Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2021) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page shares a timeline of important events about the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland during 2021. It shows how the rules and reports were sometimes different in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK, like England, Scotland, and Wales.

How Things Changed in 2021
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How Things Changed in 2021

January: New Rules and Vaccines Start

1 January – The police in Northern Ireland gave out 126 fines for parties held on New Year's Eve, as these broke the rules.
1 January – Schools announced that students would need to wear face masks in classrooms when they returned.
2 January – Northern Ireland reported 3,500 new positive COVID tests and 26 deaths in two days.
4 January – The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine started to be given out in Northern Ireland. They planned to give 11,000 doses in the first week.
5 January – The Northern Ireland government said that a "stay at home" rule would become law from January 8.
6 January – Education Minister Peter Weir announced that important exams like GCSE and A Level for summer 2021 were cancelled because of the pandemic.
7 January – Hospitals in Belfast had to cancel urgent cancer operations because so many people with COVID-19 needed care.
7 January – Major churches in Northern Ireland stopped public services until February to help stop the virus spread.
10 January – All six health trusts in Northern Ireland predicted that the number of people in hospital with COVID could double by mid-January.
12 January – Experts said that the R number (which shows how fast the virus is spreading) had gone down a lot after Christmas.
13 January – The test for Year Seven pupils, which helps them get into secondary schools, was cancelled.
14 January – The government said that people coming to Northern Ireland from outside the UK and Republic of Ireland would need a negative COVID test before they travelled.
15 January – Northern Ireland had its highest number of weekly COVID deaths so far, with 145 recorded in the first week of January.
20 January – Health Minister Robin Swann asked the UK military for help with medical staff, especially in hospitals.
21 January – The lockdown rules for Northern Ireland were extended until March 5.
27 January – People aged 65-69 could start booking their COVID vaccinations.
28 January – Most schools in Northern Ireland would not return until at least March 8.
29 January – There was a big discussion with the European Union about vaccine supplies. The EU first said they might control vaccines going to Northern Ireland, but then changed their mind.

February: Vaccinations Speed Up

1 February – Health Minister Robin Swann confirmed that over 246,000 COVID vaccinations had been given in Northern Ireland.
3 February – Figures showed that 4,000 urgent cancer procedures had been cancelled since the pandemic began.
5 February – Over 300,000 vaccinations had been given in Northern Ireland.
8 February – Police in the Republic of Ireland started sending people from Northern Ireland back if they crossed the border without a good reason.
9 February – Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer said that most COVID rules could not be fully lifted until 70% to 80% of people were vaccinated.
18 February – Lockdown was extended until April 1, but some primary school years (P1 to P3) would start to reopen from March 8.
21 February – Officials in Northern Ireland said their COVID vaccination program was "ahead of schedule."
22 February – Belfast's SSE Arena was announced as a new big vaccination centre.
24 February – More than half a million COVID vaccinations had been given in Northern Ireland.
27 February – One year after the first COVID case in Northern Ireland, figures showed that 35% of people had been vaccinated.

March: Schools Return and Rules Change

1 March – Care home residents were allowed to have at least one face-to-face visit per week.
2 March – Northern Ireland announced its plan to ease lockdown, but unlike England and Scotland, it did not give specific dates.
8 March – Pupils in Years P1 to P3 returned to school.
10 March – Quick COVID tests were to be given to workers in food, manufacturing, shops, and construction.
12 March – The UK government sent 100 military medical staff to Northern Ireland to help with the faster vaccine rollout.
14 March – Health officials confirmed that Northern Ireland would continue using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine even though some places paused it.
15 March – People aged over 50 could book a COVID vaccine. Over 30,000 bookings were made in the first three hours.
16 March – All primary schools would return from March 22, and all secondary schools from April 12. Some sports would also be allowed to restart.
17 March – Police had to break up crowds in Belfast's Botanic Gardens who were celebrating St Patrick's Day.
18 March – Health Minister Robin Swann said all adults in Northern Ireland would get their first COVID vaccine by the end of July.
22 March – All primary school pupils and older secondary students (Years 12-14) returned to school. Police had issued 8,000 COVID-related fines since the pandemic started.
25 March – Almost half of the adult population (703,334 people) had received their first COVID vaccine.
26 March – Catholic churches in Northern Ireland reopened for public worship.
29 March – Belfast's SSE Arena opened as a big vaccination centre.

