COVID-19 lockdowns

There are curfews, quarantines, and similar restrictions (variously described as stay-at-home orders, shelter-in-place orders, cordon sanitaires, shutdowns or lockdowns) in place in many countries and territories around the world, related to the COVID-19 pandemic and established to prevent the further spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. By April 2020, about half of the world's population was under lockdown, with more than 3.9 billion people in more than 90 countries or territories having been asked or ordered to stay at home by their governments. The World Health Organization's recommendation on curfews and lockdowns is that they should be short-term measures to reorganize, regroup, rebalance resources, and protect health workers who are exhausted. To achieve a balance between restrictions and normal life, the long-term responses to the pandemic should consist of strict personal hygiene, effective contact tracing, and isolating when ill.

Countries and territories around the world have enforced lockdowns of varying degrees. Some include total movement control while others have enforced restrictions based on time. Mostly, only essential businesses are allowed to remain open. Schools, universities and colleges have closed either on a nationwide or local basis in 63 countries, affecting approximately 47 per cent of the world's student population.

Further lockdowns were implemented throughout the world beginning in the summer and continuing into October, November and December. The UK, upon the discovery of a new variant of the virus, shut down London, the county of Kent and other parts of the southeast, and Wales just before Christmas.

Efficacy

Several researchers, from modelling and demonstrated examples, have concluded that lockdowns are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns are thought to be most effective at containing or preventing COVID-19 community transmission, healthcare costs and deaths when implemented earlier, with greater stringency, and are not lifted too early.

A study investigating the spread based on studies of the most common symptoms such as loss of taste and smell in France, Italy and the UK showed a marked decrease in new symptoms just a few days after the start of confinement on the countries (Italy and France) with the strongest lockdowns. Modelling on the United States pandemic suggested "the pandemic would have been almost completely suppressed from significantly taking off if the lockdown measures were implemented two weeks earlier" and that the second wave would have been less severe had the lockdown lasted another two weeks.

The stringent lockdown in Hubei in early 2020 proved effective at controlling the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Similarly, modelling on Australian data concluded that achieving zero community transmission through a strict lockdown lowers healthcare and economic costs compared to less stringent measures that allow transmission to continue, and warned that early relaxation of restrictions have greater costs. This "zero community transmission" approach was adopted in Australia, and transmission of COVID-19 was eliminated through a strict four month lockdown in the state of Victoria after an outbreak occurred in Melbourne. New Zealand andVietnam's successful containment measures have included targeted lockdowns.

Despite zero community transmission being successfully achieved in several countries and regions through lockdowns, the sustainability and viability of this approach in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, continues to be debated.

Voluntary versus mandatory lockdown

One study led by an economist at the University of Chicago found that involuntary lockdowns had little impact, with voluntary distancing making up nearly 90% of the fall in consumer traffic as people feared the virus itself. Similarly, a NBER study found stay-at-home orders increased staying at home by just 5–10%. Another study from Yale University found that most social distancing was voluntary, driven primarily by "media coverage of morbidity and mortality."

On the other hand, two studies have argued that coercive measures probably decreased interactions, while accepting that most of the reduction may have been voluntary. One of those two studies, by Flaxman et al., has been criticized, among other things for having a country-specific adjustment factor, without which the model would predict a massive number of deaths for Sweden. One widely cited economic simulation asserting that shelter-in-place orders reduced total cases three-fold, however, held voluntary distancing constant. Another study found a 30% difference among border-counties where stay-at-home orders were imposed.

However, some research has also found that an "advisory" approach is not adequate to control COVID-19 outbreaks. An analysis of an outbreak in northern Italy found that an effective reduction in community transmission occurred during a strict national lockdown, and that earlier less stringent measures were ineffective at reducing mobility to a level low enough to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Google has consistently collected data on movements, showing rapid declines in public activity long before legal restrictions were imposed. An April poll found that 93% of Americans voluntarily chose to only leave home when necessary, regardless of legal restrictions.

Reception

During the early stages of the pandemic, statistical modelling which advised that restrictions were needed to prevent a large number of deaths were used as the basis for lockdowns although some epidemiologists suggested that generalized lockdowns were initially enacted without reliable supporting data. This notably included Sweden's state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell. The Swedish government's strategy that he has been a prominent architect of has been controversial, in part due to the relatively high death toll due to widespread transmission.

