Today marks a year since the first Covid-19 death was announced at Watford General Hospital.

On March 10, 2020, NHS England announced that the patient was a man in his 80s and he had underlying health conditions.

The West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that the patient died in the evening of March 9 that year.

The patient was declared the sixth person in the UK to have died from the virus.

At the time, chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said: "I am sorry to confirm a sixth patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died. I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their privacy is respected.

"The patient, who was being treated by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, was in their 80s and had underlying health conditions.

"It appears the virus was acquired in the UK and full contact tracing has begun."

A statement from West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Sadly, we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at Watford General Hospital, and had tested positive for Covid-19, has died.

"The patient, who died in the evening of Monday March 9, was in his early 80s and had underlying health conditions.

"His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time."

It was later announced that the patient was Manohar Krishna Prabhu, a “wonderful devotee” at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Letchmore Heath, near Bushey.

His family have said in a statement: "We have lost a loving, caring father, grandfather and brother. His age and failing health did not stop him from living a full and complete life and always doing things for other people. He was guided by his innate kindness.

"Our father will be sorely missed, not just by us but by those whose lives he touched."

"We can advise that this is the only statement we are going to release at this time with regards to our dearly loved relative."

On March 5, 2020, the Watford Observer reported of the first known patient in Watford General Hospital that tested positive for Covid-19.

A ward at the hospital was evacuated, and words of assurance were shared to staff.

This day last year, the Department of Health had known of 373 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and six confirmed deaths.

At the time, 16 of those 373 confirmed cases were from Hertfordshire.