Your Voice, Your BBC News

As we've been reporting today, many faced some of the most difficult moments of their lives during the pandemic - from the deaths of loved ones, to isolation from friends, to managing lockdown in small spaces.

We have heard from some, however, who managed to find moments of relief.

Among those is Sammy from London who ended up "clapping for the NHS" on the wrong day thanks to a boyfriend's prank.

"I went straight out banging on a pan for a couple of minutes. I was the only one out there doing it.

"I wonder what the neighbours thought?!"

Meanwhile, we bet that babysitting fox cubs was not on Horsham-based Ian Gearing's agenda prior to the lockdown.

Nonetheless, the quietness of the village gave a local fox the confidence to drop her five cubs in his garden each day.

Image source, Ian Gearing

For Graham from Cheltenham, it was a "virtual cruise group" that kept morale afloat.

"None of those on the group knew each other but we cruised around the world and had a fab time," he explains.

"As we visited each destination on our cruise, those who had been to a particular destination posted pictures of their visit and gave tips on what to do and not to do."

Image source, Getty Images

While a number of rules were imposed by the government during the first lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of the virus - in the summer of 2020 as cases were coming down, the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme was launched to try and re-stimulate the economy and protect jobs.

Under the initiative, diners received a state-backed 50% discount on meals and soft drinks in pubs and restaurants (up to £10 each) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the UK during August 2020.

It cost £840m and covered 160 million meals during the month of August.

Government scientists have since said it was "highly likely" to have increased Covid infections and deaths.

Chancellor at the time, Rishi Sunak, told the Covid inquiry in December 2023 that it prevented "devastating" job losses as he defended the move.

Cachella Smith
Live reporter

Sunday will mark five years since former Prime Minister Boris Johnson first told the nation: "You must stay at home". The order prompted fear and uncertainty with no one truly knowing what the next few years might hold.

This morning, we've been reflecting on your experiences during the pandemic - here's a brief recap:

• Kirsty from Marston Meysey said her mother "felt like a queen" as she celebrated her 90th birthday with a parade through the village - complete with balloons, banners and champagne
• Julie Ricau's son Felix also enjoyed socially distanced celebrations for his fourth birthday after neighbours decorated the street with banners and drawings
• Others, including Carolyn Rowland from Manchester, valued spending quality time with loved ones. She described moments watching Bargain Hunt with her dad before he died, aged 94
• For some, the lockdown took away their chance to say goodbye - Jo Linney couldn't be with her daughter in the days before her death, following an earlier stroke. She says she will "always feel guilty"
• Others have spoken about relatives who were isolating before they died. Sandra-Lynne says her father shielded for three years during the pandemic

Stick with us for more reflections and you can share your own stories with the BBC here.

Your Voice, Your BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Sophie Crossley, a 28-year-old from Bristol, describes her work at a Covid test site as a "lifeline".

"During a time of isolation and fear and panic, I became part of a community with people I never would have met otherwise," she explains.

"We were our own version of The Breakfast Club: artists, business owners, students, hospitality staff."

Also drawing comfort from the sense of community, Jamie Kennedy, 63 from Bridge of Weir, speaks of the time he spent building a temporary hospital in Glasgow.

"What a crazy and wonderful moment for all sorts of trades and people coming together for a goal."

Meanwhile Kenneth Farrington, 75 from Leeds volunteered as a patient transport driver.

He says it was a "challenge" but adds that it was "an enjoyable one" - "patients were most appreciative of the role you were doing".

Image source, Andy Payne

Many of us had to be creative when planning birthdays during the pandemic - from surprise Zoom calls to virtual games. But, most of us could not have imagined a celebration quite like this...

Kirsty from Marston Meysey told our colleagues at Radio 5 Live this morning of the moment her late mother, Joyce, was wheeled through their village on the back of a trailer to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Despite being socially distanced, her mother "felt like a queen", Kirsty says, as the village cheered and sang Happy Birthday.

Kirsty adds that her mother also became a pen pal with a local six-year-old.

"Both ended up in a local book published on Covid. Mum laughed that she became a cover girl at 90.

"Those little nuggets of happiness don’t make up for the time lost but you have to look for a silver lining," she says.

Image source, Andy Payne

Grace Dean
BBC News

For some, lockdown led to positive life changes - both big and small.

Adam, 44, from Newcastle says he realised he wanted to propose over Christmas 2020. Just two years later, he ended up buying a home and marrying his partner that summer.

"I became a cat dad, despite being a dog person, and cooked different food and made more sourdough bread than I'd care to admit!" he says.

