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Table 1 Major pandemic prevention and control policies in the UK during the first wavea

From: Critical policies disparity of the first and second waves of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom

Policy

The key elements

Surveillance and testing measures

(1) The COVID-19 Drive-Through Screening Centre was set up at Parsons Green Health Centre and Edinburgh Western General Hospital on 24 and 28 Feb 2020 respectively.

(2) The UK incorporated COVID-19 testing for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and ILI surveillance.

(3) Since mid-April 2020, the UK has expanded the range and capacity of Coronavirus testing.

(4) In May 2020, the NHS released a test version of Coronavirus contact tracking app.

(5) At the end of May 2020, the Coronavirus detection and tracking system was activated in England and Scotland.

Border control measures

(1) In March 2020, the UK went into lockdown. The government banned all non-essential travel.

(2) On 8 June 2020, the UK introduced an entry quarantine policy, requiring passengers entering the UK to be quarantined for 14 days.

(3) On 28 July 2020, the UK imposed a 14-day quarantine on people arriving from Spain.

Community and social measures

(1) In March 2020, the government introduced a “risk aversion” policy, avoiding non-essential outdoor and personal contact, quarantining those with symptoms at home for 14 days and working from home, a social distancing measure of 2 m.

(2) On 20 March 2020, all schools in the UK were closed and all tests cancelled. And indefinitely close bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas and other public places across the country.

(3) People have been asked to wear masks on public transport.

Blockade measures

(1) On 11 May 2020, the Prime Minister proposed a level 5 alert system as the basis for judging the UK’s lockdown phase.

(2) On 23 March 2020, the UK entered into a three-week national lockdown. All people were asked to stay at home, do not go out as far as possible, prohibited public gatherings of more than two people.

(3) On 17 April 2020, the lockdown was extended by 3 weeks until 7 May.

(4) On 6 August, the UK imposed a second lockdown on sites in Scotland where there have been clusters of coronavirus infections.

Health care measures

(1) The NHS cancelled all non-emergency operations and sent as many patients home as possible to free up 30,000 beds in England.

(2) Temporary intensive care hospitals were established in various regions, the NHS Louisa Jordan was established in Scotland, temporary critical care NHS Nightingale hospitals were built across England, and the Dragon’s Heart Hospital was set up in Wales.

(3) Primary care practitioners were advised to avoid face-to-face assessment of suspected cases.

COVID-19 vaccination measure

On 3 February 2020, the UK announced a £20 million investment to accelerate the development and production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Relaxed pandemic prevention measures

(1) On May 11th the prime minister announced a gradual easing of the blockade in three stages, with “conditional” lifting.

(2) On 21 May 2020, Scotland announced a four-stage initial unblock plan.

(3) On 26 May 2020, new retail unblock guidelines were published and all non-essential retail outlets are expected to reopen in the UK from 15 June.

(4) The COVID-19 alert level was lowered from phase 4 to phase 3 on 19 June 2020.

(5) On 4 July 2020, cinemas, libraries, restaurants and bars across England were opened to the public. Social distancing can be reduced to 1 m if people wear masks and other protective measures.

  1. aThe first wave was from 31 January to 6 September 2020