In a week that saw the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths from the illness surge across Scotland, people in every corner of the country have had their daily lives transformed.
Eerie footage of empty city streets and motorways have been a shock to the system but so too have been the rising number of fatalities and sweeping changes to the fabric of our society.
In a matter of days, the number of deaths has gone from 47 to 172. Confirmed cases have almost doubled from 1,563 to 3,001.
The week has also seen the Scottish Government push through emergency legislation to help services and institutions cope with the shifting landscape.
Politicians have struggled to find answers to a growing list of questions about where the country is heading and what our lives will look like on the other side of the pandemic.
But in spite of it all, communities have come together to shake off the feeling of isolation and raise a smile in the most troubling of times.
Here is a look back on another extraordinary week in all of our lives.
How the pandemic spread
As we started the working week on Monday, official Scottish Government figures showed there had been 47 deaths from coronavirus, with 1,563 people testing positive.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood confirmed 108 people were in intensive care with symptoms but warned new estimates suggested more than 100,000 may have now contracted the virus.
In a landmark move, healthcare bosses announced all cancer screening programmes had been halted to free up staff.
The Scottish Government also confirmed Glasgow’s SEC Centre would be transformed into a hospital to house hundreds of patients.
On Tuesday, a “data transfer issue” in one laboratory meant the number of confirmed cases in Tayside almost doubled overnight from 108 to 214.
The number of cases across Scotland reached 1,993 – an increase of 430 from the previous day – and a further 13 people were confirmed to have died.
The Scottish Government announced plans for emergency legislation to include new measures to reduce pressure on public services including the early release of prisoners and the removal of jury trials.
On Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Scotland rose to 2,310, up by 317 from the previous day, with 76 people now dead.
After plans to scrap jury trials were dropped from emergency legislation following an outcry from politicians and the legal profession, MSPs voted through the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.
The Scottish Government announced other legislation, such as a controversial bill to make it easier for people to change their recorded gender and moves to devolve divisibility benefits to Holyrood, would be shelved to focus on coronavirus.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon warned the number of people in intensive care could continue to rise for weeks as she pledged to increase testing for the virus.
A further delay in providing accurate figures on the outbreak led to a sharp increase in the number of deaths on Thursday, taking the total number of deaths to 126.
Ms Sturgeon confirmed just 10 of the deaths were recorded overnight and an issue with one laboratory meant a further 40 – believed to have been spread over a number of days – had not previously been counted in official figures.
It came as the number of confirmed cases across Scotland rose from 2,310 to 2,602.
On Friday, the first minister revealed a further 46 people had died, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 3,001.
People we’ve lost to Covid-19
The Courier reported on Tuesday the death of popular Broughty Ferry woman Sheila French, who was admitted to Ninewells Hospital after returning from a holiday to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Her family paid tribute to their “wonderful” mother and the NHS staff who cared for her in her final days before she passed away on March 27.
Families across the country have faced the agony of losing their loved ones to coronavirus, often facing the added heartbreak of being unable to visit them in hospital.
A number of celebrity figures have also lost their lives to the virus this week as the death toll around the world continues to grow.
The agent of Scottish comedian Eddie Large confirmed on Wednesday the star had died after contracting coronavirus.
The Little And Large star, 78, was best known for his partnership with Syd Little.
His son, Ryan McGinnis, posted on Facebook: “It is with great sadness that Mum and I need to announce that my dad passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Eddie Large (along with his supersonic friend Syd) was really lovely and kind and encouraging to me when I was a nipper on Shooting Stars. So sad to hear of his passing.
— realmattlucas (@RealMattLucas) April 2, 2020
“He had been suffering with heart failure and unfortunately, whilst in hospital, contracted the coronavirus, which his heart was sadly not strong enough to fight.”
Scottish Labour peer and Radio Clyde founder Lord Gordon of Strathblane died on Tuesday at the age of 83.
In a statement, his family said he would be “missed so much” and paid tribute to “his generosity, his kindness and his enthusiasm for life”.
Everyone at Radio Clyde is very sad to report the death of our founder, Lord Gordon of Strathblane. He was 84 and died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary of #Coronavirus on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/Rmm6l3l2RV
— Radio Clyde News (@RadioClydeNews) April 2, 2020
Former first minister Jack McConnell also paid tribute to Lord Gordon, commenting that the peer had an “outstanding career in business and public service” and had “transformed broadcasting”.
Both STV and Radio Clyde reported he had died after contracting coronavirus.
Songwriter Adam Schlesinger, from US band Fountains of Wayne, died aged 52 in a New York hospital on Wednesday after receiving treatment for Covid-19.
The bass player co-wrote the band’s 2003 hit Stacy’s Mom and won Emmy and Grammy awards for his work on Crazy Ex Girlfriend and A Colbert Christmas.
I am grasping for the right words. My dear friend Adam Schlesinger has passed away from COVID-19. You know him best through his music. From his band @fountainsofwayn to the countless movies and tv shows he scored, most recently My Crazy Ex Girlfriend (cont’d) pic.twitter.com/to8H4IoLtj
— Dashboard Confessional (@dashboardmusic) April 1, 2020
Current bandmate Reni Lane from the synth-pop duo Fever High, said she felt “incredibly lucky” to have known him.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of his life in some way and I will never forget all that I learned from him,” she posted on Instagram.
“My heart goes out to his family, friends and everyone who was touched by his music.”
Communities come together in spite of the lockdown
The whole country may be in lockdown but communities across the land have been coming together to beat the isolation blues.
From the Angus gym owner who loaned out thousands of pounds worth of equipment to help the public keep fit to the Skye couple who docked their cruise business to deliver vital supplies to remote islanders, the pandemic has often brought out the best in us.
There have also been lighter moments, including the Cheshire street where everyone has been getting together for some socially distant dancing.
Every day at 11am local fitness instructor Janet Woodcock leads her neighbours in a boogie outside their homes for around 10 minutes.
A video shared on Twitter by resident Elsa Williams has already racked up more than 6.7 million views on the platform since being shared on Monday.
Socially distant dancing happens every day on our road at 11am during #lockdown. This was day seven.#Covid19 #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/yBw2Q230CA
— Elsa Williams (@elsalwilliams) March 31, 2020
Closer to home, people have been taking the time to thank NHS workers for their efforts during the outbreak.
Health boards across Scotland have been working to tackle the growing number being admitted to hospital, and staff in Tayside put together a video urging people to stay home and reduce the strain on services.
Our amazing staff put together this video to share an important message. “Stand By Us” #stayathome #protectNHSScotland #savelives pic.twitter.com/6aolcuZ4kN
— NHS Tayside (@NHSTayside) March 28, 2020
Communities around the country have been returning the favour, with the second week of clap for carers proving a booming success as pipers joined the display on Thursday to belt out Scotland the Brave in a show of appreciation to key workers.
