View source for British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

{{Short description|UK government response to COVID-19}}
{{Broader|United Kingdom responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom}}

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[[File:Boris Johnson Covid-19 Presser (50516975857).jpg|thumb|[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]] delivers a press conference on 22 October 2020 with [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Rishi Sunak]]. The "Hands, Face, Space" slogan is displayed on their podiums]]{{COVID-19 pandemic sidebar}}
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In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]], the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government]] introduced various public health and economic measures to mitigate its impact. [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|Devolution]] meant that the four nations' administrative responses to the pandemic differed; the [[Scottish Government]], the [[Welsh Government]], and the [[Northern Ireland Executive]] produced different policies to those that apply in England. [[United Kingdom legislation connected with the COVID-19 pandemic|Numerous laws]] were enacted or introduced throughout the crisis.

The UK government had developed a pandemic response plan in previous years. In response to the first confirmed [[COVID-19]] cases in January 2020, the UK introduced advice for travellers coming from affected countries in late January and February 2020, and began [[contact tracing]], although this was later abandoned.<ref name="Kobie" /> The government incrementally introduced further societal restrictions on the public as the virus spread across the country in the following weeks, initially resisting more stringent measures introduced elsewhere in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|Europe]] and [[COVID-19 pandemic in Asia|Asia]].<ref name=":9" /> Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] announced the first national [[COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom|lockdown]] on 23 March 2020 and Parliament introduced the [[Coronavirus Act 2020]], which granted the devolved governments emergency powers and empowered the police to enforce public health measures.<ref name="x31" />

As the governments began lifting the nationwide stay-at-home order, policies and approaches diverged between the four nations. The [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland|Scottish government]] uniquely pursued an [[zero-COVID|elimination strategy]]. Across the country, localised lockdowns, [[Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|social distancing measures]], [[Isolation (health care)|self-isolation]] laws for those exposed to the virus and rules on [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] were introduced, as well as efforts to expand [[COVID-19 testing in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 testing]] and tracing. In autumn and winter 2020, further nationwide lockdowns were introduced in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and the [[SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant|Alpha variant]]. A [[COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 vaccination programme]] began in December 2020. In mid-2021, the government lifted most restrictions during the third wave driven by the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta variant]], until the "winter plan" reintroduced some rules in response to the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]] in December that year. Remaining restrictions were lifted in England from 24 February 2022 under a "[[Living with COVID-19|living with COVID]]" plan announced by the government on that date. Economic support was provided to struggling businesses and to [[furlough]] employees to mitigate the [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|severe economic impact]]. It also [[COVID-19 contracts in the United Kingdom|forwent the procurement process in contracts]] in response to [[Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic|shortages of PPE and medical equipment]], major issues in the early months of the outbreak, and for developing a [[NHS COVID-19|contact tracing app]].

The UK government's response to the pandemic, in particular the timeliness of public health measures being introduced and lifted, has faced criticism from academic medical sources, media outlets, relatives of COVID-19 patients and various political figures. This criticism continued amid the [[Partygate]] scandal, as multiple government officials were revealed to have breached COVID-19 social distancing restrictions during lockdowns. A [[UK Covid-19 Inquiry|public inquiry]] into the response was established in June 2022.

== Prior pandemic response plans ==
The ''UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy'' was published in 2011 and updated in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-evidence-base-underpinning-the-uk-influenza-pandemic-preparedness-strategy|title=UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003403/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-evidence-base-underpinning-the-uk-influenza-pandemic-preparedness-strategy|url-status=live}}</ref> alongside a review of the available medical and social countermeasures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overarching-government-strategy-to-respond-to-a-flu-pandemic-analysis-of-the-scientific-evidence-base|title=Overarching government strategy to respond to a flu pandemic: analysis of the scientific evidence base|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419203557/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overarching-government-strategy-to-respond-to-a-flu-pandemic-analysis-of-the-scientific-evidence-base|url-status=live}}</ref> Pandemic flu guidance was published in 2013 and updated in 2017, covering guidance for local planners, business sectors, and an ethical framework for the government response. The guidance stated:<ref>{{cite web|date=24 November 2017|title=Pandemic flu|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pandemic-flu|access-date=19 April 2020|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|archive-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419161031/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pandemic-flu|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=There are important differences between 'ordinary' seasonal flu and pandemic flu. These differences explain why we regard pandemic flu as such a serious threat. Pandemic influenza is one of the most severe natural challenges likely to affect the UK.|title=|source=}}

In 2016, the government carried out [[Exercise Cygnus]], a three-day simulation of a widespread flu outbreak. A report compiled the following year by [[Public Health England]] (but not made public) found deficiencies in emergency plans, lack of central oversight and difficulty managing capacity in care homes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pegg|first=David|date=7 May 2020|title=What was Exercise Cygnus and what did it find?|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/what-was-exercise-cygnus-and-what-did-it-find|access-date=1 November 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904120008/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/what-was-exercise-cygnus-and-what-did-it-find|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2020, the [[Permanent Secretary]] at the Treasury [[Tom Scholar]] and the [[Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary]] [[Alex Chisholm]] told the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] that the civil service did not subsequently create a plan for dealing with the pandemic's effects on the economy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Syal|first=Rajeev|date=16 June 2020|title=Permanent secretaries 'not aware of any economic planning for a pandemic'|website=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/15/permanent-secretaries-not-aware-of-any-economic-planning-for-a-pandemic|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928153725/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/15/permanent-secretaries-not-aware-of-any-economic-planning-for-a-pandemic|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Regulations and legislation ==
{{Main|United Kingdom legislation connected with the COVID-19 pandemic}}

[[File: Restaurant in London offering home deliveries during the Coronavirus pandemic March 2020.jpg|thumb|A restaurant in London in March 2020 offering home deliveries after dining-in was banned]]
The government published the [[Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020]] on 10 February 2020, a [[statutory instrument (UK)|statutory instrument]] covering the legal framework behind the government's initial containment and isolation strategies and its organisation of the national reaction to the virus for England.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/129/contents/made The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303041542/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/129/contents/made|date=3 March 2020}} Government of the United Kingdom</ref> Other published regulations include changes to [[Statutory sick pay]] (into force on 13 March),<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/287/contents/made The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003250/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/287/contents/made |date=13 July 2021 }} Government of the United Kingdom</ref> and changes to [[Employment and Support Allowance]] and [[Universal Credit]] (also 13 March).<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/289/contents/made The Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Coronavirus Disease) Regulations 2020] Government of the United Kingdom</ref>

On 19 March, the government introduced the [[Coronavirus Act 2020]], which grants the government discretionary emergency powers in the areas of the NHS, social care, schools, police, the Border Force, local councils, funerals and courts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Heffer|first=Greg|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-emergency-laws-will-give-powers-to-close-airports-and-detain-and-quarantine-people-11959342|title=Coronavirus Bill: Emergency laws to contain spread of COVID-19 published|date=19 March 2020|access-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318201123/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-emergency-laws-will-give-powers-to-close-airports-and-detain-and-quarantine-people-11959342|archive-date=18 March 2020|publisher=[[Sky News]]}}</ref> The act received [[royal assent]] on 25 March 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carmichael|first=Hannah|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18318799.jacob-rees-mogg-says-parliament-will-return-easter-recess/|title=Jacob Rees-Mogg says Parliament will return after Easter recess|date=19 March 2020|work=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]]|access-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319155145/https://www.thenational.scot/news/18318799.jacob-rees-mogg-says-parliament-will-return-easter-recess/|archive-date=19 March 2020}}</ref>

Closures to pubs, restaurants and indoor sports and leisure facilities were imposed in England via the [[Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020]].<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/327/contents/made The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 UK Statutory Instruments 2020 No. 327 Table of contents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003329/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/327/contents/made |date=12 November 2020 }} Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 26 March 2020</ref>

The restrictions on movements, except for allowed purposes, were:
* [[Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020]]<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 UK Statutory Instruments 2020 No. 350 Table of contents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004015427/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made |date=4 October 2020 }} Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 26 March 2020</ref> (and subsequent amendments)
** Since replaced by [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020]]
* Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/103/contents/made/data.htm|title=The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001171121/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/103/contents/made/data.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/353/contents/made/data.htm|title=The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201074058/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/353/contents/made/data.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/Coronavirus-Restrictiions-Regs-2020.pdf|title=The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020|website=Department of Health (Northern Ireland)|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004094042/https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/Coronavirus-Restrictiions-Regs-2020.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
In England from 15 June 2020, the [[Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020]] required travellers on public transport to wear a face covering.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-face-mask-uk-fine-police-public-transport-grant-shapps-tube-bus-train-a9567056.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 June 2020 |title=Police can forcibly remove people without face masks from public transport and fine them £100 |first=Lizzie |last=Dearden |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929062153/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-face-mask-uk-fine-police-public-transport-grant-shapps-tube-bus-train-a9567056.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 June 2020, the [[Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020]] was enacted to provide additional protections to companies in financial difficulty as a result of the impacts of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-insolvency-and-governance-act-2020 |title=Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 |date=26 June 2020 |publisher=[[Companies House]] |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930100112/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-insolvency-and-governance-act-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Initial response (January–March 2020) ==
[[File:British Government NHS coronavirus public info poster.pdf|thumb|upright|NHS England coronavirus poster, February 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/2020/02/03/coronavirus-public-information-campaign-launched-across-the-uk/|title=Coronavirus public information campaign launched across the UK|date=3 February 2020|work=NHS England|access-date=7 March 2020|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712232639/https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/2020/02/03/coronavirus-public-information-campaign-launched-across-the-uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Catch it, Bin it, Kill it poster.jpg|thumb|upright|NHS England poster for the "Catch it, Bin it, Kill it" slogan which has been revived in the fight against COVID-19]]

The first published government statement on the COVID-19 situation in [[Wuhan]] was released on 22 January 2020 by the [[Department of Health and Social Care]] and [[Public Health England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications|title=News and communications|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419042435/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications|url-status=live}}</ref> Guidance has progressed in line with the number of cases detected and changes in where affected people have contracted the virus, as well as with what has been happening in other countries.<ref name="Bosley26Feb2020">{{cite news|last1=Boseley|first1=Sarah|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/06/third-person-in-uk-confirmed-as-having-coronavirus|title=First British national to contract coronavirus had been in Singapore|date=6 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207020202/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/06/third-person-in-uk-confirmed-as-having-coronavirus|archive-date=7 February 2020|last2=Campbell|first2=Denis|last3=Murphy|first3=Simon}}</ref> In February, [[Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)|Chief Medical Officer]] (CMO) to the British government, [[Chris Whitty]] said "we basically have a strategy which depends upon four tactical aims: the first one is to contain; the second of these is to delay; the third of these is to do the science and the research; and the fourth is to mitigate so we can brace the NHS".<ref name="Kobie">{{Cite magazine|last=Kobie|first=Nicole|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/coronavirus-uk-response|title=This is how the UK is strengthening its coronavirus defences|date=15 February 2020|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=2 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302194615/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/coronavirus-uk-response|archive-date=2 March 2020|issn=1357-0978}}</ref> These aims equate to four phases; specific actions involved in each of these phases are:{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
* Contain: detect early cases, follow up close contacts, and prevent the disease from taking hold in this country for as long as is reasonably possible
* Delay: slow the spread within the UK, and (if it does take hold) lower the peak impact and push it away from the winter season
* Research: better understand the virus and the actions that will lessen its effect on the British population; innovate responses including diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines; use the evidence to inform the development of the most effective models of care
* Mitigate: provide the best care possible for people who become ill, support hospitals to maintain essential services and ensure ongoing support for people ill in the community, to minimise the overall impact of the disease on society, public services and on the economy.<ref name="Plan2020">Department of Health and Social Care, Emergency and Health Protection Directorate, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869827/Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK.pdf Coronavirus: action plan: A guide to what you can expect across the UK] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304131952/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869827/Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK.pdf|date=4 March 2020}}, published 3 March. Retrieved 7 March 2020</ref>

The four CMOs of the home nations raised the UK's risk level from low to moderate on 30 January 2020, upon the [[World Health Organization|WHO]]'s announcement of the disease as a [[Public Health Emergency of International Concern]].<ref name="gov.uk2Update">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public |title=Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322124656/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Russell13Feb2020">{{cite web |url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/924664 |title=New Coronavirus: UK Public Health Campaign Launched |last=Russell |first=Peter |date=3 February 2020 |website=[[Medscape]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301185825/https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/924664|archive-date=1 March 2020|access-date=1 March 2020|url-access=registration}}</ref> As soon as cases appeared in the UK on 31 January 2020, a public health information campaign, similar to the previous "[[Catch it, Bin it, Kill it]]" campaign, was launched in the UK, to advise people how to lessen the risk of spreading the virus.<ref name="Russell13Feb2020" /> Travellers from Hubei province in China, including the capital Wuhan, were advised to self-isolate, "stay at home, not go to work, school or public places, not use public transport or taxis; ask friends, family members or delivery services to do errands",<ref name="NHS.ukCOVID">{{cite web|url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/|title=Coronavirus (COVID-19)|date=24 January 2020|website=nhs.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302222456/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/|archive-date=2 March 2020|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> and call [[NHS 111]] if they had arrived in the UK in the previous 14 days, regardless of whether they were unwell or not.<ref name="Russell13Feb2020" /> Further cases in early February prompted the [[Secretary of State for Health and Social Care]], [[Matt Hancock]], to announce the [[Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020]].<ref name="gov.uk2Update" /> Daily updates have been published by the [[Department of Health and Social Care]].<ref name="gov.uk2Update" /> [[NHS Digital]] in the meanwhile, have been collecting data.<ref name="RapsonHSJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/patient-safety/nhs-collecting-coronavirus-data-from-111-calls/7026999.article|title=NHS collecting coronavirus data from 111 calls|last=Rapson|first=Jasmine|website=Health Service Journal|url-access=subscription|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003350/https://www.hsj.co.uk/patient-safety/nhs-collecting-coronavirus-data-from-111-calls/7026999.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 25 February 2020, the British CMOs advised all travellers (unwell or not) who had returned to the UK from Hubei province in the previous 14 days, Iran, specific areas designated by the Italian government as quarantine areas in northern Italy, and special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, to self-isolate and call NHS 111.<ref name="gov.uk15Feb2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector |title=COVID-19: guidance for staff in the transport sector |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220133756/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector |archive-date=20 February 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> This advice was also advocated for any person with flu-like symptoms and a history of travelling from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and areas in Italy north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini, returning to the UK since 19 February. Later, self-isolation was recommended for anyone returning from any part of Italy from 9{{nbsp}}March.<ref name="gov.uk2Update" /><ref name="gov.uk15Feb2020" />

Initially, Prime Minister Boris Johnson largely kept Britain open, resisting the kind of [[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdowns]] seen elsewhere in Europe. In a speech on 3{{nbsp}}February, Johnson's main concern was that the "coronavirus will trigger a panic and a desire for market segregation that go beyond what is medically rational to the point of doing real and unnecessary economic damage".<ref>[https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-britain-must-become-the-superman-of-global-free-trade "Britain must become the superman of global free trade"], ''The Spectator'', 3 February 2020.</ref> On 11 February, a "senior member of the government" told the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] journalist [[Robert Peston]] that "If there is a pandemic, the peak will be March, April, May" and, further, that "the risk is 60% of the population getting it. With a mortality rate of perhaps just over 1%, we are looking at not far off 500,000 deaths".<ref>Robert Peston, [https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-19/coronavirus-government-could-have-done-more-earlier-protect-against-covid-19-robert-peston-writes/ 'How the government could have done more earlier to protect against Covid-19'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019185221/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-19/coronavirus-government-could-have-done-more-earlier-protect-against-covid-19-robert-peston-writes |date=19 October 2020 }}, ITV News, 19 April 2020.</ref> On 8 March, Peston reported that the government believed the Italian government's approach to lockdown to be based on "several of the populist – non-science based – measures that aren't any use. They're who not to follow".<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1236739529303830530|user=Peston|last=Peston|first=Robert|title=Response from senior government source is "the Italians did several of the populist – non-science based – measures that aren't any use. They're who not to follow".|date=8 March 2020}}</ref> Later the ''Times'' revealed that, in early March, the government did not even ask its scientists to model whether a lockdown might be a solution.<ref name="x31">{{Cite news|last1=Calvert|first1=Jonathan|last2=Arbuthnott|first2=George|last3=Leake|first3=Jonathan|last4=Gadher|first4=Dipesh|date=23 May 2020|title=22 days of dither and delay on coronavirus that cost thousands of British lives|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/three-weeks-of-dither-and-delay-on-coronavirus-that-cost-thousands-of-british-lives-05sjvwv7g|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=21 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221125448/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/three-weeks-of-dither-and-delay-on-coronavirus-that-cost-thousands-of-british-lives-05sjvwv7g|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 March, Johnson said in an interview with [[BBC News]]: "The most important thing now is that we prepare against a possible very significant expansion of coronavirus in the UK population". This came after the 39th case in the UK was confirmed and over a month after the first confirmed case in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 March 2020|title=Coronavirus could spread 'significantly' – PM|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51708550|url-status=live|access-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302195801/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51708550|archive-date=2 March 2020}}</ref> The same day, a [[BBC One]] programme ''Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know'' addressed questions from the public on the outbreak.<ref>{{Citation|title=BBC News Special – Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know|date=2 March 2020|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000g80s/bbc-news-special-coronavirus-everything-you-need-to-know|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303115141/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000g80s/bbc-news-special-coronavirus-everything-you-need-to-know|access-date=3 March 2020|archive-date=3 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The following day, the Coronavirus Action Plan was unveiled.<ref name="gov.uk2Update" /> The next day, as the total number of cases in the UK stood at 51, the government declared the COVID-19 pandemic as a "level{{nbsp}}4 incident",<ref name="Discombe3March2020">{{cite web|last=Discombe|first=Matt|date=3 March 2020|title=National incident over coronavirus allows NHSE to command local resources|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/national-incident-over-coronavirus-allows-nhse-to-command-local-resources/7027045.article|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619173546/https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/national-incident-over-coronavirus-allows-nhse-to-command-local-resources/7027045.article/|archive-date=19 June 2020|access-date=4 March 2020|website=[[Health Service Journal]]}}</ref> permitting NHS England to take command of all NHS resources.<ref name="Discombe3March2020" /><ref name="Sr2020">{{Cite book|last1=Warnick|first1=Mark S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gaTDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA90|title=Emergency Incident Management Systems: Fundamentals and Applications|last2=Sr|first2=Louis N. Molino|date=2020|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-1-119-26711-9|edition=Second|pages=89–90|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003328/https://books.google.com/books?id=gaTDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA90|archive-date=13 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Planning has been made for [[behaviour change (public health)|behaviour changing]] publicity including good hygiene and respiratory hygiene ("catch it, bin it, kill it"),<ref name="Campbell3Mar2020">{{Cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Denis|last2=Siddique|first2=Haroon|last3=Weaver|first3=Matthew|date=3 March 2020|title=Explained: UK's coronavirus action plan|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/explained-uk-coronavirus-action-plan|url-status=live|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304035015/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/explained-uk-coronavirus-action-plan|archive-date=4 March 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> a measure designed to delay the peak of the infection and allow time for the testing of drugs and initial development of vaccines.<ref name="Plan2020" /> Primary care has been issued guidance.<ref name="Razai6March2020">{{Cite journal|last1=Razai|first1=Mohammad S.|last2=Doerholt|first2=Katja|last3=Ladhani|first3=Shamez|last4=Oakeshott|first4=Pippa|date=6 March 2020|title=Coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19): a guide for UK GPs|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m800|url-status=live|journal=BMJ|volume=368|pages=m800|doi=10.1136/bmj.m800|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32144127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309150416/https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m800|archive-date=9 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020|doi-access=free}}</ref>

