On 2 December 2020, the Pfizer‑BioNTech COVID‑19 vaccine was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making the United Kingdom the first country in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. The following day, the first shipments of the Pfizer vaccines arrived in the UK from Belgium  .
Daily cases and deaths fell in May–June, and stayed at low levels over the summer. The lockdown was gradually eased in June–July and most schools re-opened by early September. Serious cases rose significantly that month, and local restrictions were gradually re-imposed in all four countries. In England, tiered restrictions were introduced in October, the country went into a month-long lockdown during November, and new tiered restrictions were introduced in December. Scotland also introduced tiered restrictions in October. Meanwhile, multi-week 'circuit-breaker' lockdowns were imposed in Wales and Northern Ireland. In December 2020, the Pfizer‑BioNTech COVID‑19 vaccine was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making the United Kingdom the first country in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. Also in December, a new COVID variant was blamed for a rise in cases in southeast England and led to more countries banning travel from the UK. Following a brief easing of restrictions for Christmas, all of the UK went into a third lockdown, including schools. In late January 2021, testing and quarantine rules were imposed on all incoming travellers."Covid: UK closes all travel corridors until at least 15 February". BBC News, 18 January 2021. Serious cases fell sharply. Schools re-opened in March, and the lockdown began to be gradually lifted from April. Despite the rules for incoming travellers, the Delta (or Indian) COVID variant entered the UK"Indian variant: Government 'concern' at speed of growth". BBC News, 13 May 2021. and led to a rise in cases. In June, the proposed end of all social contact restrictions on "Freedom Day" (21 June) was delayed for up to 4 weeks (until 19 July) and vaccination roll-out was accelerated following concerns over the Delta variant of the coronavirus .
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On 2 December
Daily cases and deaths fell in May–June, and stayed at low levels over the summer. The lockdown was gradually eased in June–July and most schools re-opened by early September. Serious cases rose significantly that month, and local restrictions were gradually re-imposed in all four countries. In England, tiered restrictions were introduced in October, the country went into a month-long lockdown during November, and new tiered restrictions were introduced in December. Scotland also introduced tiered restrictions in October. Meanwhile, multi-week 'circuit-breaker' lockdowns were imposed in Wales and Northern Ireland. In December
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The following day, the first shipments of the Pfizer vaccines arrived in the UK from Belgium
Also in December, a new COVID variant was blamed for a rise in cases in southeast England and led to more countries banning travel from the UK.
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Following a brief easing of restrictions for Christmas, all of the UK went into a third lockdown, including schools. In late January 2021, testing and quarantine rules were imposed on all incoming travellers."Covid: UK closes all travel corridors until at least 15 February". BBC News, 18 January 2021. Serious cases fell sharply. Schools re-opened in March, and the lockdown began to be gradually lifted from April. Despite the rules for incoming travellers, the Delta (or Indian) COVID variant entered the UK"Indian variant: Government 'concern' at speed of growth". BBC News, 13 May 2021. and led to a rise in cases. In June, the proposed end of all social contact restrictions on "Freedom Day" (21 June) was delayed for up to 4 weeks (until 19 July) and vaccination roll-out was accelerated following concerns over the Delta variant of the coronavirus