Some criticisms of lockdowns outlined that restrictions did not explicitly target the most vulnerable and elderly populations and risked other deaths from unemployment and poverty. American global health physicians Ranu Dhillon and Abraar Karan have argued for "smarter lockdowns" which use granular epidemiological data to only impose restrictions on areas with high levels of transmission, and to increase support to vulnerable populations in these locations to offset the economic costs. Some criticism has targeted the Imperial College projection and epidemiologist Neil Ferguson that motivated generalized lockdowns in the US and UK. Academics have defended the Imperial projection as fundamentally sound, while admitting the code was "a buggy mess."

Some critics have suggested that states' use of emergency powers to curb freedom of assembly and movement are authoritarian and may result in long-term democratic backsliding. Centralization of power by political leadership in Hungary, Poland, China and Cambodia in response to the pandemic have been cited as examples.

Economists generally supported increased government funding for mitigation efforts, even at the cost of tolerating a very large economic contraction. They agreed that lockdowns should continue until the threat of resurgence has declined, even when considering only the economic impact. There was consensus, at least in some economic circles, that "severe lockdowns — including closing non-essential businesses and strict limitations on people's movement — are likely to be better for the economy in the medium term than less aggressive measures". Researchers analyzing lockdown policies for Australia agreed. However, a study on Bangladesh concluded that the economic and mental health costs of a lockdown outweighed the benefits.

Lockdowns also have significant psychosocial impacts with increased rates of psychological distress, anxiety, and family harm being reported during stringent lockdowns. However, it is not yet clear to what extent this increase in psychological distress is attributable directly to lockdown factors (e.g., isolation and direct economic impacts of lockdown), as opposed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would persist in the absence of a lockdown.

Both the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have published statements noting the impact of the lockdowns on livelihoods and food security, and Dr David Nabarro, WHO Special Envoy on COVID-19 stated in October 2020 that "lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer".

There have also been a number of protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, some of which were specifically in opposition to lockdowns, including in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. The motivations for and sizes of these protests have varied. Some have been spurred by the economic and social impacts of lockdowns, but have also been associated with misinformation related to the pandemic, conspiracy theories and anti-vaccination.

Table of pandemic lockdowns

In the table pandemic lockdowns are defined as the shutdown of parts of the economy, due to non-pharmaceutical anti-pandemic measures and are enforceable by law like:

• Closing of schools and kindergartens
• Closing of non-essential shops (shops and stores apart from food, doctors and drug stores)
• Closing of non-essential production
• Cancellation of recreational venues and closing of public places
• Curfews
• Stay-at-home orders and total movement control

These measures are considered to have caused the coronavirus recession in 2020. The table does not contain:

• Measures with smaller economic impacts like:
  • border closures
  • social distancing measures and social movement restrictions
  • travel restrictions.
• Other non-pharmaceutical anti-pandemic measures like mandatory quarantines after travel, self quarantine and social distancing measures
• Any measures which are voluntary rather than enforceable by law

The pandemic has resulted in the largest number of shutdowns/lockdowns worldwide at the same time in history.. By 26 March, 1.7 billion people worldwide were under some form of lockdown, which increased to 3.9 billion people by the first week of April – more than half of the world's population.

Restrictions first began in China, with other countries in East Asia like Vietnam soon following it in implementing widespread containment measures. Much of Europe, North America and Africa took much longer to bring in tough measures. Lockdowns between and within nations are of varying stringency.

By mid April, nearly 300 million people, or about 90 per cent of the population, were under some form of lockdown in the United States, around 100 million in the Philippines, about 59 million in South Africa, and 1.3 billion were under lockdown in India; the largest of all lockdowns. Check the list of COVID-19 Hotspots or containment Zones of India.

By the end of April, around 300 million people were under lockdown in various countries of Europe, including but not limited to Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom; while around 200 million people were under lockdown in Latin America.

Countries and territories with lockdowns

Australia

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Australia first re-opened its nation borders to New Zealand on 2 October 2020.

Victoria

On 7 July, after recording 191 new cases, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that metropolitan Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell would re-enter a Stage 3 lockdown from 12am on 9 July, for 6 weeks.

Initial lockdown measures included the closure of all non-essential services, including retail and gyms. Hospitality establishments were permitted to open in take-away and delivery capacities only. Schools and childcare facilities were also ordered to close. Face coverings were made mandatory as of 23 July 2020, with a fine of $200 AUD for non-compliance to those above 12 years of age, although formal exemptions could be acquired.

