HUNDREDS of people in Braintree have died from coronavirus since the pandemic reached the UK around two years ago.

Two years ago, on March 23, 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first UK-wide lockdown.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in Braintree 494 deaths involving Covid-19 had been provisionally registered up to March 12.

Of these, 347 were in hospitals and 110 in care homes, while 27 occurred in private homes and four in hospices.

There were also four deaths in another communal establishment, and two elsewhere.

It means deaths outside hospital settings accounted for 30 per cent of the overall toll.

The deadliest week of the pandemic so far came in the seven days to January 22, 2021, where 57 people lost their lives in Braintree.

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Marie Curie is now commemorating March 23 as the National Day or Reflection.

The charity is urging people to come together to remember the lives of those lost to Covid-19 and support the millions of people across the UK who are grieving.

Marie Curie’s bereavement coordinator Claire Collins said: “"There are still millions of people living with the deep trauma of losing a loved one during the last two years and we hope everyone finds comfort and embraces the day, whether you have had a close bereavement or not."

A minute's silence will be held at midday on Wednesday, March 23 to commemorate the day, and people are being encouraged to shine a light at 8pm or display flowers in their window to show support.