It was a year ago today that the country's chief medical officer reported the first patient in Hertfordshire had tested positive for coronavirus.

Professor Chris Whitty confirmed three new cases on February 29, 2020, bringing the total number of confirmed UK cases to 23.

In his announcement, Professor Whitty said the three new cases confirmed that day were in Hertfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire.

Read more: One year on: School closes amid coronavirus fears

In our report from that day, we wrote the three cases were being investigated and any individuals who had contact with the patients are now being traced.

Authorities would not reveal where in Hertfordshire the patient is from for patient confidentiality reasons.

Here is the rest of our report from that day:

Hertfordshire County Council’s director of public health, Jim McManus, said: “There is no need for Hertfordshire residents to be unduly concerned.

"We expect to have cases of coronavirus arising and our services have planned for, and are ready, for this situation.

"Current evidence indicates that most cases appear to be mild, with patients experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a fever and a cough.

“Following Government guidance to take basic hygiene precautions remains the best way of significantly reducing the chances of spreading any virus."

Dr David Edwards, consultant in health protection, Public Health England East, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

"The case is a resident of Hertfordshire and we’re working closely with NHS colleagues in that area as well as Hertfordshire County Council to manage the situation and help reduce the risk of further cases.

“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case.

"This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public."

Meanwhile Professor Whitty has confirmed that two of the three cases confirmed today were contracted in Italy while the other patient contracted it in Asia.

We do know that several schools in our area attended skiing trips in Northern Italy last week.

One of those schools was Rickmansworth School in Croxley Green.

Two pupils were being tested for coronavirus, the school confirmed in an email to parents.

The school says it took advice from Public Health England to shut.

The report ended by stating figures at the time. More than 10,000 people in the UK had been tested for the virus, also known as Covid-19 - with 23 confirmed as positive.

At that point, ehtere had been 80,000 cases worldwide, with almost 3,000 deaths.