COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
(clockwise from top) "Thank you NHS" sign in Leeds NHS Nightingale Hospital in London Sign indicating geographic restriction differences in Cenarth Deserted A1 road near Newry The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	United Kingdom
First outbreak	Wuhan, China
Index case	York, North Yorkshire
Arrival date	31 January 2020 (1 year, 1 month and 1 week ago)[1]
Confirmed cases	4,105,675 (total)[2] 78,570 (last 7 days)[2]
Hospitalised cases	18,462 (active)[2] 430,807 (total)[2]
Ventilator cases	2,469 (active)[2]
Deaths	120,365 (deaths within 28 days of a positive test)[nb 1][2][3] 140,281 (death certificate)[2]
Fatality rate	2.93%
Government website
UK Government[nb 2] Scottish Government Welsh Government Northern Ireland Department of Health

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus reached the UK in late January 2020. As of 25 February 2021^[update], there have been 4,154,562 confirmed cases^{[nb 3]} and 122,070 deaths – the world's fourth-highest death rate by population^[4][5] and the highest death toll in Europe.^[6] There were 140,281 deaths where the death certificate mentioned COVID by 19 February 2021 (see Statistics).^[7][8] There has been some disparity between the outbreak's severity in each of the four countries. Health in the UK is devolved, with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each having their own publicly-funded healthcare systems and governments.^[9][10][11]

In February and early March 2020, COVID became a "notifiable disease" in the UK^[12][13][14] and testing of suspected cases began,^[15] including drive-through screening at hospitals. A public health information campaign was launched to help slow the virus's spread,^[16] and the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, introduced the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 for England. The Chief Medical Officer for England, Chris Whitty, outlined a four-pronged strategy to tackle the outbreak: contain, delay, research and mitigate.

On 23 March 2020, the UK went into lockdown. The governments imposed a stay-at-home order banning all non-essential travel and contact with other people, and shut almost all schools, businesses and gathering places. Those with symptoms, and their households, were told to self-isolate, while those with certain illnesses were told to shield themselves.^[17] People were told to keep apart in public. Police were empowered to enforce the measures, and the Coronavirus Act 2020 gave all four governments emergency powers^[18] not used since the Second World War.^[19][20] However, the governments did not initially impose a ban or quarantine on incoming travellers.^[21] The Chancellor of the Exchequer forecast that lengthy restrictions would severely damage the economy.^[22] Lockdown was also forecast to worsen mental health and suicide rates,^[23] and cause additional deaths due to isolation, delays and falling living standards.

The health services worked to raise hospital capacity and set up temporary critical care hospitals. By mid-April it was reported that social distancing had "flattened the curve" of the epidemic.^[24] In late April, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had passed the peak of its outbreak.^[25] Daily cases and deaths fell in May–June, and stayed at low levels over the summer. The lockdown was gradually eased in June–July, while schools remained closed for summer break. The total number of excess deaths from the start of the outbreak to mid-June was just over 65,000.^[26]

Most schools re-opened by early September and remained open. Cases rose significantly that month, and local restrictions were gradually re-imposed in all four countries. In England, tiered restrictions were introduced in October, the country went into a month-long lockdown (excluding schools) during November, and new tiered restrictions were introduced in December.^[27] Scotland also introduced tiered restrictions in October.^[28] Meanwhile, 'circuit-breaker' lockdowns were imposed in Wales^[29] for three weeks, and in Northern Ireland^[30] for eight weeks (with a one-week easing). Schools were not included in these lockdowns.

In December, a new COVID variant was blamed for a rise in cases in southeast England^[31] and led to more countries banning travel from the UK.^[32] Following a brief easing of restrictions for Christmas, all of the UK went into another full lockdown. The UK became the first country to authorise^[33] and begin use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a mass vaccination programme.^[34][35] By early 2021, the UK had one of the highest vaccination rates in the world,^[36] and the highest in Europe.^[37] In late January, the governments imposed testing and quarantine rules on all incoming travellers.^[38]

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