April: More Freedom and Vaccinations

1 April – All children were confirmed to return to school on April 12.
10 April – Northern Ireland reached one million vaccinations.
12 April – All students returned to in-person teaching. The "stay at home" rule changed to "stay local." Outdoor shops and services reopened.
15 April – Outdoor hospitality (like pub gardens), gyms, and non-essential shops were allowed to reopen on April 30. Indoor hospitality would reopen on May 24.
19 April – Vaccination appointments became available for some adults aged 35-39.
23 April – Hairdressers and driving tests restarted. Outdoor visitor attractions also reopened.
26 April – All people aged 35-39 could now book a vaccine.
30 April – Non-essential shops, bars, cafes, gyms, and swimming pools reopened. All people aged 30-34 could now book a vaccine.

May: New Variant and Travel Changes

4 May – Hospital patients could have up to two visitors a day, and care home residents could have two one-hour visits per week.
6 May – Seven cases of the Indian Variant of COVID-19 were found in Northern Ireland.
7 May – People under 40 were offered a different vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) instead of AstraZeneca, but health officials said it was still safe to get vaccinated.
13 May – The government announced more rule easing for May 24, including allowing travel from other parts of the UK and Ireland, spectators at sports events, and reopening libraries and museums.
18 May – Over one million people in Northern Ireland had received their first COVID vaccine.
20 May – Indoor hospitality was allowed to reopen from May 24. People aged 25-29 became eligible for their first COVID vaccination.
24 May – Indoor hospitality reopened, and six people from two different households could meet indoors.
27 May – COVID vaccinations were opened to everyone aged 18 and over in Northern Ireland, making it the first part of the UK to do so.

June: Cases Rise Again

1 June – The Twelfth of July parades were confirmed to go ahead for 2021.
4 June – Many people changed their second COVID vaccination appointments due to worries about the Indian variant, which could affect the vaccine program.
7 June – Fifteen cases of COVID were found in Kilkeel through special testing, with nine believed to be the Indian variant.
10 June – The time between first and second COVID vaccines was shortened from 10-12 weeks to eight weeks.
17 June – Plans to ease more restrictions were delayed until July 5.
27 June – Walk-in vaccination centres opened for all over 18s in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland passed two million vaccinations.
30 June – Northern Ireland recorded its highest number of daily COVID cases since February, with 375 new cases.

July: Living with COVID

1 July – Live music was allowed to restart from July 5, with some rules for indoor concerts.
2 July – A temporary system called COVIDCert was set up to help Northern Ireland residents prove they had been vaccinated for travel abroad.
5 July – Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer suggested the region was experiencing a fourth wave of COVID.
8 July – Fully vaccinated people arriving from "amber list" countries would no longer need to quarantine from July 26.
15 July – More than 1,000 new daily COVID cases were reported, which Health Minister Robin Swann called "alarming."
23 July – Northern Ireland launched its vaccine certificate app, CovidCertNI.
25 July – Over one million people in Northern Ireland (about 70% of adults) had received both COVID vaccinations.
26 July – Theatres and concert venues were allowed to reopen from July 27.
27 July – Belfast's Lyric Theatre was the first theatre to reopen.
29 July – A scheme was announced where every adult in Northern Ireland would get a £100 card to spend in shops to help the economy.
31 July – This was the last day to get a first vaccination at one of Northern Ireland's main vaccination centres.