Meanwhile, one woman told the BBC she made the decision to move in with her partner in lockdown, despite the pair only being together for about five months.

The pandemic was "perfect timing" and "fast-tracked" their relationship, the woman, who wanted to be anonymous, says. He was furloughed and she worked from home, and they organised activities for date nights in her partner's home.

They now have two children and a house together in the Lake District.

Your Voice, Your BBC News

It's just passed midday in the London newsroom. Your Voice, Your BBC News was launched to get our audience – you – more involved in our coverage and to tell your stories.

Lockdown was a time when our own lives became the news – we were all part of the biggest story across the world.

Our hobbies and who we did and didn’t see were suddenly newsworthy.

We want to hear your memories of lockdown – happy and fun as well as sad.

What you did, how you felt and how it changed your lives.

Get in touch:

• Online www.bbc.co.uk/yourvoice
• Email bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk
• WhatsApp 07980 682727

Earlier, we brought you stories from those who continue to suffer with symptoms of long Covid after having contracted the virus.

The NHS website says long Covid, or post COVID-19 syndrome, is a "new condition" that is still being studied.

Common symptoms include extreme tiredness, feeling short of breath, dizziness and concentration problems.

The NHS says long Covid services may help with physical and mental health assessments, treatment or help managing symptoms

As for recovery - that's different for everyone.

"The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19," the NHS guidance sets out.

• For further advice, head to the NHS long Covid page, external

Your Voice, Your BBC News

Ryan Cawley, 37 from Macclesfield, explains long Covid has cost him his job, as well as day-to-day elements of his life such as being able to socialise and exercise.

He has hope for a trial he is taking part in with the University of Derby to test if an anti-viral drug could cure people with the condition.

Mo from Croydon, whose daughter has long Covid, says the family lives "daily" with the consequences that have impacted "our young daughter's health, life and career".

"My daughter has asked: 'Is this just a slow death?'"

Denise Colliver, 64 from London, says she suffered with the symptoms of long Covid "months" before she heard of it.

She also questions the level of funding allocated to long Covid research as she says her life is a "shadow of its former energetic self".

• You can read more on Ryan's story here

Your Voice, Your BBC News

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Some who died during the pandemic had pre-existing illnesses that required them to shield from others. This meant they were isolated in the period up until their death.

Sandra-Lynne from Stockport tells the BBC her father shielded for three years during the pandemic with colon cancer.

"The first people to enter the house were masked undertakers, to carry my father’s body out," she says.

Meanwhile, Suzanne Wilson, 62 from Lancaster, describes cancelled visits due to an outbreak at the care home where her mother, who had Alzheimer's, was staying.

"We weren’t able to see her except toward the end of 2020, when the home started window visits," she says.

Wilson's mother caught Covid on her 80th birthday shortly after receiving her first vaccination - the family didn't get a chance to do an end-of-life visit as it was believed her mother was improving.

"My poor mother was in solitary confinement in her room for nearly a year before dying."

Image source, PA Media

Some of these dates will be etched into public memory, others you may have put out of your mind.

Let's have a quick reminder of some of the key restrictions that were enforced and when they came in.

• 23 March 2020: Boris Johnson announces the first lockdown telling people to "stay at home"
• 26 March 2020: Lockdown measures legally come into force
• 30 June 2020: First local lockdown is introduced in Leicester
• 14 September 2020: "Rule of Six" prevents people meeting in groups larger than six
• 5 November 2020: Second national lockdown
• 2 December 2020: Reintroduction of tiered system
• 4 January 2021: Children allowed to return to schools after Christmas
• 6 January 2021: Third national lockdown
• 8 March 2021: A four step plan of easing lockdown restrictions is introduced, starting with the reopening of schools
• 19 July 2021: Most legal limits removed and nightclubs reopen

Grace Dean
BBC News

Image source, Julie Ricau

Just as the day-to-day elements of our lives were fundamentally changed during the period, so too were the big moments. But it does not mean they weren't as special.

Julie Ricau, 40 from Reading, reflects fondly on her son, Felix's, fourth birthday in May 2020, when her neighbours decorated the street with banners, drawings and chalked messages on pavements. Other children even left second-hand toys for Felix as presents.

"We have no family in the country, so it was really lovely to have that community around us," she says.

Colin Donker's daughter turned 13 on 3 May 2020.

"What could have been a disappointment ended up being the best birthday any of my four girls has had. We camped out, had a water fight and played games together.

"To this day everyone agrees it was the best birthday ever."

Grace Dean
BBC News

Image source, Rachael Newton-Carroll

For some, lockdown gave the chance to spend more time with relatives who were sick or elderly.

