Table 2.

Notable events that occurred from October 15, 2020 to January 6, 2021

Weeks	Events
Weeks 13-14	Shielding ends for clinically vulnerable Additional financial support to businesses in Tier 3 is announced.
Weeks 15-16	Month-long national lockdown in England from November 5, 2020 is announced. Clinically vulnerable are asked to shield again. Furlough scheme is extended until March 2021. Pfizer/BioNTech press release announces vaccine is 90% effective. Travel window for university students to return for Christmas is announced.
Weeks 17-18	Government publishes their “staying mentally well this winter” guidance. Plans to ease restrictions for 5 days over Christmas are announced.
Weeks 19-20	Indoor care home visits can resume subject to lateral flow test. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for rollout in the United Kingdom. Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) publishes vaccine priority groups. National lockdown ends, and Tier system resumes. Most regions in England are placed in Tier 2 or 3. Shielding ends for clinically vulnerable. First COVID-19 vaccine is administered.
Weeks 21-22	Self-isolation period is reduced from 14 days to 10 days. New variant of the virus is identified. Further regions of the United Kingdom enter highest Tier. Furlough scheme is extended to April 2021. Large parts of Southeast England move into the new, stricter Tier 4. Christmas relaxation period is reduced from 5 days to 1 day. Travel restrictions for South Africa are enforced. Most of England will enter Tier 4 from December 26, 2020 is announced.
Weeks 23-24	MHRA approves AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. JCVI publishes updated guidance. UK Prime Minister announces third national lockdown from January 4, 2021, with schools remaining closed.