Two years ago today - on March 23 2020 - the first national lockdown was announced as Boris Johnson told the public: "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home."

The first lockdown would last until June 2020 when schools began reopening alongside non-essential shops.

In Kenilworth the first lockdown saw the Covid-19 Support Kenilworth Group form to care for the most vulnerable members of the community.

Together the so-called 'pharmie-army' and Molly's Meals made sure that those who could not get to the shops themselves were still cared for.

Then on October 31 2020 the second lockdown began and lasted until December 2 - just in time for the local vaccine rollout to begin at The Warwickshire Golf and Country Club in Leek Wootton, alongside the mass vaccination centre at Stoneleigh Park.

Kenilworth and Warwickshire emerged from the second lockdown in Tier Three of the government's then tier system.

A third national lockdown then ran from January 6 2021 until March 29 2021, before most restrictions ended on July 19.

Latest figures

According to Gov.uk data, as of March 16 2022, 42,972 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Warwick district.

At present the local infection rate sites at 932.3 cases per 100,000 people - compared to 850.5 nationally.

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has taken in 1,838 coronavirus patients to its hospitals since the start of the pandemic - peaking at 152 on January 12 2021.

Sadly, 317 people from Warwick district have died because of the virus.

Meanwhile across Warwick district some 323,571 vaccinations have been given to people aged 12 and over.

Booster vaccinations have now been received by 68.2 per cent of local residents.

How has Covid-19 impacted the town?

Whilst criticised for its unreliability before the pandemic, Covid-19 has had a big impact at the station which closed in January 2021 before reopening with a part-rail, part-bus service from April that year.

Only last month did a full timetable resume again.

The Holiday Inn became a Covid-19 quarantine hotel for the summer of 2021, to house travellers coming to England from abroad.

A host of community events had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, including the light switch on in 2020, fireworks at the castle, the Kenilworth Show, the carnival and the half marathon.

The town's twinning with Sicilian seaside town Roccalumera was also delayed and ultimately had to take place virtually rather than in person in Italy.

The Kenilworth Lido Campaign Group also voiced its frustration at local councillors as the outdoor pool was not reopened with other local sports facilities.

As the Omicron variant saw infection rates escalate last winter Warwick Hospital announced that patient visiting would no longer be allowed.

And as the town and the country continues to recover from the pandemic the Covid-19 support group has rebranded as Compassionate Kenilworth.

Whilst Warwick District Council has announced plans to build a memorial statue in the town centre.