As of 6pm on 2 August 2020, Premier Andrews declared stronger lockdown laws, transitioning from Stage 3 to Stage 4.

The strongest restrictions imposed under Stage 4 included:

• Ban on travelling further than a 5 km radius from place of residence (adjusted to 25 km on 19 October 2020)
• Night-time curfew of 8pm to 5am
• One hour time limit imposed on outdoor exercise
• Shopping for essentials limited to one person per household per day
• Public gatherings limited to a maximum of two people

Initially proposed to end on 13 September, the lockdown was gradually eased until being completely lifted on 28 October 2020 after 112 days, concluding the longest COVID-19 related lockdown period noted globally as of October 2020.

State borders between Victoria and New South Wales have been announced to open as of 23 November 2020.

China

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Hubei

China was the first country to enforce the quarantine and lockdown of cities and later whole provinces in late January. Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping said he personally authorized the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and other cities beginning on January 23. Although such measures are a very old tool of epidemic control, their use at the scale of a large city such as Wuhan or the even larger scale of provinces was controversial among experts at the time, with questions on their effectiveness and their ethics. Some public health experts, while not always condemning the measure, raised the issue of the inevitable psychological toll such measures would have. An ex-World Health Organization (WHO) official who headed the organization's Western Pacific Region during the SARS outbreak said that "the containment of a city [hadn't] been done in the history of international public health policy". The WHO called the decision to quarantine Wuhan "new to science". By early April, all lockdowns had ended or relaxed to a certain degree as the cases started to dwindle and the outbreak had come under control.

Template:COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in mainland China

Fiji

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji

On 19 March, Fiji confirmed its first case in Lautoka. In response, the Government of Fiji ordered the lockdown of the city on 20 March with closures of all schools and non-essential services all over the country. On 3 April, Fiji's capital, Suva, went into lockdown after confirming two new cases. More than 300,000 residents was confined at their homes and all non-essential services in the city was closed for two weeks.

France

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in France § Lockdown measures

From 17 March 2020, all people in France were required to complete and carry an exemption form to leave their homes and can be fined for non-essential journeys. Essential journeys include shopping for food, travelling to and from work, accessing healthcare, and exercising within 1 km of the home for up to 1 hour. Police around the country had set up road blocks to check people who were out and about had good reason and that their exemption declarations were in order. These measures were lifted on May 11, 2020, with remaining restrictions on travel further than 100 km away from one's residence. The latter restrictions were lifted on June 2, 2020.

On October 28, president Emmanuel Macron announced a second lockdown until at least December 1, 2020. During this second lockdown, schools remain open and more industries can keep operating (construction, public services...). Like the first lockdown, citizens need to sign their certificates to can go around within 1 km up to hour per day. Fines are 135 euros the 1st time, 200 euros for 2 times within 15 days and 3750 euros and 6 months jail sentence for 3 times within 30 days.

India

See also: Indian local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India

On 24 March 2020, the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic in India. It was ordered after a 14-hour voluntary public curfew on 22 March, followed by enforcement of a series of regulations in the country's COVID-19 affected regions. The lockdown was placed when the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in India was approximately 500.Observers stated that the lockdown had slowed the growth rate of the pandemic by 6 April to a rate of doubling every six days, and by 18 April, to a rate of doubling every eight days. On 14 April, Prime minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown until 3 May, with a conditional relaxations after 20 April for the regions where the spread had been contained or was minimal.

On 1 May, the Government of India extended the nationwide lockdown further by two weeks until 17 May. The Government divided all the districts into three zones based on the spread of the virus—green, red and orange—with relaxations applied accordingly. On 17 May, the lockdown was further extended till 31 May. On 30 May, it was announced that lockdown restrictions were to be lifted from then onwards, while the ongoing lockdown would be further extended till 30 June for only the containment zones. Services would be resumed in a phased manner starting from 8 June.

Researchers at University of Oxford ranked strictness of India's lockdown 100 out of 100.

Indonesia

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

Indonesia reported its first two positive COVID-19 cases on 2 March 2020. Cases grew throughout the month of March, as the government resisted implementing curfew or lockdown measures. The capital of Jakarta finally introduced a stay-at-home order, called the LSSR (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB), or Large-scale Social Restrictions) starting on 10 April, followed by many other provinces and cities. However, no nationwide lockdown measures were implemented by the central government.

