On the day that the prime minister announced the first UK lockdown, over 1,000 people had died of a new and frightening coronaviruses. Two years later, that figure is over 188,000.
The UK experienced several more lockdowns over the next two years.
Widespread disruption.
During the most recent Omicron wave, the number of deaths and seriously ill patients on ventilators decreased, which gave cause for optimism.
As we mark the two-year anniversary of the first lockdown, some experts are concerned that cases are increasing again just as the government is about to phase out free testing.
The number of Covid patients in hospitals in Scotland has reached a new high.
The UK government wants to stop spending on expensive testing infrastructure, and people have had enough of isolation requirements, according to the University of Reading's biology professor.
The government must be careful not to dismantle the systems that allowed planners to stay ahead of the Omicron wave.
The UK's Covid-19 case rate has risen throughout March and stood at 832 per 100,000 residents on average in the week of 16 March. The Omicron B.2 variant is highly infectious.
In the same week, Scotland saw 1,639 new cases per 100,000, its highest figure since mid-January. In England and Wales, case rates are lower but have been rising throughout the month.
Rolling case rates in Northern Ireland have been falling for several days, but have not changed in the last week.
1 in 20 people in England have Covid-19, compared to 1 in 14 in Scotland and Northern Ireland and 1 in 25 in Wales, according to the latest ONS infection survey.
The number of people living with Covid dind is a concern as the government moves ahead with its plan.
According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 1.5 million people living in private households were experiencing long Covid.
Of this group, an estimated 344,000 (22%) first had (or suspected they had) Covid-19 less than 12 weeks ago, 1.1 million (71%) first had it at least 12 weeks previously, and 685,000 first had it at least one year previously.
More than two-thirds of those with long Covid symptoms said their ability to do day-to-day activities had been limited.
Some disabled people are concerned about the future, according to a survey by the ONS. Compared with non-disabled people, they were less likely to think their life had returned to normal.
According to the seven-day average, the number of Covid-19 patients in UK hospitals stood at 13,876 as of 18 March. The peak of 38,400 was seen in January 2021.
The number of patients on mechanical ventilation was lower last winter due to the success of the vaccine.
The number of patients on ventilators in the UK has fallen since January, and stood at over 300 as of 18 March, compared to a peak of over 4,000 in January.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there have been over 180,000 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned.
According to age-standardised mortality rates from the ONS at the end of January, London had the highest death rate of any region, with 171 deaths per 100,000 residents.
When comparing death rates, it's important to adjust for age because of the increased vulnerability of older age groups.
The north-west had the highest rate, with 157 deaths per 100,000, while the south-west had the lowest.
The House of Commons Library states that GDP declined by 9.7% in 2020, the biggest fall since records began in 1948. GDP fell below pre-pandemic levels in October 2021.
Business estimates show signs of economic recovery. According to the ONS Business Impact Survey, the percentage of companies open for business in February was the highest since June 2020.
Three in 10 businesses had cash reserves of at least six months as of January, up from 22% a year earlier, according to the same survey. 42% said their cash reserves would last less than three months.
One in six businesses experienced global supply chain disruption in the last month, the same as in January.
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