On 11 March, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England [[Jenny Harries]] said that the government was "following the science" by not banning mass gatherings. She also said, on face masks, "If a healthcare professional hasn't advised you to wear a face mask... it's really not a good idea and doesn't help".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/03/11/uk-is-following-the-science-in-not-banning-mass-gatherings-health-chief/|title=UK is 'following the science' in not banning mass gatherings – health chief|work=Shropshire Star|date=11 March 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203012816/https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/03/11/uk-is-following-the-science-in-not-banning-mass-gatherings-health-chief/|url-status=live}}</ref> She added that masks could "actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in".<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 March 2020|title=Face masks could increase risk of getting coronavirus, medical chief warns|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-face-masks-increase-risk-infection-doctor-jenny-harries-a9396811.html|access-date=10 July 2021|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=6 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706153638/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-face-masks-increase-risk-infection-doctor-jenny-harries-a9396811.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 March, [[Government Chief Scientific Adviser (United Kingdom)|British government Chief Scientific Adviser]] [[Patrick Vallance]] told [[BBC Radio 4]] one of "the key things we need to do" is to "build up some kind of [[herd immunity]] so more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission".<ref name=":4">{{cite news|last1=Booth|first1=William|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-coronavirus-herd-immunity/2020/03/16/1c9d640e-66c7-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html|title=U.K. resists coronavirus lockdowns, goes its own way on response|date=15 March 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323174654/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-coronavirus-herd-immunity/2020/03/16/1c9d640e-66c7-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This involves enough people getting infected, upon which they develop immunity to the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2020/03/14/coronavirus-uk-cases-herd-immunity-covid-19/|title=The U.K. is aiming for deliberate 'herd immunity'|website=Fortune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314082329/https://fortune.com/2020/03/14/coronavirus-uk-cases-herd-immunity-covid-19/|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-herd-immunity-uk-nhs-outbreak-pandemic-government-a9399101.html|title=60% of UK population need to get coronavirus so country can build 'herd immunity', chief scientist says|date=13 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313191522/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-herd-immunity-uk-nhs-outbreak-pandemic-government-a9399101.html|archive-date=13 March 2020|website=The Independent}}</ref> Vallance said 60% of the UK's population will need to become infected for herd immunity to be achieved.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mueller|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/world/europe/coronavirus-britain-boris-johnson.html|title=As Europe Shuts Down, Britain Takes a Different, and Contentious, Approach|date=13 March 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313232126/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/world/europe/coronavirus-britain-boris-johnson.html|archive-date=13 March 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk" /> Another member of the UK government's [[Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies]] (SAGE), [[Graham Medley]], told BBC's ''Newsnight'' that: "We're going to have to generate what we call herd immunity ... and the only way of developing that, in the absence of a vaccine, is for the majority of the population to become infected."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Medley |first=Graham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p086hjgc |title=Coronavirus: Can Herd Immunity Protect the Population? |date=13 March 2020 |work=BBC Newsnight |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304004119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p086hjgc |url-status=live }}</ref> A Downing Street source later revealed that the "mantra" in government at this time was that "we've all got to get it."<ref name="x31" />

This stance was criticised by experts{{who|date=May 2020}} who said it would lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths and overwhelm the NHS. More than 200 scientists urged the government to rethink the approach in an open letter.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Boyle|first1=Christina|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-19/british-prime-minister-boris-johnsons-coronavirus-european-leaders|title=On coronavirus containment, Britain's Johnson is less restrictive than other European leaders|date=19 March 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323220348/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-19/british-prime-minister-boris-johnsons-coronavirus-european-leaders|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|last=Yong|first=Ed|date=16 March 2020|title=The U.K.'s Coronavirus 'Herd Immunity' Debacle|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/|access-date=15 July 2021|website=The Atlantic|language=en}}</ref>{{Medical source needed|date=January 2022}} Subsequently, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that herd immunity was not a plan for the UK, and the Department of Health and Social Care said that "herd immunity is a natural by-product of an epidemic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-herd-immunity-meaning-definition-what-vaccine-immune-covid-19-a9397871.html|title=What is herd immunity and is it an option for dealing with the UK coronavirus pandemic?|date=23 March 2020|work=The Independent|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=20 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320150739/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-herd-immunity-meaning-definition-what-vaccine-immune-covid-19-a9397871.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 March, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said that testing and [[contact tracing]] was no longer "an appropriate mechanism as we go forward".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/uk-coronavirus-testing-explainer|title=Even The US Is Doing More Coronavirus Tests Than The UK. Here Are The Reasons Why.|work=BuzzFeed News|last1=Wickham|first1=Alex|last2=Nardelli|first2=Alberto|last3=Baker|first3=Katie J.M.|last4=Holmes|first4=Richard|access-date=29 January 2021|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204205526/https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/uk-coronavirus-testing-explainer|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4{{nbsp}}April, ''[[The Times]]'' reported that [[Graham Medley]], a member of the UK government's [[Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies]] (SAGE), was still advocating a "herd immunity" strategy.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnsons-coronavirus-adviser-calls-for-a-way-out-of-lockdown-rd58g6tc9 'Boris Johnson's coronavirus adviser calls for a way out of lockdown – Britain may still need to adopt herd immunity'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929151353/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnsons-coronavirus-adviser-calls-for-a-way-out-of-lockdown-rd58g6tc9 |date=29 September 2020 }}, ''The Times'', 4 April 2020.</ref> There was a letter published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' on 17 March calling on the government to openly share its data and models as a matter of urgency.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|last1=Alwan|first1=Nisreen A|last2=Bhopal|first2=Raj|last3=Burgess|first3=Rochelle A|last4=Colburn|first4=Tim|last5=Cuevas|first5=Luis E|last6=Smith|first6=George Davey|last7=Egger|first7=Matthias|last8=Eldridge|first8=Sandra|last9=Gallo|first9=Valentina|last10=Gilthorpe|first10=Mark S|last11=Greenhalgh|first11=Trish|date=17 March 2020|title=Evidence informing the UK's COVID-19 public health response must be transparent|journal=The Lancet|volume=395|issue=10229|pages=1036–1037|doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30667-x|issn=0140-6736|pmid=32197104|pmc=7270644|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:Slides to accompany UK coronavirus press conference- 11 May 2020 - UK COVID Alert Levels.pdf|thumb|400px|left|COVID-19 alert levels introduced by the government]]
Public Health England has also been involved with efforts to support the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territories]] against the outbreak.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/03/06/public-health-england-joins-cayman-in-coronavirus-response-efforts/|title=Public Health England joins Cayman in coronavirus response efforts|last=Ragoonath|first=Reshma|date=7 March 2020|website=Cayman Compass|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307160127/https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/03/06/public-health-england-joins-cayman-in-coronavirus-response-efforts/|archive-date=7 March 2020|access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/government-statement-on-covid-19-1412020-5647|title=Government Statement on COVID-19 – 141/2020|website=Government of Gibraltar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309191352/https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/government-statement-on-covid-19-1412020-5647|archive-date=9 March 2020|access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref>

Large sporting and cultural events took place into mid-March, with Culture Secretary [[Oliver Dowden]] and [[Jonathan Van-Tam]] dismissing calls to ban them in early that month. [[Cheltenham Festival]] and a Liverpool match of the [[2019–20 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|UEFA Champions League knockout phase]] are particularly thought to have increased the virus' spread.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 May 2020|title=Coronavirus: Sports events in March 'caused increased suffering and death'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52797002|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 April 2020|title=Coronavirus: Cheltenham Festival 'may have accelerated' spread|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-52485584|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> As many event organisers themselves began cancelling events, reports emerged on 13 March that the government would introduce a ban on large gatherings the following week.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2020|title=UK to ban mass gatherings as coronavirus continues to spread|url=https://www.nme.com/news/uk-to-ban-mass-gatherings-as-coronavirus-continues-to-spread-2625343|access-date=15 October 2021|website=NME|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2020|title=UK to ban mass gatherings in coronavirus U-turn|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/uk-to-ban-mass-gatherings-in-coronavirus-u-turn|access-date=15 October 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

On 16 March, the British government started holding daily press briefings. The briefings were to be held by the Prime Minister or government ministers and advisers. The government had been accused of a lack of transparency over their plans to tackle the virus.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51901818|title = PM delivering first daily coronavirus update|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 16 March 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 30 April 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200430022754/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51901818|url-status = live}}</ref> Daily briefings were also held by the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52068707|title = Coronavirus: From one positive case to lockdown|work = [[BBC News]]|date = April 2020|last1 = O'Hare|first1 = Paul|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 18 December 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201218115311/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52068707|url-status = live}}</ref> The speakers at the daily press briefings were accompanied by sign language interpreters. British sign language is a recognised language in Scotland and Wales, with interpreters standing 2 metres behind Ministers. Northern Ireland's briefings had both [[British Sign Language|British]] and [[Irish Sign Language]] interpreters who were shown on a small screen in the press conference room. The British government briefing did not have an interpreter in the room or on a screen leading to a Twitter campaign about the issue. The government reached an agreement to have the press conferences signed on the [[BBC News (TV channel)|BBC News Channel]] and on [[BBC iPlayer|iPlayer]] in response to the campaign.<ref name="bbc deaf">{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-52323854|title = Legal move on no sign language at daily briefings|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 28 April 2020|last1 = Rose|first1 = Beth|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 2 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201102141339/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-52323854|url-status = live}}</ref> In response to this a petition was created by Sylvia Simmonds that required the government to use sign language interpreters for emergency announcements.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/people-are-dying-because-calls-uk-gov-follow-scotland-sign-language-interpreter-covid-19-briefing-2547989 | title='People are dying because of this': Calls for UK Gov to follow Scotland with sign language interpreter at Covid-19 briefing | date=23 April 2020 | access-date=7 October 2020 | archive-date=19 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919004008/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/people-are-dying-because-calls-uk-gov-follow-scotland-sign-language-interpreter-covid-19-briefing-2547989 | url-status=live }}</ref> Legal firm Fry Law looked to commence court proceedings as they said the government had broken the [[Equality Act 2010]], but also said that the government was doing the bare minimum and were [[crowdfunding]] to cover the government's legal costs if they lost.<ref name="bbc deaf" />

On 17 March 2020, Johnson announced in a daily news conference that the government "must act like any wartime government and do whatever it takes to support our economy".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51933410|title=Coronavirus: Emergency cash to help businesses, and operations delayed|date=17 March 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=17 March 2020|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317152225/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51933410|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Progression between phases ===
On 12 March, the government announced it was moving out of the contain phase and into the delay phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement said that in the following weeks, the government would introduce further social distancing measures for older and vulnerable people, and asking them to self-isolate regardless of symptoms. Its announcement said that if the next stage were introduced too early, the measures would not protect at the time of greatest risk but they could have a huge social impact. The government said that its decisions were based on careful modelling and that government measures would only be introduced that were supported by clinical and scientific evidence.<ref name="Gov.UK12March2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-government-announces-moving-out-of-contain-phase-and-into-delay|title=COVID-19: government announces moving out of contain phase and into delay|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316093859/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-government-announces-moving-out-of-contain-phase-and-into-delay|archive-date=16 March 2020}}</ref> The UK abandoned [[contact tracing]] on 12 March.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal|last1=Scally|first1=Gabriel|last2=Jacobson|first2=Bobbie|last3=Abbasi|first3=Kamran|date=15 May 2020|title=The UK's public health response to covid-19|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1932|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=369|pages=m1932|doi=10.1136/bmj.m1932|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32414712|s2cid=218657917 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

=== Classification of the disease ===
From 19 March, Public Health England, consistent with the opinion of the [[Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens]], no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease" (HCID). This reversed an interim recommendation made in January 2020, due to more information about the disease confirming low overall mortality rates, greater clinical awareness, and a specific and sensitive laboratory test, the availability of which continues to increase. The statement said "the need to have a national, coordinated response remains" and added, "this is being met by the government's COVID-19 response". This meant cases of COVID-19 are no longer managed by <abbr>HCID</abbr> treatment centres only.<ref name="Gov.ukHCIDDef">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid |title=High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051938/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid|archive-date=3 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> An editorial in ''[[The BMJ]]'' questioned this decision, suggesting this was to permit healthcare staff to use "a lower level" of [[personal protective equipment]] for treating patients.<ref name=":11" />

== First national lockdown (March–April 2020) ==
{{See also|COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom}}
[[File:Bond St Station on Oxford Street London UK Lockdown COVID 19.jpg|alt=Empty street outside of a London Underground station.|thumb|[[Bond Street tube station]] in [[COVID-19 pandemic in London|London]] during the first nationwide lockdown in May 2020.]]The slogan "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" was first suggested internally in a government conference call on 19 March, days before they imposed a full national lockdown.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} The slogan was introduced concurrently with the national lockdown imposed on 23 March, ordering the public against undergoing non-essential travel and ordering many public amenities to close.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Essential travel included food shopping, exercise, medical attention, and travelling for necessary work, which included those working in the healthcare, journalism, policing, and food distribution industries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Press Association Reporters |title=Coronavirus: Timeline of key events since UK was put into lockdown six months ago |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-uk-timeline-lockdown-boris-johnson-pubs-test-and-trace-vaccine-b547630.html |website=The Independent |date=23 September 2020 |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=31 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131025135/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-uk-timeline-lockdown-boris-johnson-pubs-test-and-trace-vaccine-b547630.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  To ensure that the lockdown was obeyed, all shops selling "non-essential goods", as well as playgrounds, libraries, and places of worship, were to be closed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mitha |first1=Sam |title=U.K. COVID-19 Diary: Policy and Impacts |journal=National Tax Journal |date=2020 |volume=73 |issue=3 |pages=852 |doi=10.17310/ntj.2020.3.10|s2cid=225218419 }}</ref> Gatherings of more than two people in public were also banned, including social events, such as weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 23 March 2020 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020 |website=gov.uk |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609221414/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[stay-at-home order]] was announced by the Prime Minister, [[Boris Johnson]], in a [[Ministerial Broadcast|television broadcast]]. It was initially expected to last at least three weeks, superseding the government's guidance for the public to go about their normal lives while remembering to wash their hands thoroughly.<ref name=TelegraphSlogan/> The "Stay Home" slogan appeared on the lecterns that speakers stood behind at the press conferences. It was often seen in capital letters, on a yellow background, with a red and yellow tape border. The government commissioned and broadcast millions of radio, television,<ref name=TelegraphSlogan>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/01/story-behind-stay-home-protect-nhs-save-lives/|title=The story behind 'Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives' – the slogan that was 'too successful'|work=The Telegraph|last1=Hope|first1=Christopher|last2=Dixon|first2=Hayley|date=1 May 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=16 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016104839/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/01/story-behind-stay-home-protect-nhs-save-lives/|url-status=live}}</ref> newspaper and social media adverts. These were often accompanied by photographs of healthcare workers wearing [[personal protective equipment]], including face masks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-02/stay-at-home-or-people-will-die-government-launches-new-coronavirus-ad-blitz|title=Government launches new coronavirus advert with stay at home or 'people will die' message|work=ITV News|date=2 April 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003435/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-02/stay-at-home-or-people-will-die-government-launches-new-coronavirus-ad-blitz|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 March, a 20,000-strong military task force, named the [[COVID Support Force]], was launched to provide support to public services and civilian authorities. Two military operations — [[Operation Rescript]] and [[Operation Broadshare]] — commenced to address the outbreak within the United Kingdom and its overseas territories.<ref name="COVIDSupportForce">{{cite news |title=Broadshare And Rescript: What Are The UK's Coronavirus Military Operations? |url=https://www.forces.net/news/broadshare-and-rescript-what-are-uks-coronavirus-military-operations |access-date=28 September 2020 |agency=Forces News |date=19 March 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001132817/https://www.forces.net/news/broadshare-and-rescript-what-are-uks-coronavirus-military-operations |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:GOV.UK COVID-19 text.png|thumb|alt=GOV.UK CORONAVIRUS ALERT. New rules in force now: you must stay at home. More info and exemptions at gov.uk/coronavirus Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives. |UK Government advisory SMS message, 24 March 2020]]
On 24 March, all major mobile telephony providers, acting upon a government request, sent out an [[SMS message]] to each of their customers, with advice on staying isolated.<ref name="BBC-52017451">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52017451|title=Coronavirus: Mobile networks send 'stay at home' text|last1=Cellan-Jones|first1=Rory|date=24 March 2020|website=[[BBC News]]|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528114354/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52017451|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first ever use of the facility.<ref name="BBC-52017451" /> Although the government in 2013 endorsed the use of [[Cell Broadcast]] to send official [[Emergency population warning|emergency messages]] to all mobile phones, and has tested such a system, it has never actually been implemented. Backer [[Toby Harris]] said the government had not yet agreed upon who would fund and govern such a system.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Waterson|first=Jim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/government-ignored-advice-set-up-uk-emergency-alert-system|title=Government ignored advice to set up UK emergency alert system|date=23 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323234631/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/government-ignored-advice-set-up-uk-emergency-alert-system|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sweney|first=Mark|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-mobile-firms-asked-to-alert-britons-to-heed-coronavirus-lockdown|title=UK mobile firms asked to alert Britons to heed coronavirus lockdown|date=24 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324075922/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-mobile-firms-asked-to-alert-britons-to-heed-coronavirus-lockdown|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that ministers had discussed but been divided on banning international arrivals from countries most affected by COVID-19 (particularly [[COVID-19 pandemic in Iran|Iran]], [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|the United States]]) altogether in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rayner|first=Gordon|date=26 March 2020|title=Priti Patel in row with Boris Johnson over closing Britain's borders to keep coronavirus at bay|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/26/priti-patel-row-boris-johnson-closing-britains-borders-keep/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326230427/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/26/priti-patel-row-boris-johnson-closing-britains-borders-keep/ |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 January 2022|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> In early 2021, Home Secretary [[Priti Patel]] said that she had advocated for UK borders to be closed at the time.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=20 January 2021|title=Priti Patel says she wanted UK borders shut last March|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/20/priti-patel-says-she-wanted-uk-borders-shut-last-march-over-covid|access-date=10 January 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

On 27 March, Johnson said he had contracted coronavirus and was self-isolating, and that he would continue to lead the government's response to coronavirus through [[Videotelephony|video conference]].<ref name="Boris">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52060791|title=PM Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus|date=27 March 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528034530/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52060791|url-status=live}}</ref> On the evening of 5{{nbsp}}April the Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52177125|title=Boris Johnson in hospital over virus symptoms|date=6 April 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=15 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415132842/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52177125|url-status=live}}</ref> The next day he was moved to the [[intensive care unit]] at [[St Thomas' Hospital]], and [[First Secretary of State]] [[Dominic Raab]] deputised for him.<ref name=BorisJohnsonICU>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-downing-street-6-april-2020 |title=Statement from Downing Street: 6 April 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406222925/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-downing-street-6-april-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 April 2020, Hancock warned that all outdoor exercise in England could be banned in response to COVID-19 if people did not follow social distancing rules, saying: "So my message is really clear. If you don't want us to have to take the step to ban exercise of all forms outside of your own home then you've got to follow the rules and the vast majority of people are following the rules."<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 April 2020|title=Outdoor exercise could be banned if Britons continue to flout lockdown rules, government warns|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-lockdown-break-rules-exercise-ban-a9447896.html|access-date=29 November 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