LSSR measures were lifted throughout the month of May despite continued community transmission of the virus. The capital of Jakarta became the final region to lift the most stringent LSSR measures on 4 June, as it shifted towards what governor Anies Baswedan described as a "transitional phase". The transition phase remains in effect in Jakarta as of July 2020.

Indonesia imposed a 14-day ban from 1 January until 14 January 2021 after a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in late December 2020 and had spread to some countries. Foreigners worldwide would be banned to enter the country's territories, with the exception of the government officials.

Ireland

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

On 12 March, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland until the end of August. On 27 March, Varadkar announced a national stay-at-home order for at least two weeks; the public were ordered to stay at home in all circumstances. All non-essential shops and services, including all pubs, bars, hotels and nightclubs closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned. The Garda Síochána (Irish police) were given power to enforce the measures, which were repeatedly extended until 18 May.

A roadmap to easing restrictions in Ireland that includes five stages was adopted by the government on 1 May 2020 and subsequently published online. On 5 June, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a series of changes to the government's roadmap of easing COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland, which he summed up as: "Stay Local". The fourth and final phase of easing COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland was initially scheduled to take place on 20 July, but was repeatedly postponed until 31 August at the earliest.

On 7 August, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a regional lockdown and a series of measures for counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly following significant increases of COVID-19 cases in the three counties, which came into effect from midnight and will remain in place for two weeks. On 21 August, localised restrictions in Laois and Offaly were lifted, but was extended for another two weeks in Kildare. Restrictions in Kildare were lifted by the government with immediate effect on 31 August.

On 15 September, the Government of Ireland announced a medium-term plan for living with COVID-19 that includes five levels of restrictions, with the entire country at Level 2 and specific restrictions in Dublin.

All non-essential businesses and services closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned again on 21 October following the Government's announcement to move the entire country to Level 5 lockdown restrictions for six weeks until 1 December. On 27 November, the Government of Ireland agreed to ease restrictions from 1 December.

A third wave of COVID-19 arrived in Ireland on 21 December. The Government of Ireland acted swiftly and on 22 December, Level 5 lockdown restrictions (subject to a number of adjustments) were announced, which came into effect from 24 December (Christmas Eve) until 12 January 2021 at the earliest.

All non-essential businesses and services closed and all public and private gatherings of any number of people was banned again on 31 December (New Year's Eve) following the Government's announcement to move the entire country to full Level 5 lockdown restrictions from 30 December until 31 January 2021 at the earliest, in an attempt to get a third surge in cases of COVID-19 under control.

Italy

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy

File:Ian Art Photography - Italy 100 people queuing at a supermarket during coronavirus outbreak mar-2020.jpg

Queue in front of an Italian supermarket after the introduction of social distancing rules

On 9 March 2020, the government of Italy under Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a national quarantine, restricting the movement of the population except for necessity, work, and health circumstances, in response to the growing pandemic of COVID-19 in the country. Additional lockdown restrictions mandated the temporary closure of non-essential shops and businesses. This followed a restriction announced on the previous day which affected sixteen million people in the whole region of Lombardy and in fourteen largely-neighbouring provinces in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piedmont and Marche, and prior to that a smaller-scale lockdown of ten municipalities in the province of Lodi and one in the province of Padua that had begun in late February. The restrictions were loosened in May 2020.

The lockdown measures, despite being widely approved by the public opinion, were also described as the largest suppression of constitutional rights in the history of the republic. Nevertheless, Article 16 of the Constitution states that travel restrictions may be established by law for reasons of health or security.

Malaysia

Main article: 2020 Malaysia movement control order

Malaysia introduced the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18 March 2020, which was initially announced to last to April 14 but was extended several times. The MCO prohibited mass gatherings, movement within the country, and most industries and all education institutions were ordered to close. Extended Movement Control Orders (EMCO) were implemented in areas where suspected superspreading events or widespread transmission had occurred. Royal Malaysian Police were mobilized to enforce restrictions. These restrictions were later eased under the "Conditional MCO" (CMCO), which maintained some restrictions on assembly and movement but allowed some sectors to reopen which was later further relaxed to the "Recovery MCO" (RMCO) nationwide. Localized CMCOs restrictions were introduced in the states of Sabah and Selangor were later introduced in response to outbreaks in those states.

