COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom

Restrictions applied to certain areas, and then on a larger scale, differing between the four countries of the United Kingdom to which Health is devolved, with the central government being responsible for England.

[4] Working with general practitioners, the four NHS bodies strongly advised (though did not mandate) that those at the highest risk of severe complications from COVID-19 follow special shielding measures.

[citation needed] On 26 March the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 were approved by the Senedd, giving the Welsh Government emergency powers to deal with various aspects of managing the pandemic.

[7] Natural Resources Wales later announced that all sites and paths liable to have large amounts of people visiting, or pose a high risk, would be closed.

[12] He also announced "modest" changes to the measures already in force: some garden centres would be allowed to re-open, and people could now exercise outdoors more than once per day provided that they "stay local".

[citation needed] Restrictions were further eased by an announcement on 31 July, confirming that pubs and restaurants would be able to open indoor areas on 3 August.

[15] Towards the end of August, concerns grew about a potential second spike in infections, after passengers arriving at Cardiff Airport from overseas tested positive for the virus.

[18] On 19 October, the Welsh Government announced that a second national lockdown, described as a "fire-break", would be imposed from 23 October until 9 November, coinciding with school half-term holidays which would be extended by a week in colleges and for school students in year 9 (13 to 14 years old) and above, in the hope of bringing down the number of coronavirus cases.

[21] From 9 November, pubs, restaurants and cafes reopened with groups of up to four people (children under eleven not counting in the total) from different households allowed to meet up in them; the 10pm curfew for alcohol sales remained in place.

[23] Two households could form a bubble (interact when they wished) whilst any number of children under eleven and up to 15 or 30 individuals over that age could take part in indoor and outdoor organised events respectively.

[27] On 7 May, the Northern Ireland Executive met to discuss a roadmap to ending lockdown restrictions, with an announcement due during the week beginning 11 May.

However, on the same day, it was announced that further measures of step one would be activated on Tuesday 19 May such as groups of up to six people who do not share a household being able to meet outside and private church services being allowed.

[29] On 15 June, the Executive announced more lockdown easing this time focusing on the hospitality industry with hotels, restaurants and bars that sell food or have a large beer garden being allowed to open from 3 July 2020.

10 July saw indoor gyms, outdoor playgrounds, weddings and baptisms, bingo and cinemas and competitive sports behind closed doors allowed.

[34] On 5 August it was announced that all pupils will return to school five days a week as normal at the start of term time in September.

[citation needed] On 10 September the Northern Ireland Executive imposed new restrictions on visiting homes for Ballymena, and parts of Glenavy, Lisburn and Crumlin, following a rise in COVID-19 cases in those areas.

Non-essential retail, close contract business, churches and gyms can reopen with social distancing and some limitations being observed.

Parts of the hospitality industry can reopen such as cafes, restaurants and bars that serve food can open but must be closed by 23:00, wet pubs must remain shut.

[44][a] On 6 April the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which was introduced as an Emergency Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 31 March 2020, gained Royal Assent, becoming law.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her daily briefing said, "I want to stress that the news is positive [...] 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 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reported that there was some recognition that each of the four nations of the UK might move at different speeds with regard to loosening the lockdown and that she would not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely.

[49] On 19 June, lockdown restrictions were eased to allow the meeting outdoors of up to 8 people from two other households whilst maintaining social distancing.

By 31 August, pupils at high schools were obliged to wear face masks in corridors, canteens and other communal areas.

[citation needed] On 2 November a new, 5-level "tier" system was introduced into Scotland – bringing new, targeted restrictions to different regions of the country.

[63] From Saturday 4 July 2020, most other businesses were allowed to reopen, except for those considered to pose the highest risk such as indoor gyms, and social gathering rules were relaxed further.

[citation needed] By Saturday 15 August 2020, most other businesses, including indoor theatres, casinos and bowling alleys, had been allowed to reopen.

[citation needed] Starting on 17 October 2020, the UK government announced that London, among other areas, would move to Tier 2 restrictions, following a spike in cases, banning people from mixing indoors privately.