Looking back on a year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Somerset

Shops were forced to close, gyms and hairdressers shut and the national message was ‘stay at home’.

Thinking the lockdown would only last a few weeks, many people had no idea we would still be facing lockdown a year later.

The Covid-19 death toll then stood at just over 1,000 people.

In June and July last year many lockdown restrictions were eased or lifted across much of the UK, but new rules were introduced, such as wearing face masks.

In September/October local lockdowns were introduced in parts of the UK, and tiers became a part of our lives.

On January 5 – after many of us spent Christmas day with our loved ones – the UK went back into lockdown.

But then the vaccines were rolled out across the UK helping to protect those who are most vulnerable in society.

Now, nearly three months on, we are still in lockdown, but many restrictions are slowly being eased with the hope all restrictions will be lifted by the end of June.

On Tuesday, people around the UK took part in a one-minute silence to reflect on the past year.

The silence, organised by end of life charity Maria Curie, was to acknowledge the loss of the nation, to support those left behind and symbolize hope for a brighter future.

The charity explained that with hundreds of thousands of coronavirus deaths, millions of people have been bereaved, and many have been unable to grieve properly or say their goodbyes.

Residents in Somerset took part in the reflection, to remember those they had lost and the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mendip District Council’s chief executive, Stuart Brown, said it seemed a “fitting time” to pause, reflect and pay our respects.

“We’ve a long road ahead of us to get back to some sort of normality,” he said.

“It’s important to acknowledge the great suffering experienced as a result of the virus, but also to move forward together, in hope.”

The Chair of Somerset County Council, Cllr Nigel Taylor, agreed that now was a time for reflection.

“Covid-19 has affected everyone’s lives over the last year, and sadly many of us have lost friends, neighbours and family before their time,” he said.

“On the anniversary of the first lockdown, it is a time for us to pause, reflect and remember. A time for us to support our friends, families and local communities and a time to help local grieving families. Let us all reflect on the events of the last year and send hope of better times.”

South Somerset District Council leader, Val Keitch, added: “We thought about the lives that have been lost to Covid-19 and those who have survived but continue to need our support and love.

“We thought about all the workers across the NHS who have given so much to fighting this pandemic and the workforces across organisations and businesses across the country, including my own council, who have done so much to support our communities through this most difficult year.

“While there is light at the end of the tunnel, we must continue to support one another.

“We must also take advantage of the renewed sense of community that the pandemic has helped foster.”

And this “sense of community” is definitely one positive to come from this crisis. In and around Taunton – and even across the UK - we have had so many people volunteering to deliver shopping, pick up prescriptions or even just to give people a call for a chat.

One of the main groups set up in our town was the Coronavirus Community Help group on Facebook. With more than 1,000 volunteers, the group has been vital in helping those who are shielding and so much more.

Natalie Dyson, one of the founders of the group, estimated the group has carried out between 15,000 to 20,000 jobs over the past year. Volunteers collected 65 gazebos for schools in the summer, helped to feed the NHS, helped to feed hungry children during the school holidays, made sure children had presents to open at Christmas, and so much more.

Groups have been set up all over Somerset, with many running a team of volunteers continuously for the past year.

Chair of the Somerset West and Taunton Council, Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, said: “We’ve all been touched by this pandemic and have adapted to many different challenges during the last year, including council staff who have continued to deliver critical services for residents and businesses while ensuring our most vulnerable are safe and supported.”

There are, of course, many other key workers who have been working hard continuously throughout the pandemic, including NHS workers, care workers, Avon and Somerset Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and many workers who have given up their time to volunteer.

And to them – and to the people who followed the guidance and helped to fight this pandemic – we have just one thing to say: thank you.