County Press headlines while Downing Street lockdown party on

A look back at the headlines in the County Press that week showed the Island in the grip of a strict lockdown.

Businesses were collapsing, pubs were calling out for help "in a battle to survive" and popular events were being cancelled.

We took a look at some of the biggest stories that week. Scroll down for what we were running...

Read more:

• Boris Johnson apology: Read the Prime Minister's statement in full
• We asked Island Conservatives — should Boris go?
• Boris Johnson's Downing Street party while I couldn't see mum

Our front page showed the struggle of the coach industry, denied vital business funds and grant schemes due to not being classified as being in the leisure industry. We spoke to IW Tours, an award-winning coach tour business which eventually folded under the pressure.

That week we also spoke to some pub landlords who were desperately calling for more help for the industry after several weeks of closure and no certainty for the future.

The IW NHS Trust launched a new service — to help families stay in touch with their loved ones in hospital.

The Message to Loved Ones service, run by the patient experience team, aimed to maintain the important connections for hospital patients impacted by Covid restrictions on visitors.

Jack Up The Summer and Ventnor Fringe both announced they would skip a year due to Covid-19, and Yarmouth was the latest carnival to cancel.

Another big story that week was a fundraiser set up by and Island man to buy Prime Minister Boris Johnson some cufflinks from Harrods.

The controversial fundraising campaign was cancelled by the organiser, despite his initial intention to say Get Well Soon Boris, following a Covid battle, and to show appreciation and "say thank you’ to the prime minister.

That week, the coronavirus death rate at St Mary’s Hospital stood at 34. A further 14 people with coronavirus had died in care homes, hospices and at home, meaning the total for the Island was 48 deaths.

There had been 178 confirmed cases, so the death rate at that point was high.

Lynnbottom Tip was open to the public, but by bookable appointments only — a system that remains in place today.