== Lifting the first lockdown and regional restrictions (April–September 2020) ==
In mid-April, a member of the Cabinet told ''The Telegraph'' that there was no exit plan yet.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/17/cabinet-ministers-admit-no-lockdown-exit-plan-wait-boris-johnsons/ 'Cabinet ministers admit there is no lockdown exit plan as they wait for Boris Johnson's return'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919124716/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/17/cabinet-ministers-admit-no-lockdown-exit-plan-wait-boris-johnsons/ |date=19 September 2020 }}, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 16 April 2020.</ref> Several members of the British government stated that it was not possible to draw up a definitive plan on how to exit lockdown as it is based on scientific advice.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52287920 |title=Coronavirus: Labour calls for lockdown exit strategy this week |work=[[BBC News]] |date=15 April 2020 |access-date=8 May 2020 |archive-date=5 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505005729/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52287920 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April, the Scottish government published plans to pursue a [[zero-COVID]] "elimination" strategy, in contrast with the rest of the UK, and expanded a "test, trace, isolate support" system.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal|last1=Sridhar|first1=Devi|last2=Chen|first2=Adriel|date=6 July 2020|title=Why Scotland's slow and steady approach to covid-19 is working|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2669%20%20%20%20%20%20%20|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=370|pages=m2669|doi=10.1136/bmj.m2669|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32631899|s2cid=220347771 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:UK-lockdown+lifting.png|thumb|350px|New COVID-19 cases and deaths in the UK, with the dates of lockdown and its partial lifting. This shows both the COVID-19 death figures confirmed by tests and the figures registered by three authorities]]
In early May, research was published which concluded that if the most vulnerable (the elderly and those with certain underlying illnesses) were [[Cocooning (behaviour)|completely shielded]], the lockdown could mostly be lifted, avoiding "a huge economic, social and health cost", without significantly increasing severe infections and deaths.<ref>{{Cite document|url=https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.04.20090597v1|title=Segmentation and shielding of the most vulnerable members of the population as elements of an exit strategy from COVID-19 lockdown|first1=Bram A. D. van|last1=Bunnik|display-authors=etal|date=8 May 2020|work=medRxiv|pages=2020.05.04.20090597|via=medrxiv.org|doi=10.1101/2020.05.04.20090597|s2cid=218939156|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918000818/https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.04.20090597v1|url-status=live|hdl=20.500.11820/99054ca0-fb4b-4ba8-8362-aefa89c68b8f|hdl-access=free}}</ref> It also recommended regular testing and [[contact tracing]].<ref name="bbc20200505">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52542108 |title=Coronavirus: 'Segment and shield' way to lift UK lockdown now |work=[[BBC News]] |date=5 May 2020 |access-date=27 May 2020 |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519010126/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52542108 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbc20200507">{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52543692|title= Coronavirus: Is it time to free the healthy from restrictions?|work= [[BBC News]]|date= 7 May 2020|access-date= 7 October 2020|archive-date= 19 September 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200919150226/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52543692|url-status= live}}</ref>

On 8 May the Welsh government relaxed restrictions on exercise and allowed some [[garden centre]]s and [[Recycling in the United Kingdom|recycling facilities]] would reopen.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52584690|title = 'Modest' changes announced to lockdown in Wales|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 8 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 15 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201015054708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52584690|url-status = live}}</ref> Nicola Sturgeon stated that she wanted all nations to make changes together as it would give the public a clear and consistent message.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52574427|title = 'Catastrophic mistake' to change lockdown message|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 7 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 31 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031114859/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52574427|url-status = live}}</ref> Boris Johnson acknowledged different areas move at slightly different speeds with actions based on the science for each area.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52585373|title = UK 'should not expect big changes' to lockdown|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 8 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 8 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200908045305/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52585373|url-status = live}}</ref> Scotland announced a similar measure in terms on exercise as Wales, to go live on the same day.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/first-minister-lifts-exercise-rule-scotlands-lockdown-2848321 | title=First Minister lifts exercise rule in Scotland's lockdown | date=10 May 2020 | work=The Scotsman | access-date=7 October 2020 | archive-date=3 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003044415/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/first-minister-lifts-exercise-rule-scotlands-lockdown-2848321 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Scottish government generally pursued a slower lifting of lockdown measures than the rest of the UK over the following months.<ref name=":13" />
[[File:Hands, Face, Space (Johnson press conference).png|thumb|Boris Johnson with the "Hands, Face, Space" slogan introduced in September]]
Johnson made a second televised address on 10 May, changing the slogan from "Stay at Home" to "Stay Alert". "Stay Home" was reported as being at the core of the government's communications until being phased out around this time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/single-minded-unavoidable-government-honed-stay-home-message/1682448|title='Single-minded and unavoidable': how the government honed 'Stay home' message|work=Campaign Live|last1=Lee|first1=Jeremy|last2=Spainer|first2=Gideon|date=11 May 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019133950/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/single-minded-unavoidable-government-honed-stay-home-message/1682448|url-status=live}}</ref> The full "Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives" would later be followed by "Hands, Face, Space".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-boris-johnson-road-map-covid19-stay-home-a4436346.html|title=Boris Johnson to replace 'stay home' message with 'stay alert' as he delivers lockdown 'road map' address to nation|work=Evening Standard|last=Brewis|first=Harriet|date=9 May 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018002751/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-boris-johnson-road-map-covid19-stay-home-a4436346.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/09/hands-face-space-uk-government-to-relaunch-covid-19-slogan|title='Hands. Face. Space': UK government to relaunch Covid-19 slogan|work=The Guardian|last=Boseley|first=Sarah|date=9 September 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=15 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015000807/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/09/hands-face-space-uk-government-to-relaunch-covid-19-slogan|url-status=live}}</ref> Johnson also outlined on 10 May address how restrictions might end and introduced a COVID-19 warning system.<ref name="gov20200510">{{Cite web|title=PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 10 May 2020|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|language=en|access-date=10 May 2020|archive-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913043119/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally measures were announced stating that the public could exercise more than once a day in outdoor spaces such as parks, could interact with others whilst maintaining social distance and drive to other destinations from 13 May in England.<ref name="Guardian England">{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/10/boris-johnson-coronavirus-lockdown-shops-schools-june-reopening|title = Boris Johnson's lockdown release condemned as divisive, confusing and vague|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 10 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 22 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200922030747/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/10/boris-johnson-coronavirus-lockdown-shops-schools-june-reopening|url-status = live}}</ref> This was [[news leak|leaked]] to the press<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/05/government-s-stay-alert-slogan-working-too-hard | title=The government's "Stay Alert" slogan is working too hard | website=New Statesman | date=11 May 2020 | access-date=7 October 2020 | archive-date=22 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022065550/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/05/government-s-stay-alert-slogan-working-too-hard | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://news.stv.tv/politics/uk-ministers-asked-not-to-use-stay-alert-slogan-in-scotland?top|title = UK ministers asked not to use 'stay alert' slogan in Scotland|date = 10 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 11 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200811080134/https://news.stv.tv/politics/uk-ministers-asked-not-to-use-stay-alert-slogan-in-scotland?top|url-status = live}}</ref> and criticised by leaders and ministers of the four nations, who said it would cause confusion.<ref name="bbc20200510">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52605819 |title=Coronavirus: Minister defends 'stay alert' advice amid backlash |work=[[BBC News]] |date=10 May 2020 |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006085513/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52605819/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales said they would not adopt the new slogan.<ref name="Guardian NI">{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/12/northern-ireland-joins-rejection-boris-johnson-stay-alert-slogan|title = Northern Ireland joins in rejection of Boris Johnson's 'stay alert' slogan|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 12 May 2020|last1 = Stewart|first1 = Heather|last2 = Carroll|first2 = Rory|last3 = Brooks|first3 = Libby|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 19 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200919215029/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/12/northern-ireland-joins-rejection-boris-johnson-stay-alert-slogan|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/northern-ireland-rejects-uk-governments-new-stay-alert-coronavirus-slogan-184906|title=Northern Ireland joins Wales and Scotland in rejecting UK government's new 'stay alert' COVID-19 slogan|first=Jack|last=Beresford|website=The Irish Post|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921045225/https://www.irishpost.com/news/northern-ireland-rejects-uk-governments-new-stay-alert-coronavirus-slogan-184906|url-status=live}}</ref> Welsh Health Minister [[Vaughan Gething]] said that the four nations had not agreed to it, and the Scottish Health Secretary [[Jeane Freeman]] said that they were not consulted on the change.<ref name="stay at home">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=James |title=Coronavirus: Wales' stay home advice 'has not changed' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52605939 |access-date=11 May 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=26 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526141558/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52605939 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-10/scotland-will-not-use-pm-s-new-stay-alert-slogan-says-nicola-sturgeon/|title=Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to stick with 'Stay home' message rather {{sic|th|en|nolink=y|expecting=than}} new slogan|work=ITV News|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604172728/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-10/scotland-will-not-use-pm-s-new-stay-alert-slogan-says-nicola-sturgeon/|url-status=live}}</ref> Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that the new message "lacked clarity".<ref name="sky20200510">{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Leaders unite against PM's 'stay alert' slogan |url=https://news.sky.com/story/stay-alert-the-governments-new-coronavirus-slogan-falls-flat-11985891 |access-date=11 May 2020 |publisher=Sky News |date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603045545/https://news.sky.com/story/stay-alert-the-governments-new-coronavirus-slogan-falls-flat-11985891 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Guardian'' were told that neither Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, nor Sir Patrick Vallance, government's chief scientific adviser, had given the go-ahead for the new slogan. Witty later said at a Downing Street press conference that "Neither Sir Patrick nor I consider ourselves to be comms experts, so we're not going to get involved in actual details of comms strategies, but we are involved in the overall strategic things and we have been at every stage." The slogan was criticised by members{{who|date=May 2020}} of SAGE.<ref>{{cite news |author=Denis Campbell Matthew Weaver and Ian Sample |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/top-experts-not-asked-approve-stay-alert-coronavirus-message-whitty-vallance |title=Top experts not asked to approve 'stay alert' coronavirus message |work=The Guardian |date=11 May 2020 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512040153/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/top-experts-not-asked-approve-stay-alert-coronavirus-message-whitty-vallance |url-status=live }}</ref> Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "We mustn't squander progress by easing up too soon or sending mixed messages. People will die unnecessarily."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18439654.if-dont-stay-home-now-people-will-die-nicola-sturgeon-refuses-adopt-vague-imprecise-stay-alert-slogan/ |title='If we don't stay home now, more people will die' Nicola Sturgeon refuses to adopt 'vague and imprecise' Stay Alert slogan |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=13 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513064729/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18439654.if-dont-stay-home-now-people-will-die-nicola-sturgeon-refuses-adopt-vague-imprecise-stay-alert-slogan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The next day the government published a 60-page roadmap of what exiting lockdown could look like.<ref name=HMG_plan>{{Cite web |title=Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=May 2020 |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=11 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511131606/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy |url-status=live }}</ref> A document was additionally published outlining nine points which applied to England, with an update of measures from 13 May.<ref name="Safe and alert">{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing | title=Staying alert and safe (Social distancing) | publisher=Government of the United Kingdom | date=11 May 2020 | access-date=7 October 2020 | archive-date=11 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211063331/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing | url-status=live }}</ref> As the rules between England and Wales were different in terms of exercise, many officials warned against the public driving to destinations in Wales for exercise.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52614204|title = Do not drive from England to Wales to exercise|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 11 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 5 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201005231124/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52614204|url-status = live}}</ref> The [[Counsel General for Wales]], [[Jeremy Miles]], said visitors could be fined if they drove into Wales for leisure.<ref name="stay at home"/> Sturgeon gave a similar warning about driving into Scotland.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52616029|title = Non-essential trips to Scotland 'could break law'|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 11 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 9 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200909001254/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52616029|url-status = live}}</ref> She additionally said that politicians and the media must be clear about what they are saying for different parts of the UK after Johnson's address did not state which measures only applied to England.<ref name="Guardian England"/><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18440429.sturgeon-tells-press-scotland-not-england/ | title=Nicola Sturgeon pleads with media not to confuse England with whole of UK | work=[[The National (Scotland)]] | date=11 May 2020 | access-date=7 October 2020 | archive-date=28 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728235241/https://www.thenational.scot/news/18440429.sturgeon-tells-press-scotland-not-england/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52605959|title = Sturgeon: Stay at home message remains in Scotland|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 10 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 6 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201006085521/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52605959/|url-status = live}}</ref> On 17 May, Labour leader Keir Starmer called for a 'four-nation' unified approach.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52683789|title = Starmer calls for 'four-nation' approach to virus|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 17 May 2020|last1 = Williams|first1 = James|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 1 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201001190808/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52683789|url-status = live}}</ref> [[Mayor of Greater Manchester|Greater Manchester Mayor]] [[Andy Burnham]] said that there was a risk of national unity in ignoring the different demands of regions in England.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52695348| title=Ignoring the North will 'fracture national unity'| work=[[BBC News]]| date=17 May 2020| access-date=7 October 2020| archive-date=7 September 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907034724/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52695348| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/16/are-we-all-in-this-together-it-doesnt-look-like-it-from-the-regions|title = Are we all in this together? It doesn't look like it from the regions|date = 16 May 2020|first = Andy|last = Burnham|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 1 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201001101936/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/16/are-we-all-in-this-together-it-doesnt-look-like-it-from-the-regions|url-status = live}}</ref> Boris Johnson acknowledged the frustrations in some of the rules and said that "complicated messages were needed during the next phase of the response and as restrictions changed".<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52694623|title = PM accepts 'frustration' over lockdown rules|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 17 May 2020|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 21 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201021002517/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52694623|url-status = live}}</ref>

[[Contact tracing]] was resumed at different points in each of the four nations. Pilot tracing began on 27 April in Northern Ireland, 28 May in Scotland and England, and 1 June in Wales. By 18 June 92% of all positive cases and their contacts were being traced within 24 hours in Northern Ireland.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal|last=Baraniuk|first=Chris|date=18 June 2020|title=How Northern Ireland relaunched contact tracing for covid-19 a month before the rest of the UK|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2373|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=369|pages=m2373|doi=10.1136/bmj.m2373|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32554703|s2cid=219722040 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The [[Northern Ireland Executive]] published a five-stage plan for exiting lockdown on 12 May, but unlike the plans announced in England the plans did not include any dates of when steps may be taken.<ref name="bbc-2020-05-12">{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52624048|title = NI five-step plan for easing lockdown published|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 12 May 2020|last1 = McCormack|first1 = Jayne|access-date = 7 October 2020|archive-date = 1 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200701114922/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52624048|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="executiveoffice-ni1">{{cite web|url=https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/execoffice/execuitveour-approach-to-decision-making.pdf|title=CORONAVIRUS EXECUTIVE APPROACH TO DECISION-MAKING|date=12 May 2020|publisher=Northern Ireland Executive|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=27 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527152544/https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/execoffice/execuitveour-approach-to-decision-making.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Guardian NI" /> An announcement was made on 14 May that garden centres and recycling centres would reopen on Monday in the first steps taken to end the lockdown in Northern Ireland.<ref name="bbc-2020-05-14">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52666472|title=Coronavirus: First moves to ease NI lockdown can start next week|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 May 2020|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=8 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908103440/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52666472|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bbc-2020-05-12"/>

On 15 May, Mark Drakeford announced a [[Traffic light rating system|traffic light plan]] to remove the lockdown restrictions in Wales, which would start no earlier than 29 May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-wales-exit-lockdown-plan-roadmap-traffic-light-system-a9516386.html|title=Wales publishes lockdown exit plan using 'traffic light system'|date=15 May 2020|work=The Independent|last=Ng|first=Kate|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113073017/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-wales-exit-lockdown-plan-roadmap-traffic-light-system-a9516386.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-wales-to-set-out-first-cautious-steps-to-relax-covid-19-lockdown-11988709|title=Coronavirus: Wales to set out 'first cautious steps' to relax COVID-19 lockdown|publisher=Sky News|date=15 May 2020|first=Alan|last=McGuinness|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920103633/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-wales-to-set-out-first-cautious-steps-to-relax-covid-19-lockdown-11988709|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 June 2020, a group of cross-party MPs wrote a letter to the government, urging them to consider a four-day working week for the UK after the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/20/cross-party-group-urges-chancellor-to-consider-four-day-week|title=Cross-party group urges chancellor to consider four-day week for UK|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=20 June 2020|access-date=20 June 2020|agency=Reuters|archive-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620172848/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/20/cross-party-group-urges-chancellor-to-consider-four-day-week|url-status=live}}</ref>

While nationwide lockdown measures were gradually relaxed throughout the summer, including a shift towards regional measures such as those instituted in Northern England in July,<ref name=northbans>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Visiting people at home banned in parts of northern England |work=BBC News |date=30 July 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53602362 |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730221109/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53602362 |url-status=live }}</ref> lockdown easing plans were delayed at the end of July due to rises in case numbers,<ref name=lockdowndelays>{{cite web |title=Covid-19 news: Rising cases in England delay easing of restrictions |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-rising-cases-in-england-delay-easing-of-restrictions |website=New Scientist |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802160103/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-rising-cases-in-england-delay-easing-of-restrictions/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and measures were increased once more following the resurgence of the virus nationwide starting in early September.<ref name=whatrulesbbc>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation rules? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729 |access-date=9 September 2020 |agency=BBC |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620032651/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=notsecondbbc>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: New virus measures 'not a second lockdown' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54093465 |access-date=9 September 2020 |agency=BBC |work=BBC News |date=9 September 2020 |archive-date=9 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909152446/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54093465 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 August the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Rishi Sunak]] urged people to return to offices, cafés and restaurants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rishi-sunak-londoners-return-work-save-economy-a4524841.html|title=Rishi Sunak urges Londoners to return to offices, cafes and restaurants in bid to revive economy|work=Evening Standard|last1=Cecil|first1=Nicholas|last2=Prynn|first2=Jonathan|date=14 August 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127105555/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rishi-sunak-londoners-return-work-save-economy-a4524841.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 August Boris Johnson launched a campaign emphasising the benefits to the public of returning to the office instead of working from home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/27/go-back-work-risk-losing-job-major-drive-launched-get-people/|title='Go back to work or risk losing your job': Major drive launched to get people returning to the office|work=The Telegraph|last1=Rayner|first1=Gordon|last2=Tominey|first2=Camilla|last3=Hymas|first3=Charles|date=27 August 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127010148/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/27/go-back-work-risk-losing-job-major-drive-launched-get-people/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 July 2020, the MPs urged the Prime Minister to clarify on wearing masks, after he hinted a day earlier that it could become compulsory to wear them in shops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boris Johnson urged to clarify message on wearing face masks in shops|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/11/boris-johnson-urged-to-clarify-message-on-wearing-face-masks-in-shops|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711101243/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/11/boris-johnson-urged-to-clarify-message-on-wearing-face-masks-in-shops|archive-date=11 July 2020|access-date=2 July 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2022}}

In August, Scottish First Minister [[Nicola Sturgeon]] advocated for the rest of the UK to adopt the [[zero-COVID]] approach that Scotland and [[COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]] were both pursuing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Torjesen|first=Ingrid|date=3 August 2020|title=Covid-19: Should the UK be aiming for elimination?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3071|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=370|pages=m3071|doi=10.1136/bmj.m3071|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32747404|s2cid=220922348 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

On 9 September 2020, the British government announced the banning of social gatherings of more than six people, which was to be implemented from 14 September, amidst rising cases of coronavirus. A £100 fine was initiated to be imposed on the people who fail to comply, doubling on each offence up to a maximum of £3,200.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/08/coronavirus-gatherings-of-more-than-six-to-be-banned-in-england |title= Coronavirus: gatherings of more than six to be banned in England |access-date= 8 September 2020 |website= The Guardian |date= 8 September 2020 |archive-date= 13 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003327/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/08/coronavirus-gatherings-of-more-than-six-to-be-banned-in-england |url-status= live }}</ref>

