Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (January–June 2020) facts for kids

This is a timeline showing important events about the COVID-19 pandemic in England from January to June 2020. It explains how the virus spread and what rules were put in place to keep people safe. Remember, the rules and how things were reported were different in England compared to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Key Events in the Pandemic

January 2020: First Cases

• 31 January – The first two cases of coronavirus in the UK are found.

February 2020: More Cases Appear

• 6 February – A third case of coronavirus is confirmed in the UK.
• 10 February – The total number of cases in the UK reaches eight. Four more people are found to have the virus. They were linked to a man from Brighton who was already sick.
• 11 February – A ninth case is confirmed in London.
• 23 February – The Department of Health confirms 13 cases in the UK. Four new cases are found in passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. They are taken to hospitals in the UK.
• 28 February – The first British person dies from the disease. This person was quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
• 29 February – The BBC reports the first case of a man in Surrey who got COVID-19 while in the UK. He had not recently traveled abroad. This meant the virus was spreading within the UK.

March 2020: Lockdowns Begin

• 5 March – The first death from coronavirus in the UK is confirmed. The total number of cases goes over 100, reaching 115. England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, says the UK has moved to a new stage. This stage is called "delay," meaning they are trying to slow down the virus, not just stop it.
• 8 March –
  • A third death from coronavirus is reported at North Manchester General Hospital. The number of cases in the UK reaches 273. This is the biggest jump in cases in one day so far.
  • A football match between Manchester United and Manchester City happens at Old Trafford. Over 73,000 people watch. Later, it is thought this match caused 27 extra COVID deaths.
• 10-13 March – The Cheltenham Festival takes place over several days. More than 250,000 people attend. Many people later blame this event for spreading COVID-19. The BBC reports that this event might have caused 37 extra COVID deaths and thousands of infections.
• 11 March –
  • The Bank of England lowers its main interest rate. This makes it cheaper to borrow money.
  • A football match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid is played at Anfield. About 3,000 fans from Madrid are among the 52,000 people watching. Some fans went to bars after the game. This match is later thought to have caused 41 extra COVID deaths.
• 12 March – Public Health England stops trying to find and contact people who have been near someone with the virus. This is because there are too many infections to keep up.
• 13 March –
  • The Premier League football season is stopped. Many other sports events around the world are also canceled or put on hold.
  • Elections planned for May 2020, including local elections and the London mayoral election, are put off for a year because of the virus.
• 17 March – NHS England says that from April 15, all non-urgent operations in England will be postponed. This is to make 30,000 hospital beds free to help treat virus patients.
• 20 March –
  • Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, London, declares a "critical incident." This means they are overwhelmed with many coronavirus patients.
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders all cafes, pubs, and restaurants to close. They can still offer take-away food. All nightclubs, theaters, cinemas, gyms, and leisure centers are also told to close.
• 21 March –
  • New rules come into effect. They legally close businesses that sell food and drink to be eaten on site. Many other places like nightclubs and indoor leisure centers also close.
  • NHS England arranges to use almost all services and facilities at private hospitals. This includes about 8,000 hospital beds, nearly 1,200 ventilators, and over 10,000 nurses.
• 22 March – Boris Johnson warns that stricter rules might be put in place. This will happen if people do not follow government advice on keeping a safe distance from others.
• 23 March –
  • In a TV speech, Boris Johnson announces a partial lockdown across the UK. People are told to stay at home. They can only leave for very specific reasons. These include shopping for basic needs, one form of exercise a day, medical needs, and traveling to work if absolutely necessary. Police are given powers to make sure people follow these rules, including giving fines.
  • Pride in London, a big LGBT festival planned for June 27, is postponed. It is one of many pride events canceled or postponed in the UK.
• 24 March –
  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces a temporary hospital will open. It is called the NHS Nightingale Hospital and will be at the ExCeL London exhibition center. It will provide extra critical care beds.
  • The Church of England closes all its buildings.
• 25 March –
  • Police are given power to use "reasonable force" to make people follow the lockdown rules.
  • Regular dental care is stopped in England.
• 26 March –
  • New rules, called the 'Lockdown Regulations', come into effect. They require many more businesses to close immediately. This includes all shops not on an approved list. These rules also greatly limit how much people can move around. People are not allowed to leave their homes without a good reason.
  • The 2020 Isle of Wight and Download music festivals, planned for June, are canceled. The Download festival organizers later plan a virtual festival online.