Namibia

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia

Beginning 27 March, a 21-day lockdown of the regions of Erongo and Khomas was announced. On 14 April the lockdown was extended to 4 May. It now officially applied to all regions, although the stay-at-home order was already enforced countrywide. Only essential businesses remained open. Schools were closed, parliamentary sessions suspended, and generally all gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited. Formal and informal bars were closed and the sale of alcohol prohibited. This "stage 1" of the lockdown was in force until 4 May 2020. From then on, regulations are to be gradually eased.

New Zealand

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand

On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised New Zealand's COVID-19 alert level to three and announced the closure of all schools beginning on that day, and two days later moved to four at 11:59 p.m. on 25 March 2020 – a nationwide lockdown. While all sporting matches and events as well as non-essential services such as pools, bars, cafes, restaurants, playgrounds closed, essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and health services remained open.

The alert level was moved back down to Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 27 April, and moved to Level 2 at 11:59 pm on 13 May, lifting the rest of the lockdown restrictions while maintaining physical distancing. On 8 June, Prime Minister Ardern announced that New Zealand would be entering into Alert Level 1 at midnight on 9 June, lifting restrictions on daily life, business activities, mass gatherings and public transportation. However, the country's borders would remain closed to most international travel.

Following a new outbreak consisting of four cases of community transmission in Auckland on 11 August, the Government placed the Auckland Region on a Level 3 lockdown from 12:00 am on 12 August while the rest of the country move to Level 2 at the same time. On 30 August, Prime Minister Ardern announced that Auckland would enter into "Alert Level 2.5" from 11:59pm on that night while the rest of the country would remain on Level 2. Under Level 2.5, all social gatherings including birthday parties will be limited to ten people; masks will be mandatory for all Aucklanders using public transportation; and aged care facilities will be operating under strict conditions. The only public gatherings allowed in Auckland are funerals and tangihanga, which will be limited to 50 people.

United Kingdom

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

At 8:30 p.m. on 23 March 2020, Boris Johnson announced a stay-at-home order effective immediately, though only legally effective from 1:00 p.m. on 26 March 2020, through The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. The slogan "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" was used. All non-essential shops and services were ordered to close, and police were granted powers to issue fines, send people home, especially persons suspected of being infected, and to break up gatherings of more than two people. The British population was instructed to stay home, except for exercise once a day (such as running, walking or cycling), shopping for essential items, any medical need, providing care to a vulnerable person, or travelling to work where the work in question was vital and could not be done from home. Johnson stated that the stay-at-home order would be reviewed every three weeks. Working with general practitioners, the NHS strongly advised (though did not mandate) that those at the highest risk of severe complications from COVID-19 follow special shielding measures. These included not leaving their home at all, even for essential reasons, and keeping two meters apart from other household members.

The April lockdown left an significant impact on the economy, resulting in shrinking it by a fifth, i.e. 20%. The "circuit-breaker" lockdown, which is expected to be relatively less intense could hit the economy by 5% or more. As per Capital Economics, the estimated time required for the economy to get back to the pre-pandemic levels is a year to 2023.

On 11 May, the UK-wide rules fractured and separate rules were announced at various times for the country's constituent territories. In England, the slogan changed to "Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives" and those who could not work from home, including specifically construction and manufacturing workers, were encouraged to return to work albeit avoiding the use of public transport. Additionally, the once-a-day limit on exercise was lifted. The COVID-19 threat level system was introduced, and the "Stay Home" phase was announced to be equivalent to Level 4 (where 1 meant "COVID-19 is not known to be present in the UK", and 5 meant "The circulation of COVID-19 is high and rising exponentially and there is a material risk of healthcare being overwhelmed"). Meanwhile, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland retained "Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" for the time being.

On 13 May, those in England were allowed to meet one other person not from their household outside whilst maintaining a 2-metre social distance, and from 28 May groups of up to six from different households were allowed to meet outside, keeping a safe distance.

From 1 June, English primary schools were encouraged to re-open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, and extremely vulnerable people shielding at home were advised it was safe to go outside for once-daily, socially-distanced exercise, for the first time in approximately two months.

From 15 June, non-essential retail reopened, and English secondary schools were asked to prepare to provide Year 10 and Year 12 students with some face-to-face meetings to support their home learning for essential upcoming exams the next year. It also became mandatory to wear face coverings in healthcare settings and on public transport.