== Lockdowns 2 and 3 (October 2020 – July 2021) ==
{{Update|section|reason=Updated tier system should be included|date=January 2021}}
Boris Johnson chose not to follow his scientific advisers' advice on 21 September when he did not introduce a short "circuit-breaker" lockdown as advised by SAGE.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 October 2020|title=Johnson gambles by splitting from his scientists|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/af637ae6-0219-49f1-bce8-8bef4ef7000a|url-status=live|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204031340/https://www.ft.com/content/af637ae6-0219-49f1-bce8-8bef4ef7000a|archive-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> By 1 October 2020, around a quarter of the [[Demography of the United Kingdom|population]] of the United Kingdom, about 16.8 million people, were subject to local lockdown measures with some [[COVID-19 local lockdown regulations in England|23% of people in England]], 76% of people in Wales and 32% of people in Scotland being in local lockdown.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 October 2020|title=Covid rules: How much of the UK is now under some sort of lockdown?|work=BBC News|location=UK|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52934822|url-status=live|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001165002/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52934822|archive-date=1 October 2020}}</ref> On 12 October, Johnson unveiled a [[First COVID-19 tier regulations in England|three-tier approach]] for England, in which local authorities were divided into different levels of restrictions.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Elgot|first2=Jessica|last3=Pidd|first3=Helen|date=12 October 2020|title=Boris Johnson unveils three-tier Covid restrictions for England|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/boris-johnson-unveils-three-tier-covid-restrictions-for-england|url-status=live|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003352/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/boris-johnson-unveils-three-tier-covid-restrictions-for-england|archive-date=13 July 2021}}</ref> An article in ''The Lancet'' suggested the localised restrictions were ineffective at reducing the spread of the disease.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last1=Gurdasani|first1=Deepti|last2=Bear|first2=Laura|last3=Bogaert|first3=Debby|last4=Burgess|first4=Rochelle A.|last5=Busse|first5=Reinhard|last6=Cacciola|first6=Roberto|last7=Charpak|first7=Yves|last8=Colbourn|first8=Tim|last9=Drury|first9=John|last10=Friston|first10=Karl|last11=Gallo|first11=Valentina|author-link3=Debby Bogaert|date=5 December 2020|title=The UK needs a sustainable strategy for COVID-19|journal=The Lancet|language=English|volume=396|issue=10265|pages=1800–1801|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32350-3|issn=0140-6736|pmid=33181080|pmc=7834725 }}</ref>

The Northern Ireland Executive introduced what it termed a "circuit breaker" lockdown on 16 October, lasting four weeks, across [[COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]. Schools were also closed for two of these weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus: Northern Ireland set to impose 'circuit breaker' lockdown for four weeks|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-northern-ireland-set-to-impose-circuit-breaker-lockdown-for-four-weeks-12103640|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Sky News|language=en}}</ref> Welsh First Minister [[Mark Drakeford]] announced a "firebreak lockdown" would be introduced across [[COVID-19 pandemic in Wales|Wales]] between 23 October and 9 November in response to rising infection rates. The [[stay-at-home order]] forbade non-essential travel and closed many economic sectors.<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 October 2020|title=Covid: Wales to go into 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54598136|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> [[Nicola Sturgeon]] also announced a new four-tier regional restriction system to apply across [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland|Scotland]] on 29 October.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 October 2020|title=Covid-19: Nicola Sturgeon unveils Scotland's restriction levels|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54731245|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref>

Johnson announced in a press conference on 31 October that England would enter a second national lockdown which would go on for four weeks. He said that to prevent a "medical and moral disaster" for the NHS, the lockdown would begin on 5 November when non-essential shops and hospitality will close, but, unlike the first lockdown, schools, colleges and universities will stay open.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54763956|title=Covid-19: PM announces four-week England lockdown|work=BBC News|date=31 October 2020|access-date=31 October 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031162204/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54763956|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 November, the government published a [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020|new enhanced tier system]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local restriction tiers: what you need to know|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know|access-date=23 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123160105/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know|url-status=live}}</ref> which applied in England following the end of the second lockdown period on 2 December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan/covid-19-winter-plan|title=COVID-19 Winter Plan|work=GOV.UK|date=2 December 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128163826/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan/covid-19-winter-plan|url-status=live}}</ref> On 16 December Johnson said that restrictions would be relaxed for five days over the [[Christmas]] period.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-christmas-covid-restrictions-b1775062.html|title='Have a merry little Christmas': Boris Johnson urges Britons to keep festive celebrations small|work=The Independent|last1=Devlin|first1=Kate|last2=Woodcock|first2=Andrew|date=16 December 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201174145/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-christmas-covid-restrictions-b1775062.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same day, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that a new COVID-19 strain had been discovered, which was named [[Variant of Concern 202012/01|VUI-202012/01]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wise|first=Jacqui|date=16 December 2020|title=Covid-19: New coronavirus variant is identified in UK|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4857|journal=[[The BMJ]]|language=en|volume=371|pages=m4857|doi=10.1136/bmj.m4857|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33328153|s2cid=229291003|doi-access=free|access-date=29 January 2021|archive-date=20 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220154828/https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4857|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Leicester coronavirus tier 4 alert warning, Horesefair street.jpg|thumb|A sign in [[Leicester]] displaying a stay-at-home message under the government's [[Second COVID-19 tier regulations in England|"Tier 4" restrictions]] in January 2021.]]
On 16 December, the [[Welsh Government]] announced a full lockdown would be introduced immediately after the 5-day Christmas period (23–27 December) on 28 December.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|date=16 December 2020|title=Covid: Two household limit at Christmas to be made law in Wales|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55336452|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> The following day, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to a six-week lockdown to begin on Boxing Day.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 December 2020|title=Coronavirus: NI facing six-week lockdown from 26 December|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55349545|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> On 19 December 2020, it was announced that Wales would go into a full lockdown (or "tier 4" restrictions) immediately, effective from midnight on 20 December. No end date was announced.<ref name=":15" />

On 20 December Johnson said that the planned Christmas relaxations had been cancelled for [[London]] and [[South East England]] and limited to a single day for the rest of England as a result of the discovery of the strain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-tier-4-lockdown-announced-for-london-and-most-of-south-east-with-christmas-bubbles-cancelled-for-millions-12167367|title=COVID-19: London and most of South East enter Tier 4 lockdown – with Christmas bubbles cancelled for millions|work=Sky News|last=Heffer|first=Greg|date=21 December 2020|access-date=29 January 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118094811/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-tier-4-lockdown-announced-for-london-and-most-of-south-east-with-christmas-bubbles-cancelled-for-millions-12167367|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies|SAGE]] advised the government to call a third national lockdown on 22 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wickham|first=Alex|date=28 December 2020|title=UK government scientists tell Boris Johnson to close schools in January|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-uk-government-scientists-close-schools-january-boris-johnson/|url-status=live|access-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128152418/https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-uk-government-scientists-close-schools-january-boris-johnson/|archive-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> Nicola Sturgeon announced a lockdown in Scotland on 4 January 2021, to come into force that night.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 January 2021|title=Scotland to go into full lockdown at midnight, Sturgeon announces|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/04/scotland-to-go-into-full-lockdown-at-midnight-sturgeon-announces|access-date=11 January 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In a live broadcast later the same day, Johnson confirmed that England would enter a lockdown from 5 January. All travel and gatherings were banned, except for essential reasons, such as essential work, food shopping and daily exercise. Inter-household mixing was only permitted outside for essential exercise. All schools and universities were closed, with remote learning used instead. Exams were also cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 January 2021|title=National lockdown: Stay at Home|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104200338/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home|archive-date=4 January 2021|access-date=4 January 2021|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> The independent [[Resolution Foundation]] think tank suggested that delaying the third lockdown to January rather than implementing it in December had contributed to 27,000 more deaths in England.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=18 March 2021|title=Delaying England's winter lockdown 'caused up to 27,000 extra Covid deaths'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/18/delaying-englands-winter-lockdown-caused-up-to-27000-extra-covid-deaths|access-date=5 October 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:COVID-19 press conference - 12 January 2021 (50828388741).jpg|thumb|[[Jason Leitch]] and [[Nicola Sturgeon]] deliver a COVID-19 press conference in January 2021.]]

[[Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic|Restrictions on incoming international travellers]] were introduced in January 2021, including a negative test prior to departure<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 January 2021|title=Covid-19: Travellers to UK will need to show negative test result|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55582116|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> and all travel corridors were closed on Monday 18 January, requiring all international travellers to self-isolate for 10 days.<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 January 2021|title=Covid: UK to close all travel corridors from Monday|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55681861|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>

==Further developments (July 2021–)==
{{Update|section|reason=Dates for easing of restrictions should be included|date=February 2021}}
Restrictions were subsequently eased in [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021|incremental steps]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

As the [[COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom|vaccination programme expanded]], the government lifted most remaining restrictions in England on 19 July 2021, as the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]] was driving a third wave of infections. In England, [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] became recommended rather than mandatory in certain settings, limits on gatherings were removed, and certain rules on nightclubs, restaurants and bars were lifted. However, [[Transport for London]] maintained face mask mandates.<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 July 2021|title=19 July: England Covid restrictions ease as PM urges caution|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57882029|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The governments of Scotland and Wales lifted most remaining rules in early August, but both maintained existing face mask rules.<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 August 2021|title=Covid: Pubs busy as most rules end in Wales|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58086808|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 August 2021|title=Covid in Scotland: 'Right moment' to lift restrictions, says Sturgeon|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58136277|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref>

In December 2021, proposals referred to as "Plan B" were put forward to renew work from home advice and mandatory face masks in certain settings following increased incidence in the UK and elsewhere of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Torjesen|first=Ingrid|date=9 December 2021|title=Covid restrictions tighten as omicron cases double every two to three days|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3051|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=375|pages=n3051|doi=10.1136/bmj.n3051|issn=1756-1833|pmid=34887256|s2cid=245007272 |doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies|SAGE]] advocated for further restrictions to be introduced to mitigate the impact of the variant on the NHS given the expectation of staff shortages, but these were not adopted.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal|last=Iacobucci|first=Gareth|date=21 December 2021|title=Covid-19: Government ignores scientists' advice to tighten restrictions to combat omicron|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3131|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=375|pages=n3131|doi=10.1136/bmj.n3131|issn=1756-1833|pmid=34933906|s2cid=245355478 |doi-access=free}}</ref> On 26 December, social distancing rules, capacity limits in certain indoor venues, closure of nightclubs and advice on limiting household mixing were introduced in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland by their respective devolved governments; further measures were not introduced in England.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COVID-19: New restrictions come into force in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-new-restrictions-come-into-force-in-wales-scotland-and-northern-ireland-12503809|access-date=10 January 2022|website=Sky News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=26 December 2021|title=What are the new Covid rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/what-are-the-new-covid-rules-in-wales-scotland-and-northern-ireland|access-date=10 January 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

=== Living with Covid-19 ===
{{See also|Living with COVID-19}}

In January 2022, ''[[New Scientist]]'' reported ''[[Sky News]]''-sourced speculation that, "within the coming weeks", the government was expected to announce plans to transition to treating COVID-19 as [[Endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]] in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Covid-19 news: Ministers plan for UK to 'live with covid'|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-ministers-plan-for-uk-to-live-with-covid/|url-status=live|access-date=10 January 2022|website=New Scientist|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110125917/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-ministers-plan-for-uk-to-live-with-covid/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 }}</ref>

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in February 2022 that remaining restrictions would end in England, under a "[[Living with COVID-19|Living with COVID]]" plan. This includes removing the requirement for infected people to [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020|self-isolate]], reduced PCR testing, and for [[COVID-19 rapid antigen test|rapid antigen tests]] no longer to be free.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Landler |first1=Mark |date=20 February 2022 |title=Queen Elizabeth Tests Positive for Coronavirus, as England Is Poised to Relax Rules |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/20/world/europe/queen-elizabeth-covid-royal-family.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 2022 |title=Covid: Living with Covid plan will restore freedom, says Boris Johnson |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60455943 |access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>

The "living with COVID" plan was released on 24 February 2022, setting out guidelines intended to manage the prevalence and impact of the virus in a similar way to the management of other respiratory illnesses.<ref name="living">Cabinet Office, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19 COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19], updated 23 February 2022, accessed 28 February 2022 {{OGL-attribution|version=3.0}}</ref> This approach involves:
* removing domestic restrictions while encouraging safer behaviours through public health advice, in common with longstanding ways of managing most other respiratory illnesses
* protecting people most vulnerable to COVID-19: vaccination guided by [[Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation]] (JCVI) advice, and deploying targeted testing
* maintaining resilience: ongoing surveillance, contingency planning and the ability to reintroduce key capabilities such as [[mass vaccination]] and testing in an emergency
* securing innovations and opportunities from the COVID-19 response, including investment in [[life sciences]].

[[COVID-19 vaccine|Vaccines]] underpin all of these principles, which from February 2022 "form the basis of the Government's strategy for living with COVID-19".<ref name="living" />

The legal requirement for people to self-isolate following a positive test was removed, although people who test positive continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.<ref name="living" />

== Vaccination strategy ==
{{Excerpt|COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom}}

== Public relations ==
{{Anchor|messaging}}

On 5 March 2020, the cross-government [[counter disinformation unit]] was set up to analyse and respond to narratives and social media posts surrounding COVID.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2022 |title=Written question to Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – Coronavirus: Disinformation |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2022-01-06.98962.h |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=TheyWorkForYou |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2020, according to WhatsApp messages released by the [[The Daily Telegraph|''Daily Telegraph'']] in 2023 as part of the [[Lockdown Files]], Health Secretary [[Matt Hancock]] and his media advisor Damon Poole discussed when to release information about the new variant of COVID-19, considering the effect that it would have on the right wing media, the Mayor of London [[Sadiq Khan]], and behaviour change amongst the public.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-03-04 |title=Matt Hancock's plan to 'frighten the pants off everyone' about Covid |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/04/project-fear-covid-lockdown-files-matt-hancock-whatsapp/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In January 2021, a public messaging campaign ''[[Can you look them in the eyes?]]'' was deployed featuring adverts showing close-up facial shots of a number of doctors, healthcare workers and COVID patients wearing [[Oxygen mask|oxygen masks]], and asks people if they can "look them in the eyes" and tell them they are doing everything they can to stop the spread of the virus.<ref name="Indy">{{Cite web |date=22 January 2021 |title=Patients and NHS workers urge public to stay home in powerful new ad |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/covid-uk-tv-advert-nhs-staff-b1791448.html |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=The Independent}}</ref> Internal communications in the same month include messages from [[Simon Case]] saying guilt and fear were vital in messaging.<ref name=":22" />

==Financial responses==
[[File:Lord Street deserted, Liverpool.jpg|thumb|Many UK businesses were required to close their offices for a time during the pandemic]]
Following the lockdown being announced by the government after the COVID-19 virus reached the country, a financial package designed to help employers and businesses was announced.

As the pandemic generated a financial impact, the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Rishi Sunak]] was asked to rapidly act to help by the [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer|Shadow Chancellor]], [[John McDonnell]]. The acting leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], [[Ed Davey|Sir Ed Davey]], said that people were being unfairly "hung out to dry", with "their dream jobs turning into nightmares" after hundreds of MPs contacted the Chancellor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/treasury-looks-again-at-coronavirus-scheme-loophole/ |title=Treasury urged to look again at coronavirus scheme loophole |work=Personnel Today |publisher=[[DVV Media Group]] |last=McCulloch |first=Adam |date=3 April 2020 |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405182940/https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/treasury-looks-again-at-coronavirus-scheme-loophole/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme===
{{main|Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme}}
The '''Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme''' (CJRS) was a [[furlough]] scheme announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 20 March 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51982005|title=Coronavirus: Government to pay up to 80% of workers' wages|work=BBC News|date=20 March 2020|access-date=20 March 2020|archive-date=27 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527144458/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51982005|url-status=live}}</ref> providing grants to employers to pay 80% of a staff wage and employment costs each month, up to a total of £2,500 per person per month. The scheme, backdated to 1 March, initially ran for three months.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Partington |first=Richard |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/20/government-pay-wages-jobs-coronavirus-rishi-sunak |title=UK government to pay 80% of wages for those not working in coronavirus crisis |date=20 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320180824/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/20/government-pay-wages-jobs-coronavirus-rishi-sunak |url-status=live }}</ref> Following a three-week extension of the countrywide lockdown the scheme was extended until the end of June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52323918|title=Government extends furlough scheme to pay staff|date=17 April 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=26 May 2020|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521031219/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52323918|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=Larry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/uk-government-extends-coronavirus-furlough-scheme-until-end-of-june |title=UK government extends furlough scheme until end of June |date=17 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420040528/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/uk-government-extends-coronavirus-furlough-scheme-until-end-of-june |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of May, the scheme was extended until the end of October 2020. After a [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020|second lockdown in England]] was announced on 31 October 2020, the scheme was extended further until 2 December 2020,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Furlough Scheme Extended and Further Economic Support announced|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced|access-date=31 October 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101015324/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> then, on 5 November 2020, to 31 March 2021.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme|access-date=5 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=5 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105124543/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme|url-status=live}}</ref> It was extended until 30 April 2021 on 17 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 December 2020|title=Rishi Sunak extends furlough scheme for another month|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55345392|access-date=17 December 2020|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003355/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55345392|url-status=live}}</ref> A day ahead of the [[March 2021 United Kingdom budget|2021 United Kingdom budget]] held on 3 March 2021, the scheme had been extended once more until 30 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 March 2021|title=Furlough support scheme to be extended until September|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56259094|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302222210/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56259094|url-status=live}}</ref>

Initially the scheme was only for workers who had been on their company's payroll on 28 February 2020; this was later changed to 19 March 2020, the day before the scheme was announced, making 200,000 additional workers eligible.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Osborne |first=Hilary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/apr/18/new-starters-furlough-loophole-britain-coronavirus-support-newly-hired-staff-seasonal-workers |title='We're heartbroken': new starters trapped by furlough loophole |date=18 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=21 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521203406/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/apr/18/new-starters-furlough-loophole-britain-coronavirus-support-newly-hired-staff-seasonal-workers |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Institute for Employment Studies]] estimated that 100,000 people could not be eligible for any type of government help as they started a new job too late to be included on the job retention scheme. Trade body [[UKHospitality]] informed the [[Treasury Select Committee]] that between 350,000 and 500,000 workers in its sector were not eligible.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/news/%E2%80%98falling-through-cracks%E2%80%99-or-%E2%80%98left-limbo%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-fixing-holes-our-safety-net |title='Falling through cracks' or 'left in limbo' – fixing the holes in our safety net |publisher=Institute for Employment Studies |date=27 April 2020 |first=Tony |last=Wilson |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524073802/https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/news/%E2%80%98falling-through-cracks%E2%80%99-or-%E2%80%98left-limbo%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-fixing-holes-our-safety-net |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52551618|title = Furlough boost 'makes no difference' to thousands|work = BBC News|date = 15 May 2020|last1 = Homer|first1 = Alex|access-date = 30 May 2020|archive-date = 17 May 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200517171333/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52551618|url-status = live}}</ref> On the first day of operation 140,000 companies applied to use the scheme.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Osborne |first1=Hilary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/apr/20/fears-of-flood-as-uks-covid-19-furlough-scheme-opens |title=140,000 UK companies apply for coronavirus job furlough scheme |date=20 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 April 2020 |last2=Kollewe |first2=Julia |archive-date=29 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529200525/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/apr/20/fears-of-flood-as-uks-covid-19-furlough-scheme-opens |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52137868|title=Coronavirus: 'I missed out on furlough payments by a day'|work=BBC News|last=Regan|first=Alex|date=5 April 2020|access-date=5 April 2020|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405002844/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52137868|url-status=live}}</ref>

The cost of the scheme had been estimated at £14 billion a month.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/12/uk-furlough-scheme-extended-rishi-sunak-coronavirus|title = UK furlough scheme extended until end of October|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 12 May 2020|last1 = Partington|first1 = Richard|access-date = 26 May 2020|archive-date = 26 May 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200526083910/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/12/uk-furlough-scheme-extended-rishi-sunak-coronavirus|url-status = live}}</ref> The decision to extend the job retention scheme was made to avoid or defer mass redundancies, company bankruptcies and potential unemployment levels not seen since the 1930s.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/02/business-leaders-extend-furlough-to-avoid-millions-of-job-losses|title = Business leaders: Extend furlough to avoid millions of job losses|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 2 May 2020|last1 = Helm|first1 = Toby|last2 = Inman|first2 = Phillip|access-date = 26 May 2020|archive-date = 26 May 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200526192838/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/02/business-leaders-extend-furlough-to-avoid-millions-of-job-losses|url-status = live}}</ref> The original scheme closed to new entrants from 30 June 2020, and as claims were made for staff at the end of a three-week period, the last date an employee could be furloughed for the first time was 10 June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Read|first1=Simon|date=29 May 2020|title=Furlough scheme to finish at end of October|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52853333|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529222310/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52853333|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 May 2020|title=Chancellor extends Self-Employment Support Scheme and confirms furlough next steps|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529214710/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/888764/Factsheet_for_SEISS_and_CJRS_schemes.pdf |title=Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Factsheet |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610155547/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/888764/Factsheet_for_SEISS_and_CJRS_schemes.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Heather|last2=Partington|first2=Richard|last3=Perraudin|first3=Frances|date=29 May 2020|title=Rishi Sunak confirms furlough scheme to be gradually withdrawn|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/29/rishi-sunak-confirms-coronavirus-furlough-scheme-to-be-gradually-withdrawn|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530093016/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/29/rishi-sunak-confirms-coronavirus-furlough-scheme-to-be-gradually-withdrawn|url-status=live}}</ref> By 27 May 2020, 8.4 million employees had been furloughed under the scheme.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 May 2020|title=UK furlough scheme now covers 8.4 million workers|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52819591|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529201856/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52819591|url-status=live}}</ref> On 31 October the scheme reopened to new entrants, and the claim period was reduced to seven days.<ref name=":0" /> By 18 October 2020 the scheme had cost £41.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 November 2020|title=Covid: How does the extended furlough scheme work?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52135342|access-date=7 November 2020|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106144528/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52135342|url-status=live}}</ref>

By 15 August 2020, 80,433 firms had returned £215,756,121 that had been claimed under the scheme, while other companies had claimed smaller amounts of grant cash on the next instalment to compensate for overpayment. [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]] officials believed that £3.5 billion may have been paid out in error or to fraudsters. [[Games Workshop]], [[Bunzl]], [[The Spectator|''The Spectator'' magazine]], [[Redrow plc|Redrow]], [[Barratt Developments]] and [[Taylor Wimpey]] were among the companies which returned all the furlough money they had claimed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54228890|title=Coronavirus: UK firms voluntarily return £215m in furlough cash|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2020|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922170306/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54228890|url-status=live}}</ref>

From July 2020 the scheme provided more flexibility, with employees able to return to part-time work without affecting eligibility, although employers now covered all wages and employment costs for the hours worked. In addition, from August 2020, [[National Insurance]] and pension contributions were to be paid by employers. Employer contributions rose to 10% of wages throughout September 2020 and 20% throughout October, before returning to the August arrangement from November 2020. Employer contributions returned to 10% in July 2021, then 20% in August and September 2021.