April 2020: Testing and Hospitals

• 2 April – Matt Hancock sets a goal to do 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month. This includes both swab tests and blood tests.
• 3 April – The NHS Nightingale Hospital London opens. It is the first temporary hospital for coronavirus patients. It is at the ExCel centre in East London. It has 500 beds and can hold up to 4,000. NHS staff and military personnel work there.
• 10 April –
  • Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, says the lockdown is "beginning to pay off." But he warns the UK is still in a "dangerous situation." He notes that cases in London have started to drop, but are still rising in other areas.
  • Care homes in England must now report daily if a death was from confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
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  Milk rationing in April 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts
  11 April –
  • The number of people in London hospitals for COVID-19 reaches its highest point. In other parts of the country, patient numbers keep going up, but more slowly.
  • The use of critical care beds in England reaches about 58% of its total capacity.
• 15 April –
  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces new rules. They will allow close family members to see dying relatives to say goodbye. Hancock also starts a new system to give protective equipment to care home staff.
  • NHS England and the Care Quality Commission start rolling out tests for care home staff and residents. This is because official figures were not showing the full number of deaths in care homes.
• 16 April – The NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham officially opens. Prince William opens it at the National Exhibition Centre.
• 17 April –
  • Matt Hancock confirms that coronavirus tests will be available for more public service staff. This includes police officers, firefighters, and prison staff.
  • Later figures show that this week had the highest number of deaths from all causes in England and Wales. COVID-19 was mentioned in 8,730 of these deaths.
• 20 April –
  • To protect bus drivers, Transport for London closes the front doors of buses. Passengers must now get on through the middle doors. Passengers do not need to pay, so they don't have to use the card reader near the driver.
  • Prof Dame Angela Maclean, a top scientific adviser, says the number of confirmed cases is "flattening out." The number of people in hospital for COVID-19 has started to fall in Scotland, Wales, and all regions of England.
• 22 April – New rules come into effect. They fix mistakes in the original lockdown rules. They also allow some visits to burial grounds and gardens of remembrance.
• 23 April –
  • A study involving 20,000 homes in England begins. It will track COVID-19 and try to understand how many people are infected or have immunity. Volunteers will give nose and throat swabs regularly.
  • Matt Hancock says daily testing capacity has reached 51,000. He announces that all key workers and their family members can now get COVID-19 tests. They can book tests online from the next day.
  • Hancock also announces plans to restart contact tracing. This means hiring 18,000 contact tracers to help find people who have been in contact with someone with the virus.
• 28 April – Testing capacity reaches 73,000 per day. Matt Hancock announces that testing will be expanded. From the next day, it will include all care home workers and people over 65 with symptoms.