From 4 July, most other businesses were allowed to reopen, except for those considered to pose the highest risk such as indoor gyms, and social gathering rules were relaxed further. Most notably, the two-meter rule was relaxed to one meter apart, where other mitigations such as face coverings were being used. The only legal measure that remained, except for face coverings on public transport and in healthcare, was an upper legal limit of 30 on gatherings (except in 'local lockdown' areas, see below), but people were advised to limit gatherings to either two households in any indoor or outdoor, public or private setting, or to a maximum of six, outdoors only, when people gathering were from more than two households.

From 24 July, it became mandatory in England to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets.

By 15 August, most other businesses, including indoor theatres, casinos and bowling alleys, had been allowed to reopen. Nightclubs and sexual entertainment venues, however, remained closed.

Schools reopened full-time from September, and from 9 September, the slogan changed once more, to "Hands, Face, Space" reminding the public to wash or sanitize hands often, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, and keep a space of one meter or more from others, as well as letting fresh air in at public spaces

On 16 October, Northern Ireland commenced a partial lockdown.

Starting on 17 October, the government announced that London, among other areas, would move to Tier 2 restrictions, following a spike in cases, banning people from mixing indoors privately.

On 23 October, Wales commenced a partial lockdown.

On 31 October, it was announced that a partial lockdown would commence in England from 5 November 2020, to last for 4 weeks up to and including 2 December.

Through the month of November, mass asymptomatic testing brought the case rate in Liverpool down enough for it to move down from Tier 3 into Tier 2.

After that, a new tiered approach was put into place, to be reviewed on 16 December (with any changes coming into force three days later). For 5 days over the Christmas period (23–27 December), these restrictions are to be relaxed, allowing for three households to meet and form a protective "bubble" during this time period. However this was not the case for residents in and around London as a fourth tier was introduced to combat rising cases.

Announced on 16 December, Wales was planned to go into a full lockdown immediately after the 5-day Christmas period (23-27 December) on 28 December. However, on 19 December 2020, it was announced that Wales would go into a full lockdown immediately at midnight on 20 December. The circumstance for the latest lockdown will be reviewed every three weeks, but no end date has been announced.

On 17 December, the Northern Ireland executive announced Northern Ireland would go into a lockdown from 26 December. This involved the closure of all non-essential retail, hospitality. The Christmas bubble system remained in place.

On 4 January 2021, the UK Chief Medical Officers and the NHS England Medical Director recommended that the COVID Alert Level should be increased, from level 4 to level 5, indicating that there was a material risk of healthcare services becoming overwhelmed. On that day, Nicola Sturgeon announced a lockdown in Scotland which took effect at midnight. Later that day, Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown in England, which took legal effect at 00:01 on 5 January.

United States

Main article: U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

File:COVID-19 outbreak USA stay-at-home order county map.svg

States, territories, and counties that issued a stay-at-home order:

  Came into effect before 22 March

  Came into effect before 29 March

  Came into effect before 5 April

  Came into effect before 12 April

Stay-at-home orders in the United States have come from several states and a large number of local jurisdictions, sometimes leading to conflicts between different levels of government and a patchwork of inconsistent dates and rules.

On 15 March 2020, Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced signed an executive order to order all citizens to stay home starting at 9 p.m. with exceptions in limited circumstances between 5 a.m. and 9 pm. Governmental operations and non-essential businesses were to be closed until 30 March.

The first order within the states was simultaneously imposed by health authorities in heart of the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and the cities of San Francisco and Berkeley) effective 17 March 2020, affecting nearly 6.7 million people. Other cities and counties across the state followed suit over the next two days, until Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, issued a state-wide order effective 19 March 2020.

On 20 March 2020, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state-wide stay-at-home order with a mandate that 100% of non-essential workforce to be conducted as working from home effective 22 March. Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker followed that lead on the same day with a state-wide order which would go into effect on 21 March at 5 pm. Ned Lamont, the governor of Connecticut, signed an executive order called "Stay Safe, Stay At Home" to take effect state-wide on 23 March at 8 p.m.

On 20 March 2020, Navajo Nation announced that it had broadened the stay-at-home order to cover the entire reservation, the largest in the country.

On 21 March 2020, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced a state-wide stay-at-home order effective at 9 p.m. on the same day.