Following changes to the scheme announced at the end of May 2020, the director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said that being asked to pay wages when businesses had not been trading was an added pressure. The [[Federation of Small Businesses]] were surprised that the Chancellor had announced a tapering of the scheme when ending it.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52853499|title = Furlough pay ask 'another pressure on retailers'|work = BBC News|date = 29 May 2020|access-date = 30 May 2020|archive-date = 30 May 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200530210559/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52853499|url-status = live}}</ref> Northern Ireland's economy minister [[Diane Dodds]] said that changes to the scheme could be very difficult for some sectors uncertain about when they could reopen, particularly in the hospitality and retail sector, and finance minister [[Conor Murphy]] said that it was too early in the economic recovery.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52851132|title = Furlough changes could be 'difficult' for NI firms|work = BBC News|date = 29 May 2020|access-date = 30 May 2020|archive-date = 16 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200616055340/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52851132|url-status = live}}</ref>

===Job Retention Bonus===
At the end of July 2020, businesses were incentivised to keep on any employee brought back from furlough, by the government promising to pay businesses £1000 for every person they brought back and still had employed on 31 January 2021 as part of the '''Job Retention Bonus'''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-of-the-job-retention-bonus-announced|title=Further details of the Job Retention Bonus announced|publisher=GOV.UK|date=31 July 2020|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=30 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830120710/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-of-the-job-retention-bonus-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> Several companies stated that they would not be partaking in the scheme.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53465971|title=Rightmove and Compass say no to job retention bonus|work=BBC News|date=19 July 2020|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=5 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905205719/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53465971|url-status=live}}</ref> With the extension of the CJRS, this grant was longer paid from February 2021.<ref name=":1" />

===Job Support Scheme===
On 24 September 2020 the government announced a second scheme to protect jobs called the '''Job Support Scheme''', to top up the wages of employees who had had their hours reduced or whose employer had been legally required to close.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52135342|title=Job Support Scheme: What is changing after furlough?|work=BBC News|last=Lawrie|first=Eleanor|date=13 October 2020|access-date=24 September 2020|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923174439/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52135342|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54277943|title=Rishi Sunak's post-furlough plan: At-a-glance|work=BBC News|date=24 September 2020|access-date=24 September 2020|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924171804/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54277943|url-status=live}}</ref> This scheme was originally due to commence on 1 November 2020 after the CJRS was withdrawn at the end of October 2020. However, after subsequent extensions to the CJRS it was never implemented.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2021|title=COVID-19: Job Support Scheme (JSS) – on hold|url=https://www.rossmartin.co.uk/covid-19/4988-covid-19-job-support-scheme|url-status=live|access-date=30 September 2021|website=RossMartin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025075040/https://www.rossmartin.co.uk/covid-19/4988-covid-19-job-support-scheme |archive-date=25 October 2020 }}</ref>

The scheme was intended to be open for six months and eligibility would be reviewed after three months. Initially employees must have worked at least 20% of their contractual hours. For hours not worked two thirds would be subsidised, with the employer paying 5% and the government paying a further 61.67% up to a limit of £1,541.75 per month. For businesses legally required to close, the government would subsidise 66.67% of employees' wages up to a limit of £2,083.33 per month.

===Self Employment Income Support Scheme===
In March the '''Self Employment Income Support Scheme''' (SEISS) was announced.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-grants-for-3-8-million-self-employed-open-for-applications-11987262|first=James|last=Sillars|work=Sky News|title=Coronavirus: 110,000 claims for self-employed aid scheme on opening|date=13 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606083757/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-grants-for-3-8-million-self-employed-open-for-applications-11987262|url-status=live}}</ref> The scheme paid a grant worth 80% of profits up to £2,500 each month to self-employed people whose trading profit was less than £50,000 in the 2018–19 financial year or an average less than £50,000 over the last three financial tax years, and who suffered a loss of income. [[Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs]] (HMRC) were tasked with contacting those who were eligible and the grant was taxable. The government also had announced a six-month delay on tax payments. Self employed workers who pay themselves a salary and dividends were not covered by the scheme and instead had to apply for the job retention scheme.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52052123|title=Coronavirus: What help will self-employed get from government?|work=BBC News|date=26 March 2020|first=Kevin|last=Peachey|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602011535/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52052123|url-status=live}}</ref>

The scheme went live on 13 May,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisoruk/2020/05/13/income-support-scheme-for-uk-self-employed-goes-live/#281a25ed32b1|first=Kevin|last=Pratt|title=Income Support Scheme For UK Self-Employed Goes Live|work=Forbes|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528095610/https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisoruk/2020/05/13/income-support-scheme-for-uk-self-employed-goes-live/#281a25ed32b1|url-status=live}}</ref> ahead of schedule and people were invited to claim on a specific date between 13 and 18 May based on their Unique Tax Reference number. Claimants would receive their money by 25 May or within six days of a completed claim.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/applications-for-self-employment-income-support-scheme-open-early|title=Applications for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme open early|date=13 May 2020|work=HM Treasury|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606040351/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/applications-for-self-employment-income-support-scheme-open-early|url-status=live}}</ref> By 15 May, more than 1 million self employed people had applied to the scheme.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52669220|title=Coronavirus: Self-employed grant claims top one million|date=15 May 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=20 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520191407/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52669220|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of May a second grant of up to £6,570 that would be paid in August was announced.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52850371|title = Virus-hit self-employed to receive second payment|work = BBC News|date = 29 May 2020|last1 = Peachey|first1 = Kevin|access-date = 1 June 2020|archive-date = 1 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200601223803/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52850371|url-status = live}}</ref> Alongside the Job Support Scheme it was announced that two further grants would be available to cover the six-month period from 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension|access-date=22 October 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022163351/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension|url-status=live}}</ref> Both of these would cover a three-month period and cover 80% of wages capped at £7,500.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government extends Furlough to March and increases self-employed support|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-extends-furlough-to-march-and-increases-self-employed-support|access-date=26 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=25 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125205324/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-extends-furlough-to-march-and-increases-self-employed-support|url-status=live}}</ref> A fifth grant covering a five-month period between May and September 2021 would also become available. The fifth grant was capped at 80% of wages or £7,500 for workers whose turnover has decreased by more than 30% or capped at 30% or £2,850 for those that hadn't.<ref>{{Cite news|date=3 March 2021|title=Self-employed grants: What help is available and when can you apply?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52052123|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303143300/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52052123|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== {{anchor|Covid Corporate Financing Facility}}Business grants and loans ===
The government announced a '''Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund''' (RHLGF) and changes to the '''Small Business Grant Fund''' (SBGF) on 17 March 2020. The SBGF was changed from £3,000 to £10,000, while the RHLGF offered grants of up to £25,000.<ref name=RHLGF>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-announces-additional-support-to-protect-businesses|title=Chancellor announces additional support to protect businesses|work=HM Treasury|date=17 March 2020|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601042226/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-announces-additional-support-to-protect-businesses|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses |title=Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for businesses |publisher=GOV.UK |access-date=19 May 2020 |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519110744/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467|title=Coronavirus: Chancellor unveils £330bn lifeline for economy|date=17 March 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=17 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317174307/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467|archive-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> £12.33 billion in funding was committed to the SBGF and the RHLGF schemes with another £617 million added at the start of May.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme|title=Top-up to local business grant funds scheme|date=2 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529160610/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme|url-status=live}}</ref> These schemes only applied to business in England;<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882809/small-business-grant-and-retail-leisure-hospitality-grant-guidance-for-businesses.pdf | title=Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19) | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=12 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512170644/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882809/small-business-grant-and-retail-leisure-hospitality-grant-guidance-for-businesses.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> the March announcement included £3.5 billion for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support businesses.<ref name=RHLGF/>

On 23 March the government announced the '''Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme''' (CBILS) for small and medium-sized businesses and the Covid Corporate Financing Facility for large companies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-business-support-to-launch-from-today | title=Coronavirus – Business support to launch from today | website=GOV.UK | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=8 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608032609/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-business-support-to-launch-from-today | url-status=live }}</ref> The government banned banks from seeking personal guarantees on Coronavirus Business Interruption loans under £250,000 following complaints.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043896|title = Banks under fire for coronavirus loan tactics|work = BBC News|date = 30 March 2020|last1 = Verity|first1 = Andy|access-date = 1 June 2020|archive-date = 12 May 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200512133504/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043896|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="gov large">{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-strengthens-support-on-offer-for-business-as-first-government-backed-loans-reach-firms-in-need | title=Chancellor strengthens support on offer for business as first government-backed loans reach firms in need | website=GOV.UK | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=27 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527153515/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-strengthens-support-on-offer-for-business-as-first-government-backed-loans-reach-firms-in-need | url-status=live }}</ref> The '''Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme''' (CLBILS) was announced on 3{{nbsp}}April and later tweaked to include more companies.<ref name="gov large"/><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52318355|title = Treasury backs loans to bigger businesses|work = BBC News|date = 16 April 2020|access-date = 1 June 2020|archive-date = 3 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200603081943/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52318355|url-status = live}}</ref> In May the amount a company could borrow on the scheme was raised from £50 million to £200 million. Restrictions were put in place on companies on the scheme, including on dividends paid and bonuses to members of the board.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/19/coronavirus-loans-large-firms-dividends|last=Inman|first=Phillip|title=Maximum coronavirus loans for large firms increased to £200m|date=19 May 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=31 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531232346/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/19/coronavirus-loans-large-firms-dividends|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 April the government announced a scheme worth £1.25&nbsp;billion to support innovative new companies that could not claim under coronavirus rescue schemes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jack |first=Simon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52348409 |title=Coronavirus: Government unveils £1.3bn scheme to help start-ups |date=20 April 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420044313/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52348409 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Rugby Football League]] was the recipient of a £16 million loan in May 2020 to prevent the professional game from collapsing, especially as England were hosts of the next World Cup.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-pledges-16-million-to-rescue-rugby-league#:~:text=The%20Rugby%20Football%20League%20(RFL,serves%2C%20the%20Government%20has%20announced
|title=Government pledges £16 million to rescue Rugby League
|date=1 May 2020
|website=gov.uk
|access-date=22 September 2020
|archive-date=1 October 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001231438/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-pledges-16-million-to-rescue-rugby-league#:~:text=The%20Rugby%20Football%20League%20(RFL,serves%2C%20the%20Government%20has%20announced
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In July 2020 the government pledged £1.57 billion for the arts, culture and heritage industries in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/157-billion-investment-to-protect-britains-world-class-cultural-arts-and-heritage-institutions |title=£1.57 billion investment to protect Britain's world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions |access-date=22 September 2020 |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707132758/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/157-billion-investment-to-protect-britains-world-class-cultural-arts-and-heritage-institutions |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of July a £500 million '''Film and TV Production Restart Scheme''' was announced, with the intention of providing COVID insurance so that production companies could start making programmes again. It was available for any production that started filming before the end of 2020 and would cover them through to June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dowden-jump-start-for-uks-leading-creative-industries |title=Dowden: 'Jump-start' for UK's leading creative industries |access-date=22 September 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925134113/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dowden-jump-start-for-uks-leading-creative-industries |url-status=live }}</ref>

The government announced the '''Bounce Back Loan Scheme''' (BBLS) for small- and medium-sized businesses on 27 April 2020. The scheme offered loans of up to £50,000 and was interest free for the first year, after which an interest rate of 2.5% a year was applied, with the loan to be repaid within ten{{efn|duration was extended from six to ten years as part of the [[September 2020 United Kingdom Winter Economy Plan|Winter Economy Plan]]}} years. Businesses which had an existing CBILS loan of up to £50,000 could transfer on to this scheme up to 30 November 2020. The scheme launched on 4 May.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/small-businesses-boosted-by-bounce-back-loans | title=Small businesses boosted by bounce back loans | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=29 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529211840/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/small-businesses-boosted-by-bounce-back-loans | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan|title=Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan|website=GOV.UK|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601042929/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan|url-status=live}}</ref>  The loan was 100% guaranteed by the government and was designed to be simpler than the CBILS scheme.<ref name="BBC Bounce">{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52524343|title = UK banks get 100,000 loan applications on first day|work = BBC News|date = 4 May 2020|first1 = Russell|last1 = Hotten|first2 = Howard|last2 = Mustoe|access-date = 1 June 2020|archive-date = 9 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200609154106/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52524343|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-bounce-back-loans-to-launch-today|title=New Bounce Back Loans to launch today|website=GOV.UK|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=25 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525202035/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-bounce-back-loans-to-launch-today|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 130,000 BBLS applications were received by banks on the first day of operation with more than 69,500 being approved.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-69000-loans-approved-in-the-first-day-of-the-bounce-back-loan-scheme | title=Over 69,000 loans approved in the first day of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=28 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528005849/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-69000-loans-approved-in-the-first-day-of-the-bounce-back-loan-scheme | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC Bounce"/> By 12 May, almost £15 billion of rescue loans had been delivered to businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/12/government-backed-loan-schemes-deliver-15bn-to-uk-businesses|date=12 May 2020|title=State-backed loan schemes deliver £15bn to UK businesses|first=Richard|last=Partington|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603095628/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/12/government-backed-loan-schemes-deliver-15bn-to-uk-businesses|url-status=live}}</ref> Further to the BBLS and CBILS, the '''Recovery Loan Scheme''' launched on 6 April 2021. Up to £10 million was made available per business through a network of accredited lenders, with the UK Government guaranteeing 80% of the finance to the lender. The scheme was initially open until 31 December 2021, subject to review.<ref name="UK Gov">{{cite web|date=3 March 2021|title=Recovery Loan Scheme Guidance|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recovery-loan-scheme|url-status=live|access-date=3 March 2021|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Treasury, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303135109/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recovery-loan-scheme}}</ref>

In May 2020, the UK government announced a plan called [[Project Birch]] which would provide financial support and/or equity stakes to large companies affected by the pandemic, as a "last resort" to prevent company failure. By September, ten companies had entered discussions, and one – [[Celsa Steel UK|Celsa Steel]] – had secured support.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Partington|first=Richard|date=21 September 2020|title=Manufacturers slash investment as bailout scheme 'gathers dust'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/21/manufacturers-slash-investment-as-bailout-scheme-gathers-dust|url-status=live|access-date=21 April 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011093336/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/21/manufacturers-slash-investment-as-bailout-scheme-gathers-dust}}</ref>

On 31 October 2020, a grant was announced for businesses required to close by law. The '''Local Restrictions Support Grant''' would be available on a means tested basis:
* For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks
* For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks
* For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks<ref>{{cite web |title=Furlough Scheme Extended and Further Economic Support announced |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced |website=GOV.UK |access-date=4 November 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205830/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced |url-status=live }}   Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628175632/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ |date=28 June 2017 }}. © Crown copyright.</ref>

=== Eat Out to Help Out ===
{{main|Eat Out to Help Out}}
Eat Out to Help Out was a British government scheme announced on 8 July 2020<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 July 2020|title=Chancellor gives diners 50% off on eating out|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53337170|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230065815/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53337170|url-status=live}}</ref> to support and create jobs in the [[Hospitality industry in the United Kingdom|hospitality industry]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hutton|first=Georgina|date=1 October 2022|title=Eat Out to Help Out Scheme|format=Research Briefing|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8978/|language=en-GB}}</ref>  government subsidised food and soft drinks at participating cafes, pubs and restaurants at 50%, up to £10 per person. The offer was available from 3 to 31 August on Monday to Wednesday each week.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eat Out to Help Out launches today – with government paying half on restaurant bills|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/eat-out-to-help-out-launches-today-with-government-paying-half-on-restaurant-bills|date=3 August 2020|access-date=22 December 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123115026/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/eat-out-to-help-out-launches-today-with-government-paying-half-on-restaurant-bills|url-status=live}}</ref>

In total, the scheme subsidised £849 million in meals.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 November 2020|title=Businesses claimed £849m through Eat Out to Help Out scheme for 160 million meals|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eat-out-help-scheme-business-restaurants-meals-hmrc-b1761566.html|access-date=22 December 2020|work=The Independent|last=Ng|first=Kate|language=en|archive-date=25 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125101940/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eat-out-help-scheme-business-restaurants-meals-hmrc-b1761566.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some consider the scheme to be a success in boosting the hospitality industry,<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2020|title=Eat Out to Help Out scheme has already made back half the money the Government spent on it|url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/food-and-drink/eat-out-to-help-out-scheme-money-government-saved-jobs-restaurants-640942|access-date=22 December 2020|website=inews.co.uk|last=Barrie|first=Josh|language=en|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101080803/https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/food-and-drink/eat-out-to-help-out-scheme-money-government-saved-jobs-restaurants-640942|url-status=live}}</ref> while others disagree.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Inman|first=Phillip|date=1 October 2020|title='Eat out to help out' did not boost hospitality sector finances – poll|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/01/eat-out-to-help-out-failed-boost-finances-uk-hospitality-industry|access-date=22 December 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=21 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221112432/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/01/eat-out-to-help-out-failed-boost-finances-uk-hospitality-industry|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Eat Out to Help Out scheme had a 'limited effect on the UK's restaurants and cafes'|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2021/b-Feb-21/Eat-Out-to-Help-Out-scheme-had-a-limited-effect-on-the-UK's-restaurants-and-cafes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225114630/https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2021/b-Feb-21/Eat-Out-to-Help-Out-scheme-had-a-limited-effect-on-the-UK's-restaurants-and-cafes |archive-date=25 February 2021 }}</ref> A 2021 study found that the scheme contributed to a rise in COVID-19 infections.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fetzer|first=Thiemo|date=26 October 2021|title=Subsidising the spread of COVID-19: Evidence from the UK'S Eat-Out-to-Help-Out Scheme*|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueab074|journal=The Economic Journal|volume=132 |issue=643 |pages=1200–1217 |doi=10.1093/ej/ueab074|issn=0013-0133|pmc=8574521}}</ref><ref name=bl-20201004>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-04/boris-johnson-says-eat-out-drive-may-have-spread-covid-in-u-k |title=Boris Johnson Says 'Eat Out' Drive May Have Spread Covid in U.K. |last=Ross |first=Tim |publisher=Bloomberg |date=4 October 2020 |access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

