This week marks three years since the then-Prime Minister acceded to warnings from Public Health England and declared the first coronavirus lockdown. On March 23, 2020, the nation tuned in to a press conference as Mr Johnson told every household: “You must stay home.”
The impact was immediate, as these photos of Sheffield city centre’s deserted streets remind us all. The new norm of seeing street after street with not a soul in sight – except, perhaps, spaced out two metres apart in queues outside supermarkets – will be hard to explain to future generations.
Take a look at these photos from 2020 and see if they stir up memories of those strange times.
9. Winter Gardens Sheffield
One of Sheffield's notoriously relaxing areas really was quiet and relaxing in March 2020 as the country went into lockdown. Photo: Marie Caley
10. Sheffield city centre in lockdown
Sheffield city centre in lockdown during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nelly Naylor
11. Sheffield city centre in lockdown
Sheffield city centre in lockdown during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nelly Naylor
12. Sheffield city centre in lockdown
Sheffield city centre in lockdown during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nelly Naylor