page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
section_title: Early to mid-March: closures and cancellations
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom / Timeline / March 2020: closures and restrictions / Early to mid-March: closures and cancellations
caption_attribution_description: English: Shopping in rubber gloves and a face mask Sainsbury's north Finchley London 15 March 2020 coronavirus COVID 19 scare
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: On 1 March, a further 13 cases were reported including new cases in Greater Manchester and Scotland; bringing the total to 36, three of which were believed to be contacts of the case in Surrey who had no history of travel abroad.
  On 3 March the UK Government unveiled their Coronavirus Action Plan, which outlined what the UK had done and what it planned to do next. Paul Cosford, a medical director at Public Health England, said widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom was "highly likely".
  On 5 March, the first death from COVID-19, a woman in her 70s, was reported in Reading, and the second, a man in his 80s in Milton Keynes, was reported to have died later that day.
  On 12 March, the total of cases in the UK was reported to be 590. On the same day, the UK CMOs raised the risk to the UK from moderate to high. The government advised that anyone with a new continuous cough or a fever should self-isolate for seven days. Schools were asked to cancel trips abroad, and people over 70 and those with pre-existing medical conditions were advised to avoid cruises.
  The 2020 United Kingdom local elections were postponed for a year.
  On 16 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised everyone in the UK against "non-essential" travel and contact with others, as well as suggesting people should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres, and work from home if possible. Pregnant women, people over 70 and those with certain health conditions were urged to consider the advice "particularly important", and would be asked to self-isolate within days. On the same day, a second MP, Kate Osborne, tested positive after a period of self-isolation.
  On 17 March, NHS England announced that all non-urgent operations in England would be postponed from 15 April to free up 30,000 beds. General practice moved rapidly to remote working.  In March 2020 the proportion of telephone appointments increased by over 600%.
  On 17 March, the government provided a £3.2million emergency support package to help rough sleepers into accommodation. With complex physical and mental health needs, in general, homeless people are at a significant risk of catching the virus.
caption: Shopping in gloves and a face mask, London, 15 March
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