=== Other schemes ===
The UK government announced a £750&nbsp;million package of support for charities across the UK. £370&nbsp;million of the money was set aside to support small, local charities working with vulnerable people. £60&nbsp;million of this was allocated to charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:
* £30&nbsp;million for Scotland
* £20&nbsp;million for Wales
* £10&nbsp;million for Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/news/funding-to-support-the-charity-sector-announced/ | title=Funding to support the charity sector announced | publisher=The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland | date=9 April 2020 | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=8 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508184555/https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/news/funding-to-support-the-charity-sector-announced/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-of-the-exchequer-rishi-sunak-on-economic-support-for-the-charity-sector | title=Chancellor's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19) | date=8 April 2020 | publisher=HM Treasury | access-date=1 June 2020 | archive-date=6 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606084359/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-of-the-exchequer-rishi-sunak-on-economic-support-for-the-charity-sector | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 May the government announced that it was underwriting [[trade credit insurance]], to prevent businesses struggling in the pandemic from having no insurance cover.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-support-businesses-through-trade-credit-insurance-guarantee|date=13 May 2020|title=Government to support businesses through Trade Credit Insurance guarantee|publisher=HM Treasury|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606045651/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-support-businesses-through-trade-credit-insurance-guarantee|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/89e25e8b-7817-465f-931e-6e16709b160e |title=UK government steps in to back trade credit insurance |work=Financial Times |url-access=subscription |date=13 May 2020 |first=Oliver |last=Ralph |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=1 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601035428/https://www.ft.com/content/89e25e8b-7817-465f-931e-6e16709b160e |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Fraud against the schemes ===
In June 2020, David Clarke, chair of the [[Fraud Advisory Panel]] charity and a group of top white collar crime experts wrote a letter to [[Rishi Sunak]] MP, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] and others to alert them the risk of fraud against the government tax-payer backed stimulus schemes. They called for publication of the names of companies receiving [[Bounce Back Loan Scheme|Bounce Back Loans]] to enable data matching to prevent, deter and detect fraud.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=26 June 2020|title=Fraud chiefs warn Rishi Sunak over risks of millions of pounds being stolen under state Covid loans due to lack of transparency|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/fraud-cbils-bounceback-loans-rishi-sunak-sfo-crime-a4481316.html|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2021|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115120126/https://www.standard.co.uk/business/fraud-cbils-bounceback-loans-rishi-sunak-sfo-crime-a4481316.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=16 June 2020|title=Letter to Rishi Sunak from Fraud Advisory Panel|work=Fraud Advisory Panel|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FAP-Letter-to-Chancellor-of-Exchequer-Loan-Transparency-16Jun20.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2021|archive-date=24 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224092029/https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FAP-Letter-to-Chancellor-of-Exchequer-Loan-Transparency-16Jun20.pdf}}</ref> In September 2020, it emerged that Government Ministers were warned about the risk of fraud against the financial support schemes by Keith Morgan, CEO of the state owned [[British Business Bank]] who had concerns about the BBLS and Future Fund.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hurley|first=James|date=30 September 2020|title=Ministers were warned of fraud risk in Bounce Back Loan Scheme|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-were-warned-of-fraud-risk-in-bounce-back-loan-scheme-gfmk6xmt0|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2021|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208232957/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-were-warned-of-fraud-risk-in-bounce-back-loan-scheme-gfmk6xmt0}}</ref> In December 2020, it was reported that banks and the [[National Crime Agency]] also had concerns about fraudulent abuse of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 December 2020|title=Banks and the NCA warn about the fraudulent abuse of the COVID-19 bounce back loan scheme|url=https://www.mishcon.com/news/banks-and-the-nca-warn-about-the-fraudulent-abuse-of-the-covid-19-bounce-back-loan-scheme|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003312/https://www.mishcon.com/news/banks-and-the-nca-warn-about-the-fraudulent-abuse-of-the-covid-19-bounce-back-loan-scheme|archive-date=13 July 2021|access-date=5 February 2021|website=mishcon.com}}</ref> In January 2021, the NCA reported that three city workers who worked for the same London financial institution had been arrested as part of an investigation into fraudulent Bounce Back Loans totalling £6 million. The NCA said the men were suspected of using their "specialist knowledge" to carry out the fraud. This form of insider fraud was a risk highlighted in the letter sent to the Chancellor in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roach|first=April|date=23 January 2021|title=Three London city workers arrested amid fraud probe into coronavirus bounce back loans of £6 million|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-city-workers-arrest-covid-fraud-loan-b900915.html|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2021|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211193417/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-city-workers-arrest-covid-fraud-loan-b900915.html}}</ref>

In March 2023 ten people had been convicted of fraud involving Bounce Back loans and unrelated [[money laundering]] using a network of [[bogus company|bogus companies]], in the last of three trials. The gang is known to have stolen £10m, and believed to have laundered £70m, of which very little was recovered. The convictions followed investigation by the  [[Organised Crime Partnership]], a joint unit made up of the [[National Crime Agency]] and [[Metropolitan Police]]. It is thought that the gang had other members who have not been identified.<ref name=fraud>{{cite news| last1=Crawford | first1=Angus | last3=Bell | first2=Tony|last2=Smith|first3=Sarah | title=The chef, the model and Rishi's missing millions | website=BBC News | date=10 March 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64879444}} A BBC investigation into several people involved in the fraud.</ref>

The National Audit Office estimates that the taxpayer could lose billions of pounds in Bounce Back Loan fraud. It has been estimated by the government that 8% of all Bounce Back Loans could be lost to fraud or error. By March 2023, 273 investigations had been started, involving £160m of bogus loans, and forty-nine people had been arrested. Mike Craig, a campaigner on problems with the loans, said that the loans were "like a jackpot for a lot of people. ... At the start I thought all you need for a Bounce Back Loan is an eligible company and a pulse. But it turns out you didn't need either". Asked where that left the taxpayer, he responded "Stuffed for billions of pounds".<ref name=fraud/>

===Tender contracts===
{{main|Controversies regarding COVID-19 contracts in the United Kingdom}}
Normally, the UK would have published an [[open call for bids]] to provide PPE and other equipment in the ''[[Official Journal of the European Union]]''. However, under EU directives, when there is an "extreme urgency" to buy goods or services, the government does not have to open up a contract to competition; it can instead approach companies directly.<ref name="Komarnyckyj">{{cite news |last1=Komarnyckyj |first1=Stephen |title=Another Strange Contract: The Loophole Allowing the Government to Avoid PPE Procurement Rules |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/09/another-strange-contract-the-loophole-allowing-the-government-to-avoid-ppe-procurement-rules/ |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=Byline Times |date=9 July 2020 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121134757/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/09/another-strange-contract-the-loophole-allowing-the-government-to-avoid-ppe-procurement-rules/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2020 a report in ''The Guardian'' said that after the government had suspended the standard tender process so contracts could to be issued "with extreme urgency", over a billion pounds of state contracts had been awarded under the new fast-track rules. The contracts were to provide food parcels, personal protective equipment (PPE) and assist in operations. The largest contract, worth £234 million, was handed to French-owned Edenred by the [[Department for Education]] for the supply of free school meals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/firms-given-1bn-of-state-contracts-without-tender-in-covid-19-crisis|title=Firms given £1bn of state contracts without tender in Covid-19 crisis|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 May 2020|first1=Rob|last1=Evans|first2=Juliette|last2=Garside|first3=Joseph|last3=Smith|first4=Pamela|last4=Duncan|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=31 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531205016/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/firms-given-1bn-of-state-contracts-without-tender-in-covid-19-crisis|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Randox Laboratories]], who paid MP [[Owen Paterson]] as a consultant, were given a £130 million contract to produce testing kits.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/healthcare-firm-advised-by-owen-paterson-won-133m-coronavirus-testing-contract-unopposed|title=Healthcare firm advised by Owen Paterson won £133m coronavirus testing contract unopposed|date=11 May 2020|work=The Guardian|first1=Rupert|last1=Neate|first2=Juliette|last2=Garside|first3=Felicity|last3=Lawrence|first4=Rob|last4=Evans|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602003209/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/healthcare-firm-advised-by-owen-paterson-won-133m-coronavirus-testing-contract-unopposed|url-status=live}}</ref> Randox had to later recall half a million tests because of safety concerns.<ref name="PogCal"/> In addition, 16 contracts totalling around £20 million were agreed to provide HIV and malaria drugs which were thought might be a treatment for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/uk-spent-20m-buying-up-stocks-of-hiv-and-malaria-drugs|first=Lisa|last=O'Carroll|title=UK spent £20m buying up stocks of HIV and malaria drugs|work=The Guardian|date=14 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601120959/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/uk-spent-20m-buying-up-stocks-of-hiv-and-malaria-drugs|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2020 the [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] noted that £10.5bn of the overall £18bn spent on pandemic-related contracts (58%) was awarded directly to suppliers without competitive tender, with PPE accounting for 80% of contracts.<ref name="bbc18nov20">{{cite news |title=Covid spending: Watchdog finds MPs' contacts were given priority |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54978460 |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 November 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118003045/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54978460 |url-status=live }}</ref> An article in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' said the government gave £1.5 billion to companies linked to the party.<ref name="PogCal">{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |last2=Calver |first2=Tom |title=Chumocracy first in line as ministers splash Covid cash |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/chumocracy-first-in-line-as-ministers-splash-covid-cash-7wb5b8q0w |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115051647/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/chumocracy-first-in-line-as-ministers-splash-covid-cash-7wb5b8q0w |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the National Audit Office said there was "no evidence" that ministers were "involved in either the award or management of the contracts",<ref name="bbc18nov20"/> companies which had links to government ministers, politicians or health chiefs were put in a 'high priority' channel<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keslo |first1=Paul |title=COVID-19: 'High priority' procurement for firms recommended by MPs and advisers |url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-high-priority-procurement-for-firms-recommended-by-mps-and-advisers-12135051 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Sky News |date=18 November 2020 |language=en |archive-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125023506/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-high-priority-procurement-for-firms-recommended-by-mps-and-advisers-12135051 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 'fast-tracked'; those in it were ten times more likely to win a contract.<ref name="bbc18nov20"/> BBC economics correspondent [[Andrew Verity]] said that "contracts are seen to be awarded not on merit or value for money but because of personal connections".<ref name="bbc18nov20"/>

[[Dido Harding|Baroness Harding]], a Conservative peer, was appointed to run [[NHS Test and Trace]].<ref name="PogCal"/> [[Kate Bingham]], a family friend of the PM, was appointed to oversee the vaccine taskforce.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kate Bingham: well-connected but under-fire UK vaccines chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/kate-bingham-well-connected-but-under-fire-uk-vaccines-chief |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115132604/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/kate-bingham-well-connected-but-under-fire-uk-vaccines-chief |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GuardChums">{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |last2=Pegg |first2=David |last3=Evans |first3=Rob |last4=Garside |first4=Juliette |last5=Lawrence |first5=Felicity |title='Chumocracy': how Covid revealed the new shape of the Tory establishment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/chumocracy-covid-revealed-shape-tory-establishment |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Observer]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115124803/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/chumocracy-covid-revealed-shape-tory-establishment |url-status=live }}</ref> Bingham accepted the position after decades in venture capital, having been hired without a recruitment process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boris Johnson's profligacy problem |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/11/14/boris-johnsons-profligacy-problem |access-date=14 November 2020 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=14 November 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003313/https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/11/14/boris-johnsons-profligacy-problem |url-status=live }}</ref> According to leaked documents seen by ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', she charged the taxpayer £670,000 for a team of eight full-time boutique consultants from Admiral Associates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |title=Vaccine tsar Kate Bingham runs up £670,000 PR bill |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/vaccine-tsar-kate-bingham-runs-up-670-000-pr-bill-sjxmrz2bx|url-access=subscription|access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=7 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115052734/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/vaccine-tsar-kate-bingham-runs-up-670-000-pr-bill-sjxmrz2bx |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2020, [[Mike Coupe]], a friend of Harding's,<ref name="Guard21nov"/> took a three-month appointment as head of infection testing at NHS Test and Trace.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Serle|first=Jack|date=29 September 2020|title=Ex-Sainsbury's boss to join beleaguered Test and Trace as NHS chief returns to trust|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/exclusive-ex-sainsburys-boss-to-join-beleaguered-test-and-trace-as-nhs-chief-returns-to-trust/7028539.article|access-date=30 September 2020|website=Health Service Journal|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001161338/https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/exclusive-ex-sainsburys-boss-to-join-beleaguered-test-and-trace-as-nhs-chief-returns-to-trust/7028539.article|url-status=live}}</ref> The Good Law Project and the [[Runnymede Trust]] launched a legal case which alleged Prime Minister Boris Johnson had acted unlawfully in awarding these three contracts, and had chosen the appointees because of their connections to the Conservative Party.<ref name="Guard21nov">{{cite news |title=Boris Johnson 'acted illegally' over jobs for top anti-Covid staff |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/21/boris-johnson-acted-illegally-over-jobs-for-top-anti-covid-staff |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 November 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003355/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/21/boris-johnson-acted-illegally-over-jobs-for-top-anti-covid-staff |url-status=live }}</ref>

Former [[Chairman of the Conservative Party|Conservative party chair]] [[Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree|Lord Feldman]] was appointed as an unpaid adviser to Conservative peer [[James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell|Lord Bethell]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geoghehan |first1=Peter |last2=Scott |first2=Russell |title=Revealed: Former Tory chairman was secretly appointed as COVID advisor |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-former-tory-chairman-was-secretly-appointed-covid-advisor/ |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[openDemocracy]] |date=13 November 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114080346/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-former-tory-chairman-was-secretly-appointed-covid-advisor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Feldman was present when Bethell awarded Meller Designs (owned by [[David Meller]], who gave £63,000 to the Conservative Party, mostly when Feldman was chair) £163 million in contracts for [[Personal protective equipment|PPE]] on 6 April.<ref name="PogCal"/> [[George Pascoe-Watson]], chair of [[Portland Communications]], was appointed to an unpaid advisory role by the [[Department of Health and Social Care]] (DHSC); he participated in daily strategic discussions chaired by Bethell.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |title=George Pascoe-Watson among lobbyists given secret access to Covid meetings |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-pascoe-watson-among-lobbyists-given-secret-access-to-covid-meetings-tzxkc0jkp |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115001023/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-pascoe-watson-among-lobbyists-given-secret-access-to-covid-meetings-tzxkc0jkp |url-status=live }}</ref> He also sent information about government policy to his paying clients before this was made public.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Jon |title=Government gave lobbyists access to confidential coronavirus briefings |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-lobbyists-coronavirus-george-pascoe-watson-b1723246.html |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115151527/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-lobbyists-coronavirus-george-pascoe-watson-b1723246.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Diver |first1=Tony |title=National lockdown was revealed by lobbyists before press leaks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/15/national-lockdown-revealed-lobbyists-press-leaks/ |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115235009/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/15/national-lockdown-revealed-lobbyists-press-leaks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Conservative peer [[James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy|Lord O'Shaughnessy]] was paid as an "external adviser" to the DHSC when he was a paid Portland adviser. In May, O'Shaughnessy took part in a call with Bethell and [[Boston Consulting Group]] (BCG), a Portland client that was awarded £21M in contracts on the testing system.<ref name="PogCal"/> BCG management consultants were paid up to £6,250 a day to help speed up and reorganise the Test and Trace system.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jolly |first1=Jasper |last2=Syal |first2=Rajeev |title=Consultants' fees 'up to £6,250 a day' for work on Covid test system |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/consultants-fees-up-to-6250-a-day-for-work-on-covid-test-system |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115155946/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/consultants-fees-up-to-6250-a-day-for-work-on-covid-test-system |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June the [[Cabinet Office]] published details of a March contract with the policy consultancy [[Public First]], which had been running under emergency procedures, to research public opinion about the government's COVID communications. The company is owned by [[James Frayne]] (a long-term political associate of Cummings, co-founding the [[New Frontiers Foundation]] with him in 2003) and his wife [[Rachel Wolf]], a former adviser to [[Michael Gove]] ([[Minister for the Cabinet Office]]) who co-wrote the Conservative party manifesto for the 2016 election. They were given £840,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geoghegan |first1=Peter |last2=Conn |first2=David |title=Revealed: Key Cummings and Gove ally given COVID-19 contract without open tender |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-key-cummings-ally-given-840000-covid-contract-without-competition/ |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[openDemocracy]] |date=10 July 2020 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122102550/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-key-cummings-ally-given-840000-covid-contract-without-competition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other allegations of cronyism include:
* Hanbury Strategy, a policy and lobbying consultancy, has been paid £648,000 under two contracts (one issued under emergency procedures) to research "public attitudes and behaviours" in relation to the pandemic, the other, at a level that did not require a tender, to conduct weekly polling. The company was co-founded by Paul Stephenson, director of communications for Vote Leave and contender to be [[Downing Street Chief of Staff]]. In March last year, Hanbury was given responsibility for assessing job applications for Conservative special advisers.<ref name="GuardChums" />
* Globus Limited, which has donated more than £400,000 to the Conservatives since 2016, won a £93.8M government contract for the supply of respirator face masks.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bright |first1=Sam |title=Firm That Gave £400,000 to Conservatives Wins £93.8 Million Government PPE Deal |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/16/company-conservative-donations-government-ppe-procurement-deal/ |website=Byline Times |publisher=Byline Times |access-date=15 November 2020 |date=16 September 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101103830/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/16/company-conservative-donations-government-ppe-procurement-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Gina Coladangelo]], who, according to ''The Sunday Times'', is a close friend of [[Matt Hancock]] with no known health background, was paid £15,000 as a non-executive director of the DHSC on a six-month contract, although there was no public record of the appointment. She accompanied Hancock to confidential meetings with civil servants. She was given a parliamentary pass sponsored by Bethell (Coladangelo does not play a role in Bethell's team.)<ref name="PogrundNov22">{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |title=Matt Hancock gave key Covid role to lobbyist pal |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=22 November 2020 |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122073808/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Alex Bourne, a former neighbour and owner of the Cock Inn [[pub]] near Hancock's constituency home, gained a contract which involved supplying "tens of millions of [[vial]]s for NHS Covid-19 tests".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawrence |first1=Felicity |title=Hancock's former neighbour won Covid test kit work after WhatsApp message |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message |access-date=26 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=26 November 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126060816/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message |url-status=live }}</ref>

