It's hard to remember a time before Covid-19, but today marks exactly a year since the Isle of Wight's first case was recorded.

One year on, 264 people have died and more than 6,640 cases have been recorded on the Isle of Wight alone.

Back in March 2020, we knew little of coronavirus. We were awaiting the first official confirmation that this hitherto unknown virus had crossed The Solent.

The Island's first case was confirmed on March 4 - although we didn't find out until later that it was already here.

It appears as a singularity, on the now familiar government daily data updates. Two days later, on March 6, 2020, the County Press ran with its first coronavirus-related front page.

'We're on alert' we warned, alongside news of an Isle of Wight sporting boss in self-isolation. His test turned out to be negative.

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But coronavirus was sweeping the globe. We heard from three Islanders abroad, whose lives were touched by Covid-19.

Ellie Swan was teaching in China (not far from where the first cases were detected), Kay Botha was living in Italy (already in lockdown - something unknown to County Press readers at the time), and Becky Giakoumelos was in Greece, where sunny skies and blues seas belied what was to come.

The next few cases were slow in arriving. A second Covid-19 positive came on March 10, a third and a fourth on consecutive days - March 20 and 21.

On March 22, 2020, what we then considered a spike - four more cases.

Then came the postponements and the cancellations, as the Isle of Wight summer staples fell by the wayside.

Mountbatten was among the first to announce a plan b for its major annual fundraiser, Walk the Wight.

We reported there were calls (from Isle of Wight Labour) for 'robust preparation' in case the virus escalated - calling on the Isle of Wight Council to publish its plans to support children eligible for free school meals.

On March 10, Isle of Wight Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart issued a statement.

He said the risk level was relatively low on the Island, urging Islanders to "keep calm and carry on," praising the work of public health officers.

"I say play it safe — be sensible. People have been told to wash their hands and to not shake hands. Phone a friend - we do not need to go and see them to see if they are okay, you can phone them instead."

On March 11, the WHO (World Health Organisation) officially labelled coronavirus as a pandemic.

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Toilet rolls and hand gel ran out in shops across the Isle of Wight.

One elderly Islander felt moved to thank a good samaritan who gave her a bottle, as they queued together outside a shop.

In late March, some key workers told the County Press of their fear for them and their patients as PPE appeared to be in short supply.

Cases trickled in through April - spiking on April 24, with 25 cases.

Early in April, we launched a campaign to reward our Island Angels - the front facing workers tackling the disease head on.

The County Press reported on the changes taking place at St Mary's Hospital: A new ward, extra beds and - chillingly - extra mortuary space.

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During the first lockdown, we stood on doorsteps to applaud our NHS workers heading into the unknown, we painted rainbows to cheer the abandoned Isle of Wight streets, galvanised into action by the heroic efforts of people like Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Then a quiet summer but, from September, things began to change.

A testing centre opened on the Isle of Wight - but booking problems saw Islanders heading to the mainland, mainlanders crossing to the Island, in search of results.

The Isle of Wight passed 500 cases in October - hitting 502 on October 8.

The number of new cases continued to climb, reaching 1,000 on December 5, but all the while remaining below average compared to the national picture.

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Then talk of a new variant. There was a near immediate impact on the Island.

A shocking 87 new cases were added to the tally, on December 21.

Then - from apparently nowhere, on December 29, 2020, 319 cases were added in a single day. 

In the Christmas and New Year peak, Isle of Wight County Press sports editor Jon Moreno found himself among those fighting Covid-19 in hospital - later telling us his powerful story.

On January 4, 2021, 394 new cases were confirmed - the single highest daily total here since the start of the pandemic.

The first vaccine had been given to an Islander in December. 

Into the New Year, roll out began in earnest.

Today, Islanders sit at home, in their third lockdown. On Monday, children are due to fully return to school.

No new deaths have been reported by the NHS on the Isle of Wight in over a week, and daily cases have fallen - with none added on Tuesday.

A four-stage government roadmap as seen furlough extended, but there is optimism for a 'normal' summer - and first new shoots of spring are appearing.