Right. You want an article. On the time everyone was told to stay in their houses because the outside world had become inconveniently lethal. A fascinating period of government-mandated introversion. Let's dig into this monument to crisis management. Try to keep up.
For a broader, and perhaps more forgiving, look at this topic, see the British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom was not a singular event but a stuttering series of stay-at-home orders cobbled together by the British and devolved governments. It was their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a global phenomenon that finally forced the nation to pay attention.
• Part of a series on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
• History
(Part of the global COVID-19 pandemic)
Locations
• London
• Countries
• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Guernsey
• Jersey
• British Overseas Territories
• Anguilla
• Bermuda
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• British Overseas Territories without confirmed cases
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Timelines
• 2023
• 2024
• England
• 2021
• 2022
• Scotland
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• Wales
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• Northern Ireland
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
Key topics
• Healthcare
• Lockdown
• Military (Domestic, Overseas)
• Impacts
• Society
• Economy
• Politics
• Retail
• Category
On 23 March 2020, after a period of what could charitably be called dithering, Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally announced a nationwide lockdown. This was framed as a decisive measure to halt the accelerating spread of COVID-19. It mandated the closure of vast sectors of public life and issued a stark order for the public to stay at home, an escalation from the somewhat gentle advice on 16 March 2020 to simply avoid all "non-essential contact." [1] This initial, unified front of restriction would eventually crumble, with the lockdown being lifted in a piecemeal, often confusing fashion weeks later. As infections inevitably surged again in late 2020 and early 2021, similar restrictions were reimposed, first in specific areas and then on a grander scale. The strategy differed, sometimes dramatically, between the four countries of the United Kingdom, a direct consequence of Health being a devolved power. This left the central government to manage the chaos in England alone.
First nationwide lockdown
The initial announcement came from Boris Johnson, reportedly with the consent of the other three heads of government, a rare moment of consensus. At 8:30 p.m. on 23 March 2020, Johnson delivered a stay-at-home order with immediate effect, [2] although the legal teeth to enforce it, The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, wouldn't bite until 1:00 p.m. on 26 March 2020. [3]
In England, the message was distilled into the tripartite slogan: "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives." A masterpiece of simplistic, guilt-inducing marketing. All businesses deemed non-essential were ordered to shut their doors across the UK. Police were handed powers to issue fines, disperse gatherings of more than two people, and send individuals home—particularly those suspected of being infected. The British public was instructed to remain indoors, with a few notable exceptions: one session of daily exercise (running, walking, or cycling), shopping for absolute necessities, attending to any medical need, providing care to a vulnerable person, or commuting to a job if said job was vital and could not possibly be done from home. Johnson promised this state of affairs would be reviewed every three weeks, a recurring promise that became a ritual of national anticipation and dread. [4]
Working alongside general practitioners, the four NHS bodies issued strong advice for those at the highest risk of severe complications from the virus to follow special shielding measures. This was not a mandate, but the advice was stark: do not leave your home for any reason, and maintain a two-metre distance from other members of your own household. It was, in effect, a sentence of solitary confinement for the vulnerable. [ citation needed ]
By 11 May, the veneer of UK-wide unity had fractured completely. The four governments of the United Kingdom began to announce their own separate rules at different times, creating a patchwork of regulations that varied depending on which side of a border you happened to live on. [ citation needed ]
Wales
- Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
On 26 March, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 were pushed through the Senedd, granting the Welsh Government sweeping emergency powers to manage the pandemic. These weren't subtle powers; they were described as "draconian" and included the authority to: [5] [6]
- Forcibly take people into or keep them in quarantine.
- Restrict or outright prohibit mass gatherings.
- Close any premises they deemed necessary.