====PPE====
Early in the pandemic, the government was criticised for the lack of [[personal protective equipment]] (PPE) available to NHS workers; as such, there was pressure to supply PPE quickly to the NHS.<ref name="Kemp"/> The UK did not take part in an 8 April bid for €1.5bn (£1.3bn) worth of PPE by members of the [[European Union]], or any bids under the EU Joint Procurement Agreement (set up in 2014 following [[Pandemic H1N1/09 virus|the H1N1 influenza pandemic]]<ref name="Boffey"/>), as "we are no longer members of the EU".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brundsen |first1=Jim |last2=Foster |first2=Peter |last3=Parker |first3=George |last4=Hughes |first4=Laura |title=Brussels says UK was fully aware of PPE procurement plans |url=https://www.ft.com/content/58f5f476-7a85-4785-81bd-0806ff7c6ded |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130062440/https://www.ft.com/content/58f5f476-7a85-4785-81bd-0806ff7c6ded |url-status=live }}</ref> The purpose of the scheme is to allow EU countries to purchase together as a bloc, securing the best prices and allowing quick procurement at a time of shortage. Under the terms of the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]], the government had the right to take part until 31 December 2020.<ref name="Boffey">{{cite news |last1=Boffey |first1=Daniel |title=What is the EU medical equipment scheme and why did UK opt out? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/coronavirus-what-is-eu-medical-equipment-scheme-why-did-uk-opt-out |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114114034/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/coronavirus-what-is-eu-medical-equipment-scheme-why-did-uk-opt-out |url-status=live }}</ref> The Government said that it was unable to access the scheme because they did not receive the email invitation from the EU, and were consequently unable to take part in procuring [[ventilator]]s and PPE.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/uk-missed-three-chances-to-join-eu-scheme-to-bulk-buy-ppe|title = UK missed three chances to join EU scheme to bulk-buy PPE| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 13 April 2020|access-date = 28 February 2021|archive-date = 10 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210210025215/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/uk-missed-three-chances-to-join-eu-scheme-to-bulk-buy-ppe|url-status = live}}</ref>

Ayanda Capital is a Mauritius-based investment firm with no prior public health experience which gained a £252M contract in April to supply face masks. The contract included an order for 50 million high-strength [[FFP standards#FFP2 mask|FFP2 medical masks]] that did not meet NHS standards, as they had elastic ear-loops instead of the required straps tied behind the wearer's head.<ref name="Adams"/> Ayanda says they adhered to the specifications they were given.<ref name="Adams"/> The deal was arranged by Andrew Mills, then an adviser to the [[Board of Trade]] (a branch of [[Liz Truss]]'s [[Department for International Trade]] (DIT)); his involvement was criticised by the Good Law Project and [[Keir Starmer]], Leader of the Opposition.<ref name="Adams"/><ref name="GuardChums" /> The DIT said neither it nor the Board of Trade was involved in the deal.<ref name="GuardChums" />

One of the largest government PPE contracts went to a small pest control firm Crisp Websites Ltd., trading as PestFix. PestFix secured a contract in April with the DHSC for a £32M batch of isolation suits; three months after the contract was signed, suits from PestFix were not released for use in the NHS as they were being stored at an NHS supply chain warehouse awaiting safety assessments.<ref name="Kemp">{{cite news |last1=Kemp |first1=Phil |title=Coronavirus: Safety officials had 'political' pressure to approve PPE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54897737 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 November 2020 |date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114090405/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54897737 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Health and Safety Executive]] (HSE) concluded that supplies of PPE had not been specified to the correct standard for use in hospitals when they were bought. One email from a firm working alongside the HSE in June says that there was "'political' pressure" to get the suits through the quality assurance process.<ref name="Kemp" /> The contract is being challenged in the courts by the not-for-profit [[Good Law Project]] (founded by [[Jolyon Maugham]] QC), which asked why DHSC had agreed to pay 75% upfront when the provider was "wholly unsuited" to deliver such a large and important order,<ref name="Kemp" /> and further discovered that the company had actually been awarded PPE contracts worth £313m.<ref name="Adams"/>

In light of a November 2020 report, the Good Law Project opened a number of cases against the DHSC, questioning the awarding of PPE contracts more than £250M to Michael Saiger, head of an American jewellery company based in [[Florida]] with no experience of supplying PPE,<ref name="Adams">{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Tim |title='I don't like acts of dishonesty by the state': Jolyon Maugham QC on Covid cronyism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/nov/22/jolyon-maugham-qc-covid-cronyism-good-law-project |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Observer]] |date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122080208/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/nov/22/jolyon-maugham-qc-covid-cronyism-good-law-project |url-status=live }}</ref> which involved a £21M payment to Gabriel González Andersson, who acted as an [[intermediary]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-between paid £21m in taxpayer funds for NHS PPE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54974373 |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=17 November 2020 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122153526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54974373 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By February 2022, the government had written off a total of £8.7 billion for spending on PPE that was unusable, unsuitable for the NHS, had expired, or lost its value for the remaining stock. Officials were also unsure of the location of further supplies worth £3.6 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smyth |first1=Chris |title=Ministers write off £9bn on lost, unusable or overpriced PPE |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-write-off-9-billion-on-lost-unusable-or-overpriced-ppe-262kpdr8v |work=The Times |date=1 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

====Future Fund====
The '''Future Fund''' is a British government scheme to support companies during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] administered by the [[British Business Bank]].<ref name=":0" /> It was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 20 April 2020, and opened for applications on 20 May 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 May 2020|title=Government Future Fund to support innovative UK Companies announces Eligibility Criteria|work=[[British Business Bank]]|url=https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/government-future-fund-to-support-innovative-uk-companies-announces-eligibility-criteria/|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415175038/https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/government-future-fund-to-support-innovative-uk-companies-announces-eligibility-criteria/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=20 May 2020|title=Future Fund launches today|work=[[HM Treasury]]|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/future-fund-launches-today|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415175037/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/future-fund-launches-today|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kennett|first=Dylan|date=20 April 2020|title=The Future Fund: U.K. Government Tries Its Hand At Venture Capital|work=[[Forbes]]|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dylankennett1/2020/04/20/the-future-fund-uk-government--tries-its-hand-at-venture-capital/|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415185834/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dylankennett1/2020/04/20/the-future-fund-uk-government--tries-its-hand-at-venture-capital/?sh=56d053f62669|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Following the British government's response to the pandemic, reaction has been generated, and as well as this, various aspects of its response have been criticised.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

A 2021 parliamentary report ''Coronavirus: Lessons learned to date''<ref>{{cite report | title=Coronavirus: lessons learned to date|publisher=UK Parliament - Committees | date=12 October 2021 | url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/157991/coronavirus-lessons-learned-to-date-report-published/}}</ref> described the decisions on lockdowns and social distancing during the early weeks of the pandemic, and the advice that led to them, as "one of the most important public health failures the UK has ever experienced", and the vaccination approach, including its research, development, and rollout as "one of the most effective initiatives in UK history".<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 October 2021|title=Covid: UK's early response worst public health failure ever, MPs say|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58876089|access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref>

Several investigations by ''[[Reuters]]'' during 2020 blamed the government's slowness in recognising and responding the threat, inadequate contact tracing and early lifting of restrictions for the UK's high death toll.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Stephen Grey, Andrew|date=7 April 2020|title=Special Report: Johnson listened to his scientists about coronavirus – but they were slow to sound the alarm|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-path-speci-idUSKBN21P1VF|url-status=live|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701160351/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-path-speci-idUSKBN21P1VF|archive-date=1 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite news|last1=Grey|first1=Stephen|last2=Macaskill|first2=Rew|last3=Mcneill|first3=Ryan|last4=Stecklow|first4=Steve|last5=Wilkes|first5=Tommy|title=Into the fog: How Britain lost track of the coronavirus|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-britain-tracing/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427232120/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-britain-tracing/|archive-date=27 April 2021|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|title=50,000 COVID-19 deaths and rising. How the UK keeps failing.|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-britain-newwave/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123220302/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-britain-newwave/|archive-date=23 January 2021|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>

=== Early response ===
Many have argued that the restrictions should have been more stringent and more timely. [[Richard Horton (editor)|Dr Richard Horton]], editor of ''[[The Lancet]]'', told the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'' in March 2020 that "we knew in the last week of January that this was coming. The message from China was absolutely clear that a new virus with pandemic potential was hitting cities.{{nbsp}}... We knew that 11 weeks ago and then we wasted February when we could have acted."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Evans|first=Albert|date=27 March 2020|title=Question Time: Medical expert Richard Horton says UK "wasted February" when it should have been preparing NHS for coronavirus cases'|work=inews|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/question-time-richard-horton-uk-coronavirus-nhs-prepared-response-2520479|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=30 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430061423/https://inews.co.uk/news/health/question-time-richard-horton-uk-coronavirus-nhs-prepared-response-2520479|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Horton|first1=Richard|date=March 2020|title=Offline: COVID-19 and the NHS—"a national scandal"|journal=[[The Lancet]]|volume=395|issue=10229|page=1022|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30727-3|pmc=7194929|pmid=32222186|doi-access=free|author-link1=Richard Horton (editor)}}</ref> [[Anthony Costello]], a former [[World Health Organization|WHO]] director, made a similar point in April, saying: "We should have introduced the lockdown two or three weeks earlier.{{nbsp}}... It is a total mess and we have been wrong every stage of the way." He also said that "they keep talking about flattening the curve which implies they are seeking herd immunity".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mendick|first=Robert|date=16 April 2020|title=UK faces eight to ten waves of coronavirus before population achieves herd immunity|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/16/uk-faces-eight-ten-waves-coronavirus-population-achieves-herd/|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915120955/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/16/uk-faces-eight-ten-waves-coronavirus-population-achieves-herd/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[David King (chemist)|David King]], a former chief scientific advisor, said: "We didn't manage this until too late and every day's delay has resulted in further deaths."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sherling|first=Adrian|date=15 April 2020|title=Former Chief Scientific Adviser: Austerity and delay has led to more people dying|work=LBC|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/ex-chief-scientific-advisor-austerity-coronavirus|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020115540/https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/ex-chief-scientific-advisor-austerity-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[The BMJ|''BMJ'']] editorials from early 2020 suggested that the British government had "ignored [[World Health Organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic|WHO's advice]]" by ceasing [[contact tracing]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pollock|first1=Allyson M.|last2=Roderick|first2=Peter|last3=Cheng|first3=K. K.|last4=Pankhania|first4=Bharat|date=30 March 2020|title=Covid-19: why is the UK government ignoring WHO's advice?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m1284|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=368|pages=m1284|doi=10.1136/bmj.m1284|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32229543|s2cid=214702525 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and criticised the government's scientific advisers for not advocating for more stringent measures to be introduced, as other countries had done.<ref name=":11" /> Investigations by ''Reuters'' also blamed abandoning contact tracing and not expanding testing as key issues leading to the magnitude of the first wave<ref name=":16" /> and criticised the government's scientific advisers for not clearly communicating their growing concerns to ministers in a timely enough manner.<ref name=":5" />

In May 2020, [[Lawrence Freedman|Sir Lawrence Freedman]], writing for the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]], accused the government of following public opinion instead of leading it when taking the lockdown decision; and of missing the threat to care homes.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Freedman|first1=Lawrence|date=11 May 2020|title=Strategy for a Pandemic: The UK and COVID-19|url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2020/05/the-uk-and-covid-19|access-date=17 May 2020|website=International Institute for Strategic Studies|archive-date=17 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517052117/https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2020/05/the-uk-and-covid-19|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[Prime Minister's Questions]] on 13 May, Labour Party leader [[Keir Starmer]] accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of misleading Parliament in relation to care homes.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 May 2020|title=Care homes row erupts as Johnson hits back at Starmer's call for him to correct coronavirus advice record in Commons|work=ITV News|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-13/boris-johnson-keir-starmer-pmqs-coronavirus-lockdown/|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930214531/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-13/boris-johnson-keir-starmer-pmqs-coronavirus-lockdown|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Swallows|first=Vanessa|date=13 May 2020|title=No 10's letter to Keir Starmer only reinforces its failure on care homes|work=New Statesman|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/05/no-10s-letter-keir-starmer-only-reinforces-its-failure-care-homes|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014012544/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/05/no-10s-letter-keir-starmer-only-reinforces-its-failure-care-homes|url-status=live}}</ref>

A special report on the early UK response in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' said: "No other large European country allowed infections to sky-rocket to such a high level before finally deciding to go into lockdown. Those 20 days of government delay are the single most important reason why the UK has the second highest number of deaths from the coronavirus in the world."<ref name="x31" />

According to an April 2020 survey carried out by [[YouGov]], three million adults went hungry in the first three weeks of lockdown, with 1.5&nbsp;million going all day without eating.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharman|first=Laura|date=14 April 2020|title=Three million people go hungry since lockdown|url=https://www.localgov.co.uk/Three-million-people-go-hungry-since-lockdown/50322|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921130551/https://www.localgov.co.uk/Three-million-people-go-hungry-since-lockdown/50322|archive-date=21 September 2020|access-date=7 October 2020|website=localgov.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chapman|first=Ben|date=19 April 2020|title=Milk thrown down the drain while millions go hungry: Lockdown puts increasing strain on Britain's food system|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/coronavirus-lockdown-uk-food-supplies-strain-supermarkets-a9469476.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009023914/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/coronavirus-lockdown-uk-food-supplies-strain-supermarkets-a9469476.html|archive-date=9 October 2020}}</ref> [[Tim Lang (professor)|Tim Lang]], professor of food policy at [[City, University of London|City University]], London, said that "borders are closing, lorries are being slowed down and checked. We only produce 53% of our own food in the UK. It's a failure of the government to plan."<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawrence|first=Felicity|date=11 April 2020|title=UK hunger crisis: 1.5m people go whole day without food|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/11/uk-hunger-crisis-15m-people-go-whole-day-without-food|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012092727/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/11/uk-hunger-crisis-15m-people-go-whole-day-without-food|archive-date=12 October 2020}}</ref>

=== Lifting first lockdowns ===
When Johnson announced plans on 10 May to end the lockdown, some experts were even more critical. Anthony Costello warned that Johnson's plans would "lead to the epidemic returning early [and] further preventable deaths",<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=George|date=12 May 2020|title=Boris Johnson's lockdown plans will cause coronavirus to return early, former WHO chief warns|work=Yahoo News|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-lockdown-plan-coronavirus-second-wave-who-112105674.html|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918073831/https://sports.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-lockdown-plan-coronavirus-second-wave-who-112105674.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Devi Sridhar]], chair of global public health at the [[University of Edinburgh]], said that lifting the lockdown would "allow Covid-19 to spread through the population unchecked. The result could be a [[Social Darwinism|Darwinian culling]] of the elderly and vulnerable."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sridhar|first=Devi|date=12 May 2020|title=Unless the government changes tack, the UK's lockdown will have been for nothing|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/12/tories-lockdown-social-distancing-testing-second-wave-coronavirus|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001011512/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/12/tories-lockdown-social-distancing-testing-second-wave-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref> An editorial in ''The BMJ'' from the same month compared the UK's approach to lifting lockdown measures unfavourably with the [[K-Quarantine]] strategy of [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea|South Korea]], saying that the UK delayed introducing measures while it gathered scientific evidence, rather than applying the [[precautionary principle]] and expanding [[COVID-19 testing|testing]] infrastructure and enforcing [[Isolation (health care)|isolation]] as Korea had done.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Majeed|first1=Azeem|last2=Seo|first2=Yongseok|last3=Heo|first3=Kyungmoo|last4=Lee|first4=Daejoong|date=28 May 2020|title=Can the UK emulate the South Korean approach to covid-19?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2084|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=369|pages=m2084|doi=10.1136/bmj.m2084|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32467112|s2cid=218984556 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The comparative success of contact tracing in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]], which resumed earlier than in the other nations, was recognised in another article.<ref name=":14" />

[[Martin Wolf]], chief commentator at the ''[[Financial Times]]'', wrote in June 2020 that "the UK has made blunder after blunder, with fatal results".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wolf|first=Martin|date=4 June 2020|title=The risks of lifting lockdowns prematurely are very large|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2a6cd7c2-a5b5-11ea-92e2-cbd9b7e28ee6|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004170617/https://www.ft.com/content/2a6cd7c2-a5b5-11ea-92e2-cbd9b7e28ee6|archive-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> [[Lord Skidelsky]], a former Conservative, said that government policy was still to encourage "herd immunity" while pursuing "this goal silently, under a cloud of obfuscation".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Skidelsky|first=Robert|date=18 May 2020|title=The Unspoken Reason for Lockdowns|url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/governments-cannot-admit-covid19-herd-immunity-objective-by-robert-skidelsky-2020-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606043948/https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/governments-cannot-admit-covid19-herd-immunity-objective-by-robert-skidelsky-2020-05|archive-date=6 June 2020|access-date=7 October 2020|website=Project Syndicate}}</ref>

Reporting in ''[[New Scientist]]'', [[Wired UK|''Wired'']] and ''[[The New York Times]]'' in July and August 2020 suggested that Scotland and Northern Ireland's [[zero-COVID]] approach could be undermined by the same policies not being adopted in England.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Scotland is aiming to eliminate coronavirus. Why isn't England?|language=en-GB|magazine=Wired UK|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/zero-covid-coronavirus-elimination|access-date=11 January 2022|issn=1357-0978}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Michael|title=Scotland could eliminate the coronavirus – if it weren't for England|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2247462-scotland-could-eliminate-the-coronavirus-if-it-werent-for-england/|access-date=11 January 2022|website=New Scientist|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Landler|first=Mark|date=10 July 2020|title=In Tackling Coronavirus, Scotland Asserts Its Separateness From England|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/world/europe/coroanvirus-scotland-england.html|access-date=11 January 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Subsequent testing and tracing ===
{{Main|NHS Test and Trace#Reception}}
In April 2020, the [[UK Statistics Authority]] criticised [[Secretary of State for Health and Social Care]] [[Matt Hancock]] for claiming that the target of 100,000 tests per day had been reached by changing the method by which tests were counted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carding|first=Nick|title=Government counts mailouts to hit 100,000 testing target|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/government-counts-mailouts-to-hit-100000-testing-target/7027544.article|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308211036/https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/government-counts-mailouts-to-hit-100000-testing-target/7027544.article|archive-date=8 March 2021|access-date=24 February 2021|website=Health Service Journal|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Illman|first=James|title=Hancock challenged over covid testing numbers by stats watchdog|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/free-for-non-subscribers/hancock-challenged-over-covid-testing-numbers-by-stats-watchdog/7027620.article|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125948/https://www.hsj.co.uk/free-for-non-subscribers/hancock-challenged-over-covid-testing-numbers-by-stats-watchdog/7027620.article|archive-date=8 March 2021|access-date=24 February 2021|website=Health Service Journal|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sir David Norgrove response to Matt Hancock regarding the Government's COVID-19 testing data|url=https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/sir-david-norgrove-response-to-matt-hancock-regarding-the-governments-covid-19-testing-data/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142635/https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/sir-david-norgrove-response-to-matt-hancock-regarding-the-governments-covid-19-testing-data/|archive-date=8 March 2021|access-date=24 February 2021|website=UK Statistics Authority|language=en-GB}}</ref> In June 2020, the independent body renewed its criticism, with Chair [[David Norgrove]] saying "the aim seems to be to show the largest possible number of tests, even at the expense of understanding".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Boseley|first=Sarah|date=2 June 2020|title=Statistics watchdog: ministers still misleading public on coronavirus tests|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/02/statistics-watchdog-ministers-still-misleading-public-on-coronavirus-tests|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428142743/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/02/statistics-watchdog-ministers-still-misleading-public-on-coronavirus-tests|archive-date=28 April 2021|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bruce|first=Andy|date=2 June 2020|title='Often mistrusted': stats watchdog criticises UK COVID-19 test data|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-data-idUSKBN23917M|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918094444/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-data-idUSKBN23917M|archive-date=18 September 2020}}</ref>

A ''BMJ'' briefing in September 2020 outlined that COVID-19 testing continued to be a considerable issue, with access to COVID-19 tests still very limited to the public and demand exceeding capacity. This was attributed to staff shortages and laboratory capacity.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wise|first=Jacqui|date=21 September 2020|title=Covid-19: What's going wrong with testing in the UK?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3678|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=370|pages=m3678|doi=10.1136/bmj.m3678|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32958475|s2cid=221804973 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

