page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
section_title: Regulations and legislation
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom / Government response / Regulations and legislation
caption_attribution_description: English: Restaurant in London offering home deliveries during the Coronavirus pandemic March 2020
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached the country in late January 2020. As of 30 August 2020 there have been 334,467 confirmed cases and 41,499 deaths of confirmed cases, the world's fourth-highest death rate per capita among major countries. There were 57,096 deaths where the death certificate mentioned COVID-19 by 14 August. More than 90% of those dying had underlying illnesses or were over 60 years old. The infection rate is higher in care homes than in the community. There is large regional variation in the outbreak's severity. In March, London had the highest number of infections while North East England has the highest infection rate. England is the country of the UK with the highest mortality rate, while Northern Ireland has the lowest. Healthcare in the UK is devolved to each country.
  The Department of Health and Social Care launched a public health information campaign to help slow the virus's spread, and began posting daily updates in early February.
context_section_description: The government published the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 on 10 February 2020, a 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. Other published regulations include changes to Statutory sick pay (into force on 13 March), and changes to Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (also 13 March).
  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. The act received royal assent on 25 March 2020.
  Closures to pubs, restaurants and indoor sports and leisure facilities were imposed in England via the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020.
  The restrictions on movements, except for allowed purposes, were:
  Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (and subsequent amendments)
  Since replaced by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020
  Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
  Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020
  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020
  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.
  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.
caption: Restaurant in London offering home deliveries after dining-in was banned. March 2020.
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