On this day one year ago, the UK went into its first national coronavirus lockdown.

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the drastic measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19, it was not clear just how long it would be before normal life returned.

Some expected the lockdown to be in place for several weeks but it would eventually reshape not just the rest of the year, but all of our lives.

Here is how the dramatic events of the past year unfolded:

. March 10: Watford General Hospital’s first coronavirus-related death is announced. The West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that the patient, a man in his 80s with underlying health conditions, died in the evening of March 9.

. March 23: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces the first UK lockdown, telling the public they will only be allowed to leave their homes for limited reasons, including food shopping, exercise once per day, medical need and travelling for work when absolutely necessary.

All shops selling non-essential goods are told to close, gatherings of more than two people in public are banned, events including weddings – but excluding funerals – are cancelled.

. April 5: Downing Street says the Prime Minister has been admitted to hospital for tests as a “precautionary step” as his symptoms persist.

He is moved to an intensive care ward a day later but eventually recovers and is discharged from hospital on April 12.

. May 10: Mr Johnson announces the first easing of England’s lockdown, telling people they are allowed to sunbathe in parks and leave the house to exercise more than once a day.

. June 1: Lockdown measures are eased, with schoolchildren in England in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 returning to the classroom.

. July 4: Pints are poured in pubs and couples finally say “I do” as lockdown restrictions are eased across England.

. July 24: Face coverings become mandatory in shops across England, with £100 fines for people who flout the rules.

. August 3: The Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme launches, with restaurants, pubs and cafes offering half-price meals to diners during August.

. September 18: Mr Johnson warns that a second wave of coronavirus has arrived in the UK. New restrictions including a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants in England are announced six days later.

. October 12: The Prime Minister launches a three-tier system of local alert levels for England.

. October 17: Hertfordshire is placed into the lowest tier of restrictions, tier one.

. October 31: Mr Johnson announces a second national lockdown - but schools remain open. Southend Council’s director of public health, Krishna Ramkhelawon, would later slam the decision to keep children in the classroom.

. November 26: It is announced Hertfordshire will be moved in Tier 2 restrictions when lockdown ends, meaning residents are not able to mix with other households indoors.

. December 2: England’s second national lockdown comes to an end.

. December 8: Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, becomes the first patient in the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

. December 14: Mr Hancock tells MPs a new strain of coronavirus has been identified in southern England, with the number of cases involving the new variant “increasing rapidly”.

Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, and Broxbourne are moved into 'very high alert' Tier 3 restrictions.

. December 17: All of Hertfordshire is moved into Tier 3.

. December 19: Just two days later, the Prime Minister cancels Christmas for Hertfordshire residents by moving them into a newly created Tier 4 for two weeks – effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November.

. January 4 2021: Mr Johnson announces a third national lockdown for England.

Watford’s seven-day rate of infection peaks at 1,058 new infections per 100,000 residents.

. January 26: According to the Government, more than 100,000 people in the UK have now died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began.

. February 20: The Prime Minister pledges all adults will be offered a vaccine by July 31.

. February 22: Mr Johnson announces a road map out of lockdown, with a four-step plan to gradually ease England’s restrictions by June 21.

. March 8: All children in all year groups return to classrooms in England.

. March 19: Half of the UK’s adult population receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.