Carolyn Rowland, 61, from Manchester, has called the period "one of [her] favourite memories" as she describes being able to spend hours a day with her dad, talking and watching Bargain Hunt, before he died at the age of 94 in 2023.

Similarly, Sheffield-based Rachael Newton-Carroll, 51, was able to spend more time with her father, who had prostate cancer that was no longer treatable. They formed a "bubble" and together they visited National Trust properties and went for short walks.

“Most people went through horrendous things during Covid,” Rachael says. “So the fact that I can turn around and almost say it was a blessing sounds really awful. And I do feel guilty for that sometimes.”

Grace Dean
BBC News

Image source, Jo Linney

For many who lost loved ones during this period, technology provided the only means of saying goodbye.

That was true for Andrew York, 59 from Camberley, whose Mum caught Covid-19 in hospital and later died.

"We were forced to say our goodbyes to her over an iPad," he explains.

Jo Linney, 66 from east Hertfordshire, also missed out on saying goodbye in the final days leading up to her daughter's, Sarah, death in April 2021. Sarah was hospitalised following a stroke earlier that year and visits were strictly limited.

"I will always feel guilty" for not saying a final goodbye, Jo says now.

Jo's process of grieving was complicated by lockdown. Her husband had died in 2018 and she lived alone during the pandemic.

"I think the most difficult thing was dealing with all of this at home on my own," she says. "There was nobody to give me a cuddle. When you have to make the phone calls telling relatives that she's died, there wasn't anybody's shoulder to cry on when I'd made the calls except two Labrador dogs."

Image source, Getty Images

With little to no routine for most of us during lockdown, Thursday at 20:00 became the focal point of the week as millions of us would step outside clapping our hands and banging pots and pans to join in Clap for Carers, saluting NHS and care workers during the pandemic.

It was intended to be a one-off gesture to support NHS staff, but it proved so popular it was expanded to cover all key workers and continued every Thursday for 10 weeks.

Members of the Royal Family and politicians including then Prime Minister Boris Johnson also joined in with the show of support.

However, the event later faced criticism for becoming politicised, with some suggesting the NHS would benefit more from extra funding than applause.

Image source, Getty Images

Your Voice, Your BBC News

Merion Tan, 55, Norfolk, who worked in a rural GP surgery during the pandemic has said the weekly clapping organised for NHS staff and other key workers "really did get us through".

The surgery largely contacted patients via telephone but still saw some face-to-face if needed.

Tan describes it as having been "hard mentally" for staff.

"Very grateful for the clapping...it really did get us through," she says.

"So sorry for the loss of loved ones and the lack of contact that people endured, it was heart-breaking not being able to help. It still resonates today.

"We did what we could and hope it brought a little comfort."

Image source, PA Media

Your Voice, Your BBC News

Image source, Reuters

Tracey, 55, from Bristol worked in a supermarket at the time of the lockdown.

She describes serving "thousands" of customers without any protection as it took time for this to come through. She remembers asking customers to wear masks, or to wear them properly.

"Colleagues lost their lives," she adds.

John from Basingstoke was working 50 to 60 hour weeks as a postman. He also says he didn't have access to PPE.

Your Voice, Your BBC News

For those who had loved ones who were sick or dying, the rules were particularly hard and resulted in many not being able to share a final moment or grieve in the normal way.

Emlyn, 45, from Aberdeen lost her father to Covid-19 and was unable to attend his funeral due to the restrictions in place at the time.

Rina, from Bexleyheath, also lost her Dad while she was pregnant and similarly could not be at his funeral.

"My last words to him on Facetime [were] 'I will come to see you Dad', but in my heart I knew I wouldn't see him again," she says.

The implications of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson's advice for people to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres were told in stark headlines on the front pages on 17 March 2020.

"Life put on hold," the Telegraph declared, external. For the Daily Star, external it was "Home Alone".

The Times, external had "Britain in lockdown" - accompanied by a picture of a deserted concourse at Waterloo Station in London during rush hour.

"Britain shuts up shop" was the Daily Mail's headline, external. The paper described the restrictions as the biggest shutdown of normal life since World War Two.

The Sun, external said Johnson put up the closed sign on Britain. But the Express, external tried to rally its readers with the headline: "We can do it together."

And the Financial Times, external reported that the government's measures drew an angry response from the hospitality and entertainment industry.

We are in no short supply when it comes to pictures documenting how different life was after then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first lockdown in the UK.

Here's a quick reminder of what things looked like five years ago.

Image source, Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, PA