August: High Street Vouchers and Hospital Pressure

2 August – Kidney transplants in Belfast were cancelled due to staff shortages.
6 August – The number of COVID-related deaths in Northern Ireland passed 3,000. The first teenagers aged 16 and 17 received their first COVID vaccinations.
7 August – Figures showed COVID cases had risen a lot in July, giving Northern Ireland the highest infection rate in the UK.
12 August – Rules changed so fully vaccinated close contacts no longer had to self-isolate. School bubbles were also removed.
19 August – Health Minister Robin Swann aimed for 90% of adults to have at least one vaccine, saying it could halve hospital admissions.
20 August – Northern Ireland recorded its highest number of daily COVID cases since the start of the pandemic, with 2,397 new cases.
21 August – Walk-in vaccination centres were open for anyone over 18 to get their first vaccine in a "Big Jab Weekend."
25 August – Northern Ireland's High Street voucher scheme was set to launch on September 12.
29 August – Hospitals asked patients not to come to Emergency Departments unless it was urgent, as they were under pressure from COVID patients.
31 August – Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill confirmed she had tested positive for COVID-19.

September: Rule Changes and Vaccine Passes

6 September – Around 400 pupils at Larne High School were absent because they were close contacts of someone with COVID.
7 September – The government agreed to new rule changes: up to 15 people could gather indoors, table service was no longer required in hospitality, and dancing was allowed at weddings.
8 September – The Public Health Agency would take over contact tracing in schools.
11 September – A pop-up vaccination centre opened at a music venue in Belfast, offering free concert tickets to those getting vaccinated.
14 September – Details of the £145 million High Street Voucher Scheme were shared, with registration opening on September 27.
16 September – The government asked the UK military for medical staff to help hospitals in October.
27 September – The government agreed to end social distancing rules for shops, theatres, and other indoor places from September 30. The website for the high street voucher scheme opened and received 500,000 requests on its first day.
30 September – Social distancing rules ended for many indoor places. Some venues were asked to voluntarily check for proof of vaccination or a negative test.

October: Nightclubs Reopen

1 October – Two wards at the Ulster Hospital closed due to COVID outbreaks.
7 October – The government agreed to remove social distancing rules in bars and restaurants from October 31, meaning nightclubs could reopen.
19 October – The government's Winter COVID Plan included keeping face coverings mandatory indoors and possibly introducing COVID passports in "high risk settings."
21 October – Social distancing in hospitality became advisory, not compulsory. Masks were not required in nightclubs.
25 October – The High Street voucher scheme closed for applications.
31 October – Nightclubs in Northern Ireland reopened, being the last part of the UK to do so.

November: Vaccine Passports and Hospital Pressure

1 November – Northern Ireland launched the Cert Check NI app for voluntary vaccine checks in entertainment and hospitality.
15 November – Health Minister Robin Swann said it was "now is the time" to introduce a COVID passport scheme.
16 November – Over 170 COVID cases were linked to a crowded teenage disco in Toome.
17 November – Ministers voted to make COVID passports mandatory from December for entry into pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs.
18 November – Plans were announced to speed up the vaccine booster program.
23 November – The government advised people to work from home whenever possible and limit social contact.
29 November – First Minister Paul Givan called the COVID passport scheme "divisive" and rushed.

December: Omicron Variant and New Rules

3 December – Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, Michelle O'Neill, said there were no plans to increase restrictions over Christmas.
7 December – The first case of the Omicron variant was found in Northern Ireland. Rules for international travellers were tightened.
9 December – The deadline to spend the £100 High Street vouchers was extended to December 19.
13 December – COVID Passes became mandatory for hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland, with a £10,000 fine for venues that did not follow the rule.
15 December – The number of Omicron variant cases reached 151. Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said he was more concerned than ever.
17 December – Close contacts of anyone with COVID had to self-isolate again, even if vaccinated, and get a PCR test.
19 December – The booster vaccine program was opened to all adults over 18.
20 December – Over 2,300 Omicron cases were identified. Queen's University Belfast announced plans for remote learning in January 2022.
24 December – A record 3,286 new COVID cases were reported in one day.
26 December – Nightclubs closed again, just two months after reopening.
27 December – New restrictions were brought back: a limit of six people meeting indoors, table service for hospitality, and two-metre social distancing.
30 December – The time needed to self-isolate after a positive COVID test was reduced from ten to seven days.
31 December – The Belfast Health Trust put more restrictions on hospital visits.