A ''Reuters'' investigation published in November 2020 examined attempts to expand a testing and contact tracing system as implemented in "such an inefficient way that they couldn't keep pace with the spread of the virus" in 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In November 2020, an editorial in ''The BMJ'' criticised the government's quick-turnaround Covid testing system which was to be made available to everyone, characterising it as a "underevaluated, underdesigned and costly mess" and saying "spending the equivalent of 77% of the NHS annual revenue budget on an unevaluated underdesigned national programme leading to a regressive, insufficiently supported intervention—in many cases for the wrong people—cannot be defended".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gill|first1=Mike|last2=Gray|first2=Muir|date=16 November 2020|title=Mass testing for covid-19 in the UK|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4436|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=371|pages=m4436|doi=10.1136/bmj.m4436|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33199289|s2cid=226960411 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Public communications ===
An article by [[Ed Yong]] in ''[[The Atlantic]]'' published 16 March 2020 criticised the government's communication of its purported "herd immunity" strategy; Yong argued that although this was not the government's policy, the way in which it was communicated gave the impression.<ref name=":12" />

In May 2020, the government's public health messaging during the pandemic was hailed as "one of the most successful communications in modern political history" by ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''. The chief executive of large advertising companiy [[WPP plc]], said that the "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" slogan had been effective because it was simple. However, the slogan began to be called into question{{By whom|date=January 2022}} later on in the pandemic when it was suggested that it had contributed to people avoiding going into hospitals to treat serious conditions.<ref name="TelegraphSlogan" />

=== Vaccination strategy ===
{{See also|COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom#Public opinion}}
In January 2021, reception for the Chief Medical Officers' decision to postpone second doses of COVID-19 vaccines from 3–4 weeks after the first dose to 12 weeks was mixed among various medical experts and advisory bodies. [[Pfizer]] and [[BioNTech]], who manufactured [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|one COVID-19 vaccine]], released a statement highlighting a lack of data for this dosing schedule. The [[British Medical Association]] called the decision "unreasonable and totally unfair" and said it would lead to logistical issues, whilst GPs and clinical leaders said it would have a "terrible impact on the emotional wellbeing of their most vulnerable, at-risk patients". Meanwhile, head of Oxford Vaccine Group [[Andrew Pollard (immunologist)|Andrew Pollard]] said the longer gap between doses would lead to a better immune response, and the [[British Society for Immunology]] said it would be unlikely to lead to any safety issues "other than an increased potential risk of disease during the extended period due to lowered protection", but called on the government to make the data behind the decision transparent.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Iacobucci|first1=Gareth|last2=Mahase|first2=Elisabeth|date=6 January 2021|title=Covid-19 vaccination: What's the evidence for extending the dosing interval?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n18|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=372|pages=n18|doi=10.1136/bmj.n18|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33408068|s2cid=230713971 }}</ref>

''The BMJ'' recognised the UK's vaccination programme as a success and a frontrunner globally in February 2021. It attributed this to the government and research sector initiating planning and research into vaccines early in 2020, and procuring large batches of several vaccine candidates at an early stage.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Baraniuk|first=Chris|date=18 February 2021|title=Covid-19: How the UK vaccine rollout delivered success, so far|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n421|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=372|pages=n421|doi=10.1136/bmj.n421|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33602672|s2cid=231946710 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Lifting of restrictions ===
The government's announcement that most legal restrictions, including those related to [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] and [[Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|social distancing measures]], would end in [[Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2021)|July 2021]] during the UK's 'third wave' partly driven by the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]], was met with criticism from scientists and public health experts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2021|title='We are a petri dish': world watches UK's race between vaccine and virus|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/we-are-a-petri-dish-world-watches-uks-race-between-vaccine-and-virus|access-date=8 July 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708112112/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/we-are-a-petri-dish-world-watches-uks-race-between-vaccine-and-virus|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=COVID-19: Sajid Javid's approach has party support – but scientists are getting worried|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-sajid-javids-approach-has-party-support-but-scientists-are-getting-worried-12348688|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184138/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-sajid-javids-approach-has-party-support-but-scientists-are-getting-worried-12348688|url-status=live}}</ref> An article in ''[[The Lancet]]'' described the final reopening as "dangerous and premature", citing concerns that the virus could develop vaccine resistance, and impacts on younger people, children and health services. The authors called for a further delay to the ending of restrictions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gurdasani|first1=Deepti|last2=Drury|first2=John|last3=Greenhalgh|first3=Trisha|last4=Griffin|first4=Stephen|last5=Haque|first5=Zubaida|last6=Hyde|first6=Zoë|last7=Katzourakis|first7=Aris|last8=McKee|first8=Martin|last9=Michie|first9=Susan|last10=Pagel|first10=Christina|last11=Reicher|first11=Stephen|date=7 July 2021|title=Mass infection is not an option: we must do more to protect our young|journal=The Lancet|volume=398|issue=10297|pages=297–298|language=English|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01589-0|pmid=34245669|issn=0140-6736|pmc=8262842}}</ref>

The "[[Living with COVID-19|living with COVID]]" plan launched in February 2022 attracted some criticism from health and health policy experts in ''The BMJ''. The end of free [[COVID-19 testing in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 testing]] was criticised by chair of [[British Medical Association|BMA]] council [[Chaand Nagpaul]], [[Independent SAGE]] and the [[Institute of Biomedical Science]]. Some experts suggested the plan could exacerbate [[health inequality in the United Kingdom]], whilst others called for better resourcing for local authorities and clearer infection control guidance in healthcare settings to continue to manage COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Limb |first=Matthew |date=28 February 2022 |title=Covid-19: Is the government dismantling pandemic systems too hastily? |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o515 |journal=BMJ |language=en |volume=376 |pages=o515 |doi=10.1136/bmj.o515 |issn=1756-1833 |pmid=35228255|s2cid=247146564 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Within the government ===
Criticisms from within the government have been largely anonymous. On 20 April, a No.{{nbsp}}10 adviser was quoted by ''[[The Times]]'' saying: "Almost every plan we had was not activated in February.{{nbsp}}... It was a massive spider's web of failing." The same article said Boris Johnson did not attend any of the five coronavirus [[COBR]] meetings held in January and February.<ref name="thetimes.co.uk">{{Cite news|last1=Calvert|first1=Jonathan|last2=Arbuthnott|first2=George|last3=Leake|first3=Jonathan|date=19 April 2020|title=Coronavirus: 38 days when Britain sleepwalked into disaster|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-38-days-when-britain-sleepwalked-into-disaster-hq3b9tlgh|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011232444/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-38-days-when-britain-sleepwalked-into-disaster-hq3b9tlgh|archive-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> On ''[[The Andrew Marr Show]]'', [[Minister for the Cabinet Office]] [[Michael Gove]] said it was normal for prime ministers to be absent as they are normally chaired by the relevant department head, who then reports to the PM. ''[[The Guardian]]'' said the meetings are normally chaired by the PM during a time of crisis and later reported that Johnson did attend one meeting "very briefly".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=19 April 2020|title=Boris Johnson missed five coronavirus Cobra meetings, Michael Gove says|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/19/michael-gove-fails-to-deny-pm-missed-five-coronavirus-cobra-meetings|url-status=live|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421042002/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/19/michael-gove-fails-to-deny-pm-missed-five-coronavirus-cobra-meetings|archive-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Conn|first1=David|last2=Lawrence|first2=Felicity|last3=Lewis|first3=Paul|last4=Carrell|first4=Severin|last5=Pegg|first5=David|last6=Davies|first6=Harry|last7=Evans|first7=Rob|date=29 April 2020|title=Revealed: the inside story of the UK's Covid-19 crisis|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/29/revealed-the-inside-story-of-uk-covid-19-coronavirus-crisis|url-status=live|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007044222/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/29/revealed-the-inside-story-of-uk-covid-19-coronavirus-crisis|archive-date=7 October 2020}}</ref>

On 26 September 2020, [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Rishi Sunak]] was reported to have opposed a second lockdown with the threat of his resignation, due to what he saw as the major economic impact it would have, and the responsibility he would have for it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Casalicchio|first=Emilio|date=23 September 2020|title=Boris Johnson adopts cautious approach to second UK coronavirus lockdown|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-cautious-approach-second-uk-coronavirus-lockdown/|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005200905/https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-cautious-approach-second-uk-coronavirus-lockdown/|archive-date=5 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jimenez|first=Darcy|date=27 September 2020|title=Boris Johnson scrapped second UK lockdown 'over fears Rishi Sunak would quit'|work=Metro|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/27/boris-johnson-scrapped-second-uk-lockdown-over-fears-rishi-sunak-would-quit-13333901/|url-status=live|access-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011065409/https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/27/boris-johnson-scrapped-second-uk-lockdown-over-fears-rishi-sunak-would-quit-13333901/|archive-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>

Home Secretary [[Priti Patel]] said that she had unsuccessfully advocated for [[Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic|all UK borders to be closed]] in March 2020.<ref name=":3" />

==== Dominic Cummings ====
On 26 May 2021, former chief adviser to the prime minister, [[Dominic Cummings]], gave 7 hours of testimony to the Commons [[Health and Social Care Select Committee]] and [[Science and Technology Select Committee]] on the Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=":3.2">{{Cite web|date=26 May 2021|title=UK government failed public on Covid response, says Dominic Cummings|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/26/uk-government-failed-public-on-covid-response-says-dominic-cummings|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526183616/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/26/uk-government-failed-public-on-covid-response-says-dominic-cummings|archive-date=26 May 2021|access-date=26 May 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref> Cummings apologised for officials, including himself, falling "disastrously short of the standards that the public has a right to expect", and said that the "government failed".<ref name=":3.2" /><ref name=":0.2">{{Cite news|date=26 May 2021|title=Key points: Dominic Cummings evidence|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57254915|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527170212/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57254915|archive-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Criticising Government leadership, Cummings said that [[Secretary of State for Health and Social Care|Health Secretary]] [[Matt Hancock]] should have been fired for lying, and that frontline workers and civil servants were "lions led by donkeys".<ref name=":0.2" /><ref name=":2.2">{{Cite news|date=26 May 2021|title=Covid: Thousands died who didn't need to die, says Dominic Cummings|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57253578|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527065225/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57253578|archive-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Boris Johnson faced criticism, Cummings saying that there were "thousands" of people better suited to run the country than him, and that he was not a "fit and proper person" to get the UK through the pandemic.<ref name=":0.2" /><ref name=":2.2" />

On the calling of lockdowns, he claimed that Johnson had disagreed with the first national lockdown, and was against the "circuit breaker" lockdown in autumn 2020 for economic reasons.<ref name=":2.2" /> Cummings said that he heard Johnson say he would rather see "[[Let the bodies pile high|bodies pile high]]" than take the country into a third lockdown, a claim Johnson denies.<ref name=":2.2" /> Cummings' claimed that Johnson "wasn't taking any advice" and "the cabinet wasn't involved or asked."<ref name=":2.2" />

=== Opposition to public health measures ===
There have been critics of the government's lockdowns. Much of the opposition to the lockdown measures came from some right wing press outlets and people of a socially [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] persuasion. They expressed support for policies of countries which did not go into lockdowns or had a much more lenient general approach to the virus, [[COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden|such as Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Geoghegan|first1=Peter|last2=Fitzgerald|first2=Mary|date=18 May 2020|title=The 'lockdown sceptics' want a culture war, with experts as the enemy|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/18/lockdown-sceptics-coronavirus-brexit|url-status=live|access-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925111045/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/18/lockdown-sceptics-coronavirus-brexit|archive-date=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Scullion|first=David|date=21 April 2020|title=The Lockdown Sceptics|url=https://thecritic.co.uk/the-lockdown-sceptics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010202617/https://thecritic.co.uk/the-lockdown-sceptics/|archive-date=10 October 2020|access-date=30 September 2020|website=The Critic}}</ref> However, ''[[Full Fact]]'' evaluated such arguments made by "lockdown skeptics", and concluded lockdowns were supported by scientific evidence and had reduced the spread of the disease.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 December 2020|title=Can we believe the lockdown sceptics?|url=https://fullfact.org/health/can-we-believe-lockdown-sceptics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616041143/https://fullfact.org/health/can-we-believe-lockdown-sceptics/|archive-date=16 June 2021|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Full Fact|language=en}}</ref>

Businessman and entrepreneur [[Simon Dolan]] launched a crowdfunded legal campaign to bring judicial review against the government's COVID-19 measures.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Amy|date=1 May 2020|title=Leading businessman launches legal challenge against Government's lockdown measures|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/01/leading-businessman-launches-legal-challenge-against-governments/|access-date=13 May 2020|work=The Telegraph|archive-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514035817/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/01/leading-businessman-launches-legal-challenge-against-governments/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 December 2020, Dolan lost this legal challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Businessman loses Court of Appeal challenge over Covid-19 rules|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/uk-news/18912332.businessman-loses-court-appeal-challenge-covid-19-rules/|access-date=14 December 2020|website=The National|language=en|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003405/https://www.thenational.scot/news/uk-news/18912332.businessman-loses-court-appeal-challenge-covid-19-rules/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Oncologist [[Karol Sikora]] has criticised the government's public health response, expressing concerns that policies of lockdown could impact treatment of other conditions, particularly [[cancer]].<ref name="blakely">Blakely, Rhys. [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/saturday-interview-karol-sikora-zr3qxsn6f This is an unfolding disaster. My advice? Don't get cancer in 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126142037/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/saturday-interview-karol-sikora-zr3qxsn6f |date=26 November 2020 }}. ''The Times'', 22 August 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-28/where-have-all-the-cancer-patients-gone-oncologist-warns-delays-in-diagnoses-could-lead-to-thousands-of-needless-deaths Where have all the cancer patients gone? Oncologist warns delays in diagnoses could lead to thousands of needless deaths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204021806/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-28/where-have-all-the-cancer-patients-gone-oncologist-warns-delays-in-diagnoses-could-lead-to-thousands-of-needless-deaths |date=4 December 2020 }}, ITV News, 28 August 2020</ref> On 21 September, Sikora alongside [[Carl Heneghan]] of University of Oxford, [[Sunetra Gupta]] and 28 signatories wrote an open letter to the government, arguing in favour of a [[Great Barrington Declaration|targeted approach]] to lockdowns where only over-65s and the vulnerable should be [[Cocooning (behaviour)|shielded]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yorke|first=Harry|date=21 September 2020|title=Reimposing national lockdown measures is 'increasingly unfeasible', leading scientists warn Boris Johnson|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/09/21/reimposing-national-lockdown-measures-increasingly-unfeasible/|access-date=11 December 2020|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110235619/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/09/21/reimposing-national-lockdown-measures-increasingly-unfeasible/|url-status=live}}</ref> The WHO criticised the proposal, and another group of scientists wrote an opposing open letter, both questioning the practicability, ethics and scientific basis of this proposal and expressing support for public health measures.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Boseley|first=Sarah|date=22 September 2020|title=Covid UK: scientists at loggerheads over approach to new restrictions|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/22/scientists-disagree-over-targeted-versus-nationwide-measures-to-tackle-covid|access-date=11 December 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003400/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/22/scientists-disagree-over-targeted-versus-nationwide-measures-to-tackle-covid|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 October 2020|title=WHO chief says herd immunity approach to pandemic 'unethical'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/who-chief-says-herd-immunity-approach-to-pandemic-unethical|access-date=11 January 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

=== Protests ===
{{Excerpt|COVID-19 protests in the United Kingdom|paragraphs=1}}

=== Calls for an inquiry ===
{{main|COVID-19 public inquiry in the United Kingdom}}
[[Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice]] and ''[[The BMJ]]'' began pressuring the government to launch a judge-led statutory [[public inquiry]] into the pandemic and the government's response to it in 2020, with a [[Rapid reviews|rapid review]] phase.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=McKee|first1=Martin|last2=Gill|first2=Mike|last3=Wollaston|first3=Sarah|date=22 May 2020|title=Public inquiry into UK's response to covid-19|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2052|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=369|pages=m2052|doi=10.1136/bmj.m2052|issn=1756-1833|pmid=32444349|s2cid=218857813 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kmietowicz|first=Zosia|date=3 December 2020|title=Covid-19: Bereaved families, unions, and charities demand immediate public inquiry to save lives|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4729|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=371|pages=m4729|doi=10.1136/bmj.m4729|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33272925|s2cid=227257279 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Unlike other public inquiries, a statutory public inquiry has the power to [[subpoena]] people and take evidence under oath.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Boris Johnson 'heartless' for not meeting bereaved families |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53994162 |access-date=3 May 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2 September 2020 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214083936/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53994162 |url-status=live }}</ref> Johnson has said that he would support a public inquiry in spring 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Covid: Lessons to be learned from spring 2022 public inquiry – PM |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57088314 |access-date=12 May 2021 |work=BBC News |date=12 May 2021 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512113301/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57088314 |url-status=live }}</ref> Terms of reference for the inquiry were published on 28 June 2022.<ref>Cabinet Office, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-covid-19-inquiry-terms-of-reference/uk-covid-19-inquiry-terms-of-reference UK COVID-19 Inquiry: terms of reference], published 28 June 2022, accessed 6 July 2022</ref>

=== Democratic scrutiny and Human rights ===
The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law began and Independent Review into UK Public Health Emergency Powers examining emergency legislation issued and the parliamentary scrutiny of this Legislation chaired by former [[Lord Justice of Appeal]], [[Jack Beatson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers Terms of Reference |url=https://binghamcentre.biicl.org/public-health-commission-terms-of-reference |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=binghamcentre.biicl.org}}</ref>

In his book, [[Emergency State (book)|Emergency State]], [[Human rights]] lawyer [[Adam Wagner]] argues that during the pandemic the government was able to create and change law at will without accountability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunliffe |first=Rachel |date=13 October 2022 |title="We are uniquely unprotected" from our own government: Adam Wagner on the Emergency State |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/interviews-and-profiles/2022/10/protest-basic-currency-democracy-pandemic-adam-wagner-emergency-state |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref> Wagner argues that a process of "following the science" allowed a small group of MPs in the Covid-19 Cabinet Committees to make secretive decisions without accountability based on advice given to them by [[Strategic Advisory Group of Experts]].<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last=Wagner |first=Adam |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1338679624 |title=Emergency state : the freedoms we lost in the pandemic and how to get them back |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-84792-746-0 |location=London |oclc=1338679624}}</ref>{{Rp|page=163}}

== See also ==
* [[United Kingdom responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
* [[COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom]]
* [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland#Government response plan|Scottish government response]]
* [[National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
* [[Premiership of Boris Johnson]]
* [[Partygate]] – breaches of COVID-19 regulations involving government personnel
* [[Beergate]] – alleged breaches of COVID-19 regulations involving opposition personnel

== Bibliography ==
* [[George Arbuthnott|Arbuthnott, George]] and Calvert, Jonathan, ''[[Failures of State|Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain's Battle with Coronavirus]]'' (HarperCollins, 2021).
* [[Richard Horton (editor)|Horton, Richard]], ''The COVID–19 Catastrophe: What′s Gone Wrong and How To Stop It Happening Again'' (Polity Press, 2021).

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: step by step guide for employers], [[Gov.uk]]
* {{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879484/200414_CJRS_DIRECTION_-_33_FINAL_Signed.pdf |title=The Coronavirus Act 2020 Functions of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) Direction |website=publishing.service.gov.uk |date=15 April 2020}}
* {{cite web|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8880/CBP-8880.pdf |title=FAQs: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme|website=House of Commons Library|date=7 May 2020}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories}}

[[Category:2020 in British politics]]
[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United Kingdom responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Financial history of the United Kingdom|COVID-19]]
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[[Category:Public health in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:2021 in British politics]]
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[[Category:Matt Hancock]]
[[Category:Rishi Sunak]]
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