The last year has been one to remember, and one which many people will wish to forget.
Communities have rallied together in defiance of a cruel pandemic, Brexit was once again delayed, and Scotland’s men’s football team qualified for a major tournament for the first time since 1998.
But for a year that seems to have gone by so quickly, there are so many things to look back on and remember.
Here, we outline some of the key things that happened this coronavirus-dominated year.
January
A year in Scotland would not be complete without discussions around independence, and on January 14 Boris Johnson officially rejected a call from Nicola Sturgeon for a second independence referendum.
In response, the First Minister said the Tories were attempting to “deny democracy”. Naturally, this would not be the last time an IndyRef would be brought up this year.
On January 31, the UK confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19.
February
By February 8, the forthcoming coronavirus pandemic seemed a million miles away – with only three cases confirmed by this point.
Attention instead was on Storm Ciara – a powerful and long-lived cyclone which battered parts of the country with gusts of up to 80mph.
Flooding and heavy wind caused damage to buildings and train services, and on February 10, a 77-year-old man died after falling on icy surfaces and banging his head during the storm.
Another major news story to unfold in the last year was surrounding former finance secretary Derek Mackay MSP.
Once tipped to become the next First Minister, the Scottish Sun revealed the now shamed politician had been pestering a 16-year-old schoolboy on social media.
The paper reported the 43-year-old MSP had contacted the boy out of the blue without knowing his age the previous August, then sent him 270 messages over six months.
March
Then came March – a month that can only be described as the month coronavirus pandemic really hit home in Scotland.
On March 1, Scotland had its first confirmed case of the virus in the NHS Tayside, followed soon after by its first death on March 13.
By March 16, 171 cases had been confirmed in the country, with the virus clearly beginning to spread into other health boards.
The inevitable news then came – with all pubs, cafes and restaurants being forced to close on March 20, before a nationwide lockdown on March 23.
On the same day, Alex Salmond was cleared of sexually assaulting nine woman while he was the First Minister.
As the BBC reports, a jury found the former SNP leader not guilty on 12 of the sexual assault charges facing him, while another was found not proven.
A further charge of sexually assaulting a 10th woman had previously been dropped by prosecutors. Throughout the trial, Mr Salmond said he was innocent of all charges.
On March 26, Clap For Carers was launched - coined up as a way to show appreciation for those on the NHS and other frontline services during the pandemic.
The event saw people taking to their doorsteps and windows at 8pm every Thursday to clap, cheer, ring bells and play bagpipes to show their support.
The last formal clap took place on May 28, followed by an extea Clap for NHS on July 5 marking the 72nd anniversary of its establishment.
April
On April 5, the Queen made a rare broadcast to the UK and wider Commonwealth, in which she thanked people for following social distancing rules and said the UK “will succeed” in its fight against the coronavirus.
Echoing the words of Vera Lynn’s wartime song, she added “We will meet again”.
On the same day, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dt Catherine Calderwood resigned after facing intense criticism for breaking lockdown rules twice to visit her second home during the pandemic.
Dr Calderwood concluded with the First Minister that her position was untenable given the need for consistent and trustworthy public health messaging.
Sticking with the pandemic, all eyes were on 99-year-old war veteran Tom Moore on April 16, who raised millions of pounds for NHS charities for walking more than 100 laps of his garden.
In less joyful news, just four days later on April 20, Scotland’s new temporary coronavirus hospital the NHS Louisa Jordan opened to receive Covid patients.
May
On May 23, Boris Johnson’s senior advisor Dominic Cummings faced calls to resign after an investigation alleged he travelled 260 miles from London to his parent’s home in Durham while displaying coronavirus symptoms during lockdown.
On May 25, Cummings held a press conference in the Downing Street Rose Garden, in which he said: “I don’t regret what I did”. The following day, Tory MP for Moray Douglas Ross, resigned as a Scotland Office minister over his views on the alleged breach.
June
On June 26, a man with a knife stabbed six people, including a police officer and hotel staff, in the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow.
The attacker, Badreddin Abadlla Adam, was shot dead by a police officer on the scene.
Police said the incident was not being treated as terrorism.
July
After a tough few months, beer gardens were allowed to reopen from July 6 – taking advantage of some warm weather that was about to come.
Following weeks of guidance, Scotland made it officially law to make it compulsory to wear a face covering in shops across Scotland on July 10.
August
Pupils in Scotland finally began returning to classrooms on August 11, without the need to socially distance – with pupils initially not having to wear face coverings. This was later changed on August 31, requiring the need for masks in corridors, canteens and other communal areas.
The following day, on August 12, three people died after a passenger train derailed in Aberdeenshire.
The 06.38 ScotRail service from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street hit a landslide near to Stonehaven following heavy rain and thunderstorms.
The victims were named as driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62.
September
On September 11, the NHS Protect Scotland app was released to the public on iOS and Android devices, providing anonymous and Bluetooth-enabled contact tracing for those who download it in Scotland.
On September 22, Nicola Sturgeon announced a ban on meeting in households as she came down hard following a rise in cases across the country.
A 10pm curfew on pubs, similar to that already in place in England, was also confirmed.
October
On October 1, Margaret Ferrier, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, was suspended by the SNP and referred herself to the police after it became known she had travelled from Scotland to Westminster the previous weekend, despite awaiting the outcome of a Covid test.
She then chose to travel home again by train, despite being notified of the positive result.
And on October 1, James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery died at the age of 90.
The Scottish actor, best known for his portrayal of the 007 spy, died in his sleep in the Bahamas “having been unwell for some time”, his son said.
November
A new five level, or “tier”, system of lockdown was introduced in Scotland on November 2, bringing in new targeted restrictions to different parts of the country.
And after an agonising two-decade long wait, Scotland’s men’s team finally reached the finals of a major football tournament after beating Serbia on penalties.
A masterclass penalty save from keeper David Marshall sent Scotland through, with subsequent celebrations leading to the rise of now Tartan Army-favourite Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, to the top of the charts.
December
What could only be described as a potential light at the end of the tunnel, the first coronavirus vaccinations were administered in Scotland on December 8.
Thousands of people have so far been given their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which after two doses is thought to be 95% effective against Covid-19.
However, the good news didn’t last long, and following an outbreak of a new strain of Covid in the UK, the co-ordinated plan for Christmas across the UK was cancelled on December 19.
Nicola Sturgeon announced a travel ban to other parts of the UK during the festive period, with people within Scotland only allowed to ease the rules on Christmas Day – not between December 23 and 27 as previously planned.
On Boxing Day, Scotland’s toughest levels of lockdown came into effect across all mainland areas, with schools now no longer resuming in the classroom until at least January 18.
The tough new rules mean non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants and gums will close for at least four weeks.
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