On the same day, Snowdon and other iconic Welsh mountains were closed to the public. This came after a surge of tourists descended on the peaks in the preceding days, apparently under the impression that a pandemic was an excellent opportunity for a scenic hike, causing traffic chaos in the process. [7] Natural Resources Wales followed suit, closing all sites and paths that were likely to attract large crowds or pose a high risk of transmission. [8]
By 27 March, the situation had escalated. North Wales Police were patrolling the border between Wales and England, a sight not seen since the 16th century, to deter visitors who were ignoring the stay-at-home order and crossing into Wales for leisure. [9] [10] Police were stopping cars arriving from England, a stark illustration of how quickly national unity had devolved into regional self-preservation. [11]
On 8 May, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced an extension of the lockdown in Wales for another three weeks. [12] He did, however, offer some "modest" changes. Certain garden centres were permitted to reopen, and the rule of exercising only once per day was relaxed, provided people "stay local"—a term that would prove wonderfully ambiguous. [13]
Starting 3 June, the Welsh Government began holding regular briefings, [14] later rebranded as 'press conferences', to disseminate information about the pandemic in Wales. These were placed on a CC BY-SA open licence, a nod to transparency in a time of confusion. [ citation needed ]
Restrictions were eased further on 31 July, with an announcement that pubs and restaurants could reopen for indoor service on 3 August. The rules became more intricate: up to thirty people could meet outdoors, children under 11 were exempt from the 2-metre (6.6 ft) distancing rule, and indoor venues like bowling alleys, auction houses, and bingo halls could reopen. Swimming pools, gyms, and leisure centres were slated for a 10 August reopening, all contingent on social distancing. [15]
By late August, concern was mounting over a potential second wave. Passengers arriving at Cardiff Airport from overseas had tested positive. [16] The airline, TUI Group, was heavily criticised for its failure to enforce mask-wearing on a flight from the Greek island of Zante. [17] Health Minister Vaughan Gething later confirmed that 30 cases were linked to four separate flights into the UK from the island, prompting the Welsh and Scottish governments to lobby the UK government to add Zante to the quarantine list for the entire country. [18]
Firebreak
On 19 October, the Welsh Government declared that a second national lockdown, branded a "fire-break," would be imposed from 23 October until 9 November. The timing was designed to coincide with school half-term holidays, which were extended for older students in a bid to halt the rising case numbers. [19] The First Minister announced that all pubs, restaurants, and non-essential shops would close for the duration. [20]
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After the firebreak, localised restrictions were scrapped in favour of standardised rules across Wales. [21] From 9 November, hospitality venues reopened, allowing groups of up to four people from different households to meet, with the 10 p.m. curfew on alcohol sales remaining. [22] Non-essential shops also reopened to queues of eager shoppers. [23] Two households could form a "bubble," and organised events were permitted with limits of 15 people indoors and 30 outdoors. Travel restrictions within Wales were lifted, though non-essential travel to other parts of the UK remained forbidden. [24]
Third lockdown
On 16 December, the Welsh Government announced plans for a full lockdown to begin on 28 December, immediately following a five-day relaxation for Christmas. However, this plan was abruptly scrapped. On 19 December, it was announced that Wales would enter a full lockdown—or "tier 4" restrictions—at midnight on 20 December. No end date was given, with reviews scheduled every three weeks. [25]
This sudden change was driven by the emergence of a novel variant of the virus in the UK. The original UK-wide plan for relaxed restrictions from 23 to 28 December was torn up. Instead, the relaxation was limited to Christmas Day only, when just two households would be permitted to mix. Before and after that single day, indoor mixing with other households was banned, and any outdoor meetings required masks and a 2-metre distance. [26]
Northern Ireland
- Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland rejected the vague "Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives" slogan, sticking with the original "Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives." A small but telling assertion of autonomy. [ citation needed ]
