IT HAS been four weeks since the Isle of Wight recorded its first coronavirus case.

Here the County Press looks back at how the virus developed on the Isle of Wight and across the world.

Cases of Covid-19 were first found in an eastern province of China, Wuhan, in December 2019 but has since spread to more than 180 countries in just over three months.

Before January 12, there were no confirmed cases outside of China but from January 13 a steady trickle of cases have been recorded.

On January 22, Public Health England moved the risk level to the public from "very low" to "low" — a hint at what was to come.

On January 29 the first two patients, members of the same family, tested positive in the UK, in York.

From there, the number of cases slowly rose, with panic-buying sweeping the nation.

On the Island, the first steps were being put in place to prepare for what was to come — in mid-February a coronavirus assessment pod was set up at St Mary's to test patients.

In March, sport started to be affected — with handshakes banned at Island games of the Wessex League.

The first big surge of figures was on March 4, when the number of positive cases more than doubled, from 34 to 87.

The next day, the first fatality was registered in the UK — a woman in her 70s with underlying conditions, tested positive for the disease and died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading where she was being treated.

Isle of Wight Speedway promoter Barry Bishop spoke exclusively to the CP and told us it was 'like being in the movies' as he was tested for the virus and made to self-isolate.

As the virus slowly spread across the country, it was confirmed Coivd-19 had made its way to the Island on March 7, with the first positive case confirmed.

On March 11, the World Health Organisation declared the spread of the virus was now a pandemic.

However, Isle of Wight Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart told the Island to 'keep calm and carry on'.

A few days later and the second case was confirmed — however confusion followed as cases dropped down to one and then went back up again over two days.

Prime minister Boris Johnson started daily press conferences and advised people to work from home, if they were not already doing so, and to avoid public places such as restaurants, cafes and bars.

Following the announcement, Island events were starting to be postponed, altered or cancelled — including Walk The Wight, Spectrum the Autism festival and all football and rugby matches.

Operations were cancelled and new visitor restrictions imposed at the Island's hospital, St Mary's, to reduce the spread.

It was the announcement all children had been waiting for two days later, March 18, when it was announced all schools would close from the Friday.

'Exceptional' measures were also stepped up on ferry crossings to and from the Island which allowed passengers to stay inside their cars.

On March 23, a lockdown was imposed on the country, only allowing people out of their house for one of four reasons — exercising once a day, travelling to and from work if it was essential, going to the shops and for any medical reason — and shutting everything for the foreseeable future.

The number of positive cases on the Island continued to rise, with chief executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Maggie Oldham announcing the number had more than doubled to eight.

The Isle of Wight Festival was then postponed until 2021 as well as Isle of Wight Pride celebrations.

On March 28, it was announced the first deaths had occurred on the Island due to Covid-19 — two men in their 70s and 80s with underlying health conditions.

And on the same day that the number of confirmed cases on the Island reached double figures and had risen to 13 cases by the end of March.

Travel on the Island had also been reduced due to the lack of movement — Southern Vectis has changed its timetables, ferry services have been cut back and car park charges have been dropped by the council.

Following an announcement from government about grants to help small businesses and other Island business rate payers, the Isle of Wight Council has been given £62 million to support the Island.

It was announced yesterday (Friday), a third person had died from Covid-19 on the Island, with 19 confirmed cases but, in some good news, five people had recovered from the disease.

The County Press has now launched a campaign to say thank you to our NHS #WightAngels who are looking after us in this tough times. To find out more read here: Help the County Press say thank you to our NHS Wight Angels

#Stay Safe #Protect the NHS #Stay at Home