Nottinghamshire Live readers have shared the habits they have retained two years after the first lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson revealed to the country all would be shutting down from March 23, 2020, amid the alarming spread of the relatively unknown virus coined SARS-CoV-2, two years ago.
The novel coronavirus, or Covid as we now know it, was first detected towards the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China, and the world came to a near total stop in the months following. A huge number of people sadly died as a result of the spread of the virus, with an estimated 164,000 and counting in the UK alone to this day.
Businesses and schools were closed, travel was prohibited and meeting with friends and family became an illegal act from March two years ago, while people were only allowed to leave their homes for exercise once per day. It was a time of immense change and indeed sadness and heartbreak, with loved ones unable to see one another, even as they were admitted to hospital with the virus in a bid to protect others.
Take a look back: Nottingham's empty streets during week 4 of coronavirus lockdown
Now, much has changed, with anti-viral medication and vaccinations allowing some sense of normality to be reinstated across the world. Some habits have remained, though, and here are a few of the ones you say you've stuck to two years to the day.
Leroy Grant said: "Keeping as far away from people as possible."
As many may remember keeping at least two metres from one another was an enforced rule at one stage, to limit the spread of the virus. This, along with wearing a mask, is still encouraged despite Government rules being almost entirely dropped.
While many people said in jest, or maybe even in truth, they would be avoiding people heading into the future as much as possible, others emphasised the past two years has perhaps made them more considerate to others.
Bev Boothe says: "Still wearing a mask in crowded areas and on public transport, also not going out as much. Some people think covid is a thing of the past."
Sally Birch was similarly considerate and stated: "There were fewer coughs, colds and tummy bugs in the last two years. If I've learned anything, it is to be more considerate if I think I may have something I may pass on to others, to then wear a mask.
"Hopefully we all know to wash our hands and sanitise."
A number of other readers highlighted the significant change experienced in work culture in Britain. Most, if not all, office environments closed down from March 23, 2020, to protect workers from the virus and its many unknowns at that time. It was a change that had an overarching impact on life as we knew it.
Cafes, eateries and public transport were left without customers and the Government had to step in to finance this gaping hole. As a result, the economy, particularly in cities where many companies relied on office workers, plummeted off a cliff edge.
And many have struggled and even failed to get back on sure footing ever since, the pandemic acting as the final nail in the coffin. Shopping centre giant intu suffered the consequences of this change dearly, collapsing into administration soon after lockdown was first announced and leaving the Broadmarsh Centre in ruin.
Some workers have indeed returned to their offices, but many companies have stuck to a new way of working into 2022. Many readers said they were still working from home at least some of the time each and every week.
Julie Gill said: "Working from home three days a week and keeping away from crowds of people."
And Rees Jones shared similar working habits and added: "Working from home and not a tram in sight."
Independent councillor for Stapleford North, Richard MacRae, said he had been continuing to help those in need with his regular surplus food deliveries.
Many people across the UK have been feeling the impacts of the soaring costs of living in recent months, many cost pressures spurred on by the pandemic and faltering world economies. Petrol prices, food costs and energy bills have been rising considerably, meaning charitable assistance is - sadly - needed more than ever.
He said: "[We've been] supporting the needy with surplus food as we have done for over five years now."