On 15 April, Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, extended the lockdown until 9 May, as 121 new cases and 6 deaths were confirmed. [27]
On 7 May, the Northern Ireland Executive convened to discuss a roadmap for easing restrictions, with an announcement promised for the following week. [28]
NI Executive roadmap to exiting lockdown
On 18 May, the Executive began to implement step one of its plan, allowing garden and recycling centres to open. A day later, further measures were activated: groups of up to six people from different households could meet outdoors, and private church services were permitted. [29]
On 15 June, the focus shifted to the hospitality sector, with hotels, restaurants, and bars serving food or possessing a large beer garden given the green light to reopen from 3 July. [30]
On 25 June, it was announced that Northern Ireland would reduce its 2-metre social distancing rule to 1 metre. [31] By the end of June, there had been 5,760 confirmed cases and 551 deaths in Northern Ireland. [32]
July brought more relaxation. Betting shops, private clubs, museums, and tourist sites opened on 3 July, followed by salons on 6 July. On 10 July, indoor gyms, playgrounds, weddings, baptisms, bingo halls, cinemas, and competitive sports (behind closed doors) were allowed to resume. [33] On the same day, face coverings became mandatory on public transport, with exceptions for children under 13 and those with medical conditions. [34]
On 5 August, it was announced that all pupils would return to school full-time in September. Education Minister Peter Weir outlined a plan for "protected bubbles" for younger years and minimised movement for older students. [35]
On 20 August, rising case numbers prompted the reintroduction of some restrictions. Indoor gatherings were cut from ten to six people, and outdoor gatherings from thirty to fifteen. [ citation needed ]
On 10 September, new restrictions on home visits were imposed on Ballymena and parts of Glenavy, Lisburn, and Crumlin due to local spikes. [36] Paradoxically, the Executive also announced a national easing of other restrictions, such as the reopening of "wet bars" (pubs that don't serve food) on 21 September. [37]
Circuit breaker measures
On 14 October, the Executive announced a four-week "circuit breaker" lockdown, effective from 16 October. [38] This partial lockdown saw the closure of much of the hospitality sector once again. [39] [40]
On 3 December, the Executive agreed to ease these restrictions from 11 December. Non-essential retail, close-contact services, churches, and gyms could reopen with limitations. Cafes and restaurants could reopen but had to close by 11 p.m., while wet pubs remained shut. [41]
Later lockdowns
On 17 December, it was announced that Northern Ireland would enter another lockdown on 26 December, closing all non-essential retail and hospitality. The Christmas bubble system was to remain in place. [42] However, the spread of a new variant of COVID-19 led to even harsher restrictions. On 5 January 2021, a legal stay-at-home order was introduced from 8 January, permitting people to leave home only for essential reasons. Schools were moved to remote learning until after the February mid-term break. [43]
Scotland
- Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
Like Northern Ireland, Scotland rejected the "Stay Alert" slogan in favour of the original "Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives." [ citation needed ]
On 20 March, the Scottish Government ordered cafes, pubs, and restaurants to close, along with a list of other establishments including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, gyms, and casinos. [44] [a]
On 6 April, the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, an Emergency Bill, received Royal Assent and became law. [ citation needed ]
On 16 April, following a UK-wide review, the lockdown was extended for another three weeks. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon noted, "Early indications are that the lockdown restrictions have resulted in a slowing down in the rate of community transmission of the virus." [45]
On 8 May, Sturgeon acknowledged that the four nations of the UK might diverge in their strategies for lifting lockdown, stating she would not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely. [46]
On 11 May, she addressed Scotland directly, asking the nation "to stick with lockdown for a bit longer – so that we can consolidate our progress, not jeopardise it... I won't risk unnecessary deaths by acting rashly or prematurely."
