Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2020)

Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK from January to June 2020

The timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from January to June 2020 details the progression of the pandemic in the UK during the first half of 2020. This period was marked by the initial outbreak, the implementation of lockdown measures, and the first wave of infections.

January 2020

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The UK government began monitoring the situation closely. On 31 January, the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the UK. These cases involved two members of the same family who had recently traveled from China.

February 2020

Throughout February, the number of confirmed cases in the UK remained low. However, the government began preparing for a potential outbreak. On 28 February, the first case of community transmission was confirmed, indicating that the virus was spreading within the UK.

March 2020

Weekly COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales

March saw a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. On 5 March, the first death from COVID-19 was reported in the UK. By mid-March, the government introduced social distancing measures and advised against non-essential travel. On 23 March, a nationwide lockdown was announced, requiring people to stay at home except for essential purposes.

April 2020

In April, the UK experienced a peak in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The National Health Service (NHS) was under significant pressure, and the government increased testing capacity. The lockdown measures remained in place throughout the month, with the public urged to continue following social distancing guidelines.

May 2020

UK COVID Alert Levels

In May, the UK government introduced a COVID Alert Level system to help guide the easing of lockdown measures. On 10 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a "roadmap" for gradually lifting restrictions. The government also began implementing a "test and trace" system to control the spread of the virus.

June 2020

Leicestershire lockdown boundary map

By June, the number of new cases and deaths had decreased, allowing for some easing of restrictions. However, localized outbreaks continued to occur, leading to targeted lockdowns, such as in Leicester. The government continued to emphasize the importance of social distancing and hygiene measures to prevent a resurgence of the virus.

Related pages

• COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom