TODAY marks the one year anniversary since the first coronavirus cases was tested in Hampshire.

On this day last year, the first Hampshire resident tested positive for Covid-19.

Now, the county has seen 88,258 cases since the start of the pandemic - around 6.41 per cent of the county's population - and a further 1,819 deaths.

Councillor Barry Rickman, New Forest District Council Leader, said: "This calendar reminder marks twelve months of our community working together like never before to ensure those that need help receive it, and that the most vulnerable are looked after. Be that by offering to get shopping, checking in on loved ones, or giving transport help to medical appointments.

"They say people come together in a crisis and whilst this is certainly true, I believe that your strong community spirit was already well established – and this enduring care for each other and the place we all call home has gone a long way in making sure we rise to this unwelcome challenge.

"As we see fresh hope of returning to a normal way of life, with the vaccine rollout, the plan out of lockdown, and the sun starting to shine again, I am optimistic that this community spirit is what will ensure our district once again thrives."

On March 16, 2020, the first Southampton patient with coronavirus passed away.

The University Hospital Southampton announced that a 69-year-old man who tested positive for COVID-19 had died.

In April, a temporary mortuary was set up at Southampton Airport.

The temporary mortuary was set up on one side of the airfield known as the Grayson Site and it is completely separate from the passenger terminal and airport operations.

At the end of September, Southampton Airport was turned into a mass testing site, replacing the Tipner car park site in Portsmouth.

Finally, on December 8, Second World War veteran Michael Tibbs was the first patient to use Hampshire's vaccine hub at Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital.

The former Royal Navy man was one of a number of people aged 80 and over who were first to receive the jab.

Michael, of Lynchmere, said: “I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s absolutely wonderful and feel really fortunate to have the vaccination.”

As part of a bid to roll out the two approved vaccines - the Pfizer/BioNTech jab and the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab the 56 sites have opened across the county.

The NHS began vaccinating people on December 7, marking the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history.

Hampshire first local hub was located at Portsmouth University Hospitals Trust - one of the first 50 hubs to be rolled out during the first wave.