The coronavirus crisis dominated 2020.
A year on, here is the final part of a timeline looking at how Covid-19 affected the East Suffolk area and how communities rallied round to help - featuring stories that hit the headlines between July and December 2020.
July 2020
Adnams and other Lowestoft pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers reopen but social distancing must be maintained.
A Covid test centre was set up at WaterLane Leisure Centre while a network of COVID walk-in test centres are established throughout England.
Waterlane Leisure Centre partially reopens along with other swimming pools, indoor gyms and sports facilities.
The Latitude Festival is cancelled.
Pleasurewood Hills theme park reopens with socially distance measures in force.
Theatres in Lowestoft illuminated in red to highlight the crisis facing the industry.
August 2020
A Level results at Lowestoft Sixth Form College were hailed as outstanding, while GCSE results from Lowestoft high schools were described as record breaking.
The Marina Theatre called on the community for help with a Survival appeal to raise £100,000 to deal with the impact of coronavirus, but later announced 11 staff members had been made redundant.
Restaurants in Lowestoft joined the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme offering discounted meals.
The bowling alley at Richardson’s Family Entertainment Centre finally reopened for the first time in months.
Local charity shops were overwhelmed with donations after lockdown clear-outs.
The Lowestoft and Southwold Christmas Lights switch-on events were cancelled due to safety concerns.
A beautician at Millie Rose hair and beauty salon in Lowestoft launched her own discount scheme called ‘Chill out to help out’.
September 2020
Pupils across Waveney started to return to their classrooms.
The popular CARLfest music festival returned but as a virtual Bank Holiday event.
The Christmas Pantomime at the Marina Theatre was postponed to 2021.
Moss and Co, which runs hospitality venues in the Lowestoft area, decided to continue with its own ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ meal discount scheme after it proved a hit with diners.
The PINK Orange charity - part of Access Community Trust - fed more than 10,000 children over the summer holidays.
Problems with getting coronavirus tests were reported by Waveney MP Peter Aldous as demand soared after children returned to school.
October 2020
A new simplified three-tier system of Covid restrictions was introduced following confusion over local rules.
Lowestoft and Beccles were added to the regional watch list after a "worrying" rise in coronavirus cases.
More than 70 cases of coronavirus were identified among Bernard Matthews staff living in Lowestoft, Suffolk and Norfolk who work at the poultry factory in Holton, Halesworth.
The Marina Theatre and Scenic Projects were two of 21 organisations in Waveney, Norfolk and Suffolk to receive a Culture Recovery Grant to face the challenges of the pandemic.
Marina Theatre management were overwhelmed by the support they received ahead of reopening their auditorium for films and screenings.
November 2020
A second month-long lockdown for England began in order to prevent a Covid disaster for the NHS.
Lowestoft business leaders admitted that the latest lockdown restrictions were a devastating blow.
Community support and Facebook groups, helplines and ‘The Home But Not Alone’ service were activated once more.
Non food shops in Oulton Broad joined forces to provide online and ‘click and collect’ services.
The James Paget University Hospital pleaded with visitors to only wear surgical masks and no other forms of face covering when at the hospital.
December 2020
As the four-week lockdown ended, gyms and non-essential shops reopened, while collective worship and weddings were allowed again.
Most of the country including Lowestoft and all of the east of England was put into the higher tier 2, with Lowestoft businesses hoping for a festive rush.
Care homes in Waveney welcomed the roll out of rapid coronavirus testing kits allowing more visitors to see their loved one.
Lowestoft restaurant business Moss and Co. introduced the ‘Botched Egg’.
As the James Paget University Hospital received supplies of the Covid vaccine, local people in their 80s were among the first to have the jab.
Pubs, restaurants and non essential shops in Suffolk and Norfolk, were forced to close from Boxing Day as the counties moved to the highest tier 4 restrictions.
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