2 weeks Ago
The all too familiar messaging that appeared on our television screens daily in 2020. Streets were deserted, shops were closed and the country was urged to stay home. It's been five years since the first national Covid-19 lockdown left the region's streets empty, forced shops to close and left roads eerily quiet as the 'deadly virus' ripped through the nation.
At the time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to our screens on March 23 to issue a stark warning: "You must stay at home", a message that would be drilled into the population for months to come. All 'non-essential' shops closed their doors, office staff logged on from home as working from home became the done thing, thousands were furloughed and time seemed to stand still for many. Our lives were put on hold.
For the first time in a generation streets across the region from Shildon to Spennymoor, Darlington to Durham were pictured eerily quiet and abandoned. A quiet Darlington following the national lockdown announcement. (Image: Chris Booth) Shops close in Darlington after the national lockdown announcement.
(Image: Chris Booth) Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020. Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020. Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020.
Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020. Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020. Deserted streets in Durham City centre in early April 2020.
Darlington's streets during lockdown. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) A quiet Darlington town centre amidst lockdown. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) Darlington's market square.
(Image: CHRIS BOOTH) A deserted Shildon during lockdown. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Spennymoor town centre during lockdown. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Bishop Auckland during lockdown.
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) A sign urges people to stay at home on a deserted road. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) In many places, the only sign of life you would see was a key worker on their way to work or people out taking their daily hour of exercise. Everywhere else was closed, shrouded in darkness with no indication of when or if it would re-open.
Little did anyone know at this point, but it would be a year and a half until millions of people could ring in 'Freedom Day' on July 19 - following a handful of lockdowns, tiers, millions of vaccines and the tragic deaths of hundreds of thousands of people across the globe..
