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What a year 2020 has been so far.
Back at the end of January/beginning of February, mainstream news outlets were starting to report that the Coronavirus outbreak worldwide had exceeded 10,000 cases, more than the 2003 SARS outbreak.
By the 4th March worldwide cases were nearing 93,000.
On Wednesday 18th March Herdy made an announcement, recognising the growing severity of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We immediately reviewed and made changes to our hygiene and cleaning practises and monitored our team on a daily basis to check if they had been exposed to the virus or were showing symptoms similar to COVID-19.
By Saturday 21st March Herdy announced that we would be closing our Herdy Shops and Herdy HQ until further notice.
Two days later, Monday 23rd March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a countrywide lockdown with immediate effect. On the same day, the UK alone reported 6,650 cases with 335 deaths.
The world had suddenly changed. Shopping was only allowed for essential items, such as food and medication, and people were only allowed to go outside for an hour’s worth of exercise in their immediate environment, whilst maintaining social distancing and regularly washing their hands. Video and internet calls quickly became the norm as a way of staying in touch with friends, families, and loved ones. Vulnerable people staying with others were “shielded”, remaining completely at home whilst others shopped for them.
The nation quickly recognised the NHS for being the amazing institution it is and how grateful we all felt to those working within the NHS who protect, treat and care for us. Brits also highlighted the feats of all those who were still working in groceries and supermarkets, keeping the nation fed whilst in lockdown.