May 2020: Easing Restrictions

• 1 May – Matt Hancock confirms the government met its goal of providing 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. Over 122,000 tests were provided in the last 24 hours.
• 2 May – Some recycling centers, including those in Greater Manchester, start to reopen after six weeks.
• 5 May – NHS Nightingale Hospital North East, a temporary hospital near Sunderland for COVID-19 patients, officially opens. Health Secretary Matt Hancock opens it in a virtual ceremony with TV celebrities.
• 7 May –
  • Baroness Dido Harding is chosen to lead the government's testing and tracing program.
  • The 2020 Notting Hill Carnival, a big event planned for August, is canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• 10 May –
  • The UK government changes its coronavirus message. It goes from "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives" to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives." Some people worry this new message is confusing.
  • A new alert system is announced, from green (level one) to red (level five).
  • Boris Johnson gives a speech. He talks about a plan to slowly reopen society. He says it's not time to end the lockdown completely. He encourages people who cannot work from home, like construction workers, to return to work. He advises them to avoid public transport. From May 13, people can exercise outdoors more often.
  • Johnson outlines future steps. "Step two," possibly from June 1, would include reopening some shops and primary schools. "Step three," possibly by July, would start reopening restaurants and other public places.
• 11 May –
  • The UK government publishes a 50-page document with more details on lifting lockdown rules.
  • Boris Johnson says he doesn't expect a "sudden big flood" of people returning to work. Companies will need to show they have safety measures in place.
  • The UK government advises people in England to wear face coverings in enclosed places. This includes public transport and shops, where keeping a distance is hard.
  • Teaching unions express concern about plans to reopen schools on June 1. They say it is "reckless" and unsafe.
• 12 May – The Reading and Leeds Festivals, planned for August, are canceled because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
• 13 May – New rules come into effect. They allow garden centers, sports courts, and recycling centers to reopen. Outdoor recreation is also allowed with no more than one person from another household. People are still told to keep a safe distance. Moving house and house viewings are also allowed.
• 14 May –
  • Over 126,000 COVID-19 tests are done in 24 hours, the highest number so far.
  • Figures show that one in four people who died in hospital from COVID-19 had diabetes.
  • A survey estimates that about 148,000 people in England had COVID-19 at any given time in late April and early May.
  • Public Health England approves a blood test that can find COVID-19 antibodies. These show if someone has had the virus before.
  • Transport for London gets £1.6 billion in emergency government money to keep bus and tube services running.
• 15 May –
  • A report finds that 9,039 care home residents in England and Wales died between March 2 and May 1. COVID-19 was involved in 27% of all deaths of care home residents.
  • Matt Hancock announces that every resident and staff member in care homes in England will be tested for COVID-19 by early June.
  • Government scientists and teaching unions talk about safely reopening schools. The British Medical Association supports the unions' safety concerns.
• 16 May – Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, asks the government and teaching unions to "stop squabbling and agree a plan" to reopen schools. She warns that school closures are hurting disadvantaged children.
• 17 May – Boris Johnson admits that the government's "stay alert" message for England has caused frustration. But he asks the public to be patient as lockdown rules are eased.
• 18 May –
  • The London congestion charge is brought back. Buses in London also start charging fares again. The congestion charge will also go up from £11.50 to £15 from June 22.
  • Jury trials start again in a few courts in England and Wales. They had been stopped since the lockdown began.
  • The 2020 Chelsea Flower Show is held as a virtual event for the first time.
  • English Premier League football clubs vote to allow teams to start training in small groups. This is a step towards restarting football.
• 20 May –
  • Boris Johnson confirms that a system to track and trace the virus will be ready by June 1.
  • The government faces pressure from councils and teaching unions to rethink plans to reopen primary schools from June 1.
  • Figures show no new coronavirus cases were reported in London in a 24-hour period up to May 18.
• 24 May –
  • Blood samples from London donors show that about 16% of people have antibodies, meaning they were exposed to COVID-19.
  • Boris Johnson confirms plans for schools in England to reopen in phases from June 1. Early years, Reception, Year 1, and Year 6 pupils will return first. From June 15, some Year 10 and Year 12 students will have "some contact" to help prepare for exams.
• 25 May –
  • Boris Johnson outlines plans to reopen car showrooms and outdoor markets from June 1. All non-essential shops will reopen from June 15.
  • Weston General Hospital in Somerset temporarily stops taking new patients because of many COVID-19 cases.
  • The Football Association confirms that the women's football seasons have ended early.
• 27 May –
  • Boris Johnson states that a test and trace system will start in England the next day.
  • Premier League football clubs vote to restart contact training.
• 28 May –
  • Contact tracing systems start in England and Scotland. In England, it's called NHS Test and Trace.
  • Johnson says the government's five tests for easing lockdown have been met. From June 1 in England, groups of up to six people can meet outdoors in gardens and private spaces. Dental practices will be allowed to reopen from June 8.
  • Premier League clubs agree to restart games on June 17. All remaining 92 matches will be shown live on television.
• 29 May – A rehabilitation center for COVID-19 patients receives its first patients. It is named NHS Seacole after the British-Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole.
• 30 May – Boris Johnson announces that rules will be relaxed for the 2.2 million people who have been "shielding" at home. From June 1, they can go outdoors with members of their household. Those who live alone can meet one other person outside.
• 31 May – Some scientists express concern about relaxing rules for those shielding.