On 21 May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a four-phase "route map" for easing restrictions. Phase one would allow people from one household to meet with another outside. The easing was scheduled to begin on 28 May, contingent on falling case numbers. [47] It was also announced that Scottish schools would reopen on 11 August with a "blended model" of part-time in-school and at-home learning. [48]
On 28 May, the easing began. People could meet outdoors in groups of no more than eight, maintaining a two-metre distance. [49]
On 19 June, restrictions were eased further. Outdoor meetings of up to eight people from two other households were allowed. Single-person households could form a "bubble" with another household indoors. Face coverings became mandatory on public transport. [50]
On 29 June, indoor workplaces, street-access retail, and outdoor markets were allowed to reopen, along with playgrounds, zoos, and parks. [51]
On 3 July, the five-mile travel limit was lifted. Self-contained holiday accommodation reopened. Limited, socially-distanced outdoor visits to care homes were permitted. Beer gardens and outdoor cafes opened on 6 July. [52] On 10 July, face coverings became compulsory in shops. [53]
Also on 10 July, the "Air Bridge" system was introduced, removing the need for self-isolation for travellers returning from 57 countries—a list slightly more restrictive than England's. [54] Outdoor gatherings of up to 15 people from five households were allowed, and indoor meetings of up to 8 people from three households were permitted, including overnight stays. [55]
On 11 August, pupils returned to schools. They were not required to socially distance, but teachers had to wear masks in close proximity to others. By 31 August, high school pupils were required to wear masks in communal areas. [56]
On 22 September, Sturgeon announced new nationwide restrictions, including earlier pub closing times and a ban on household mixing, which took effect on 25 September. [ citation needed ]
On 2 November, a new five-level "tier" system was introduced, applying targeted restrictions to different regions. [57] [58] [59]
On 4 January 2021, Nicola Sturgeon announced a new national lockdown for Scotland, which began at midnight. [60]
England
- Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in England
In England, the government pivoted to a new slogan: "Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives." The instruction for those who couldn't work from home, such as construction and manufacturing workers, was to return to work while avoiding public transport—a logistical puzzle for many. The once-a-day exercise limit was lifted. A COVID-19 threat level system was introduced, with the initial "Stay Home" phase designated as Level 4. [ citation needed ]
On 13 May 2020, people in England were permitted to meet one person from another household outdoors, maintaining a 2-metre distance. [61] From 28 May, this was expanded to groups of up to six.
From 1 June, primary schools were encouraged to reopen for certain year groups, and the extremely vulnerable who had been shielding were advised it was now safe to go outside once a day. [ citation needed ]
From 15 June, non-essential retail reopened, and secondary schools were asked to provide some face-to-face support for older students. Face coverings became mandatory in healthcare settings and on public transport. [ citation needed ]
On 24 June, long-awaited guidance was issued to pubs, bars, and restaurants, detailing how they could reopen safely in England. [62]
Local lockdowns
- Main articles: COVID-19 local lockdown regulations in England and The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020
From 4 July, most remaining businesses were allowed to reopen, with the exception of high-risk venues like indoor gyms. The two-metre rule was relaxed to "one metre plus" mitigations, such as face coverings. The only legal restriction remaining was a limit of 30 on gatherings, though the advice was to limit them to two households indoors or a maximum of six people from multiple households outdoors. [ citation needed ]
By 15 August, more businesses, including indoor theatres and casinos, had reopened. Nightclubs remained closed. [ citation needed ]
Schools reopened full-time from September. On 9 September, the slogan changed again to "Hands, Face, Space," a simplistic reminder of basic hygiene. [ citation needed ]
First tier system
- Main article: First COVID-19 tier regulations in England
Starting on 17 October, a new tier system was introduced. London and other areas with rising cases were moved into Tier 2, which banned private indoor mixing between households. [63]
Second lockdown
On 31 October, it was announced that England would enter a second national lockdown from 5 November, intended to last for four weeks until 2 December. [64]
Second tier system and third lockdown
- Main article: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020
Following the second lockdown, a new, stricter tiered system was implemented. A plan was made to relax these restrictions for five days over Christmas (23–27 December), allowing three households to form a "bubble." [65] This plan was abandoned for London and surrounding areas, where rising cases, driven by a new variant, led to the creation of a new, even stricter "Tier 4."
On 4 January 2021, the UK's Chief Medical Officers recommended increasing the COVID Alert Level to 5, [66] signalling a material risk of the healthcare system being overwhelmed. [67] That evening, Boris Johnson announced a third national lockdown in England, effectively placing the entire country under Tier 4 restrictions, which took legal effect on 5 January. [68]
Lifting measures
On 22 February 2021, the government published its four-step plan to ease lockdown in England. [69] Step one, which included the reopening of schools, began on 8 March. Step two, focusing on outdoor activities, began on 12 April. Step three, which allowed limited indoor mixing and the reopening of indoor hospitality, began on 17 May. [ citation needed ]
See also
- British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Partygate
- COVID-19 lockdowns (by country)
Footnotes
- ^a Beyond these 3 types of establishments, also told to close were:
- Nightclubs and other drinking establishments
- Cinemas, theatres and bingo halls and concert halls
- Spas, wellness centres and massage parlours
- Casinos and betting shops
- Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools