms, home schooling your children, or just by staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

"It's because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all."

Indeed, while there is little in the way of positives to glean from a year of lockdowns, we are in a vastly preferable situation now than we were on 23 March 2020.

More than half of all adults in the UK have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine - something which didn't even exist this time last year. And from Monday (29 March), the stay at home order will end, outdoor sports will resume and you'll be able to meet in a group of six outdoors.

Two weeks on from that, and - all being well - beer gardens, shops and gyms will reopen.

Keep going people.