June 2020: Further Reopening

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  A sign outside a Sense charity shop in June 2020 indicates an indefinite closure due to COVID
  1 June –
  • New rules come into effect. Car and caravan showrooms, outdoor sports areas, and outdoor non-food markets can reopen. People are no longer banned from leaving home, but they cannot stay overnight away from home, with some exceptions. Gatherings of more than six people outdoors are limited. Indoor gatherings are still banned, except for education.
  • As primary schools reopen in England, headteachers report that between 40% and 70% of students attend.
  • Furniture retailer Ikea reopens 19 of its UK stores.
  • Horse racing becomes the first sport to return in England after 76 days. Snooker also returns.
• 2 June –
  • Public Health England releases a report. It finds that more people from ethnic minorities are dying from COVID-19. The report says age, sex, health, location, and ethnicity are all risk factors. People of Bangladeshi origin have a very high number of deaths.
  • The England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that England will play three test matches against the West Indies starting on July 8.
• 4 June – Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces that face coverings will be required on public transport from June 15. Very young children, disabled people, and those with breathing problems will not have to wear them.
• 5 June –
  • Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's top scientific adviser, says the R number (how many people one infected person passes the virus to) is between 0.7 and 0.9. This means the virus is shrinking.
  • The UK government's ban on tenant evictions in England and Wales is extended by two months to August 23.
  • Chelsea are declared the winners of the 2019–20 Women's Super League after the season ended early.
  • Premiership Rugby announces plans to restart its season on August 15.
• 7 June – A weekly report finds "no significant overall excess all-cause mortality" for the week ending today. This means the total number of deaths from all causes was not much higher than usual.
• 8 June –
  • The Department of Health and Social Care makes tests available to all adult care homes, not just those for over-65s.
  • Dental practices can reopen.
• 9 June –
  • The UK government drops plans for all primary school children to return to school before the end of the summer term. They say it is not possible.
  • The English League One and League Two football seasons are ended early after clubs vote.
• 10 June –
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces more easing of lockdown rules in England from June 13. People living alone can spend time in one other household as a "support bubble." They will be treated as one household, so social distancing won't apply.
  • Johnson announces plans for a school catch-up program over the summer. This will help schoolchildren catch up on missed lessons.
• 11 June –
  • Figures show that in its first week, the NHS Test and Trace system identified 31,700 contacts. Of these, 26,900 (85%) were reached and asked to self-isolate.
  • Figures from NHS England show the pandemic's impact on cancer care. Fewer people were assessed or started treatment for cancer in April compared to 2019.
  • The government faces pressure to reduce the two-meter social distancing rule. Some feel it is hurting the economy.
• 13 June – New rules come into effect. Households with one adult can now form a "support bubble" with one other household of any size. This allows them to be treated as one for gatherings and allows overnight stays. Rules on gatherings are also relaxed for medical appointments and some visits to hospitals and care homes.
• 14 June –
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders a review of the two-meter social distancing rule. This is because it might make many hospitality businesses unable to operate. The review will be finished before July 4, when pubs and cafes are set to reopen.
  • Johnson encourages people to "shop, and shop with confidence" before non-essential shops reopen.
• 15 June –
  • More new rules come into effect. They allow most English retail shops and public-facing businesses to reopen. Places like restaurants, bars, nightclubs, most cinemas, theaters, museums, hairdressers, and indoor sports facilities must stay closed. Outdoor animal attractions like zoos can open. Places of worship can be used for private prayer.
  • New rules require travelers on public transport in England to wear a face covering.
  • Secondary school pupils in England from Year 10 and Year 12 return to school.
  • The 2020 Great North Run, a big running event, is canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• 16 June – The UK government announces that the school meals voucher scheme will be extended to cover the summer holidays. This will help 1.3 million disadvantaged children get free meals. This decision reverses an earlier plan to stop the program.
• 17 June – English Premier League football returns after being stopped for 100 days.
• 19 June –
  • The UK government announces a £1 billion fund to help children in England catch up on missed schoolwork. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson also confirms that all children will return to full-time schooling in September.
  • Dr. David Rosser, chief executive of England's largest hospital trust, confirms there are no COVID-19 patients in their intensive care units for the first time since March.
• 22 June – The UK government announces that the 2.2 million people in England who have been shielding will no longer need to do so from August 1. From July 6, they can meet up outside with up to five other people and form a "support bubble" with another household.
• 23 June –
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that social distancing rules for England will be relaxed from July 4. People will be required to stay one meter apart but advised to keep two meters whenever possible. Pubs, restaurants, hotels, and hairdressers can reopen on the same day, but social distancing must be maintained. Two households can also meet up indoors from July 4. Weddings with up to 30 guests will also be allowed.
  • Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says the government hopes to reopen gyms in mid-July.
• 25 June –
  • The UK government announces plans to allow pubs and restaurants to use outdoor spaces like terraces and car parks. Outdoor markets will no longer need special permission.
  • Figures from NHS Test and Trace show that in its first three weeks, over 100,000 people were asked to self-isolate after being contacted.
  • The UK government publishes a five-stage plan for reopening theaters. However, theater unions criticize it for not including money for the performing arts.
• 26 June – Merseyside Police issue an order after fans of Liverpool Football Club gather for a second night of celebration after their team won the Premier League title.
• 28 June – Home Secretary Priti Patel confirms reports that the government is thinking about a local lockdown in Leicester. The city has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases.
• 29 June –
  • Following a rise in COVID-19 cases in Leicester, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces stricter lockdown measures for the city. This includes closing non-essential shops from the next day and closing schools from July 2. People in Leicester are advised to stay home as much as possible. Travel to, from, and within the city should be avoided unless essential.
  • The UK government publishes guidelines for weddings in England. Up to thirty people can attend, but without singing or a reception after the ceremony.
  • The England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that the 2020 County Championship season will begin on August 1.
• 30 June – England's exam regulator, Ofqual, says that any student unhappy with their GCSE or A Level results can retake exams in all subjects in the autumn.

More Information

• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (July–December 2020)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (2021)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2020)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2020)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (2021)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2020)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales (2020)
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2020)

Images for kids

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  Milk rationing in April 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts

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  A sign outside a Sense charity shop in June 2020 indicates an indefinite closure due to COVID