On 22 March 2020, Ohio governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton issued a state-wide stay-at-home order effective 23 March. In the afternoon, the Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards announced a state-wide stay-at-home order in a press conference. Delaware governor John Carney followed suit with a stay-at-home order for his state.

File:2020-04-19 14 42 26 Variable message sign reading "Save Lives Stay Home Essential Travel Only" along southbound Interstate 95 just south of Exit 29 in Beltsville, Prince George's County, Maryland.jpg

Variable-message sign along Interstate 95 in Prince George's County, Maryland telling people to stay home and only travel for essential purposes

On 23 March 2020, several state governors announced their state-wide stay-at-home order:

• Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker ordered non-essential businesses to close in-person operations effective 24 March until 7 April and directed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue a stay-at-home advisory.
• Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her state-wide executive order to stay-at-home at 11:00 am for all non-essential businesses effective 24 March until 28 May.
• Indiana governor Eric Holcomb announced state-wide stay-at-home order effective 25 March until 7 April.
• West Virginia governor Jim Justice ordered non-essential businesses to be closed immediately, and stay-at-home order effective at 8 pm.
• After growing calls from local officials on Sunday, Oregon governor Kate Brown issued a stay-at-home order on Monday effective immediately with class C misdemeanor charges for violators.
• New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a state-wide stay-at-home order that requires 100% of non-essential business workforce to work from home effective 24 March until 10 April.
• Washington governor Jay Inslee signed a state-wide stay-at-home proclamation and ordered to close non-essential businesses effective 25 March for two weeks.
• Hawaii governor David Ige issued a state-wide stay-at-home order effective 25 March which was similar to the orders that were previously issued for Maui and Honolulu counties.

On 23 March 2020, Yakama Nation announced its "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order.

On 24 March 2020, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued a state-wide stay-at-home order to close all non-essential businesses and ordered no gatherings of any size effective 25 March until 24 April. Vermont governor Phil Scott signed a stay-at-home order and directed closure of in-person operations of non-essential businesses effective 25 March until 15 April.

On 25 March, Idaho governor Brad Little and Minnesota governor Tim Walz issued stay-at-home orders for their respective states. Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a stay at home order effective on Thursday the 26th at 6 a.m. through 11 April 2020.

On 2 April, Georgia governor Brian Kemp issued a stay-at-home order effective Friday, 3 April 2020, until Monday, 13 April 2020. It overrules any local stay-at-home restrictions previously in place, and instructs residents to stay at home unless they're conducting "essential services," meaning either traveling to and from jobs or other exceptions, including buying groceries; purchasing medical equipment; going out to exercise; and visiting medical facilities. The same day, Dr. Anthony Fauci publicly questioned why all states were not under stay-at-home orders.

In late May 2020, citywide curfews were enacted in San Francisco and several surrounding cities; San Jose; Minneapolis; Atlanta; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus; Denver; Jacksonville, FL; Los Angeles; Memphis, TN; Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia; Portland; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; Buffalo, New York; Rochester; Syracuse; New York City; Milwaukee; Seattle; Cincinnati; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fayetteville; Raleigh, North Carolina; Charleston, SC; Sacramento, CA; Columbia, SC; and Asheville, NC due to protests regarding the killing of George Floyd. Countywide curfews were enacted for Los Angeles County, California and Alameda County, California as well. Arizona enacted a state-wide curfew. These curfews are imposed as complemented to stay-at-home order that imposed by state or local authorities.

On 2 November 2020, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker issued a night-time stay-at-home order effective 6 November 2020.

Canada

On January 25, the first identified presumptive case in Canada was a male in his 50s who travelled between Wuhan and Guangzhou before returning to Toronto on January 22.Canada issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to China due to the outbreak, including a regional travel advisory to avoid all travel to the province of Hubei.

Federal health officials stated that the risk in Canada was low.

On January 26, Tam stated "There is no clear evidence that this virus is spread easily from person to person. The risk to Canadians remains low."

On January 29, Dr. Theresa Tam told Canadians that "It's going to be rare (COVID-19), but we are expecting cases.

On February 1, the government's position remained that it would be discriminatory to exclude travellers from China, the politico-geographical source of the disease

Countries and territories without lockdowns

Almost all countries and territories affected with COVID-19 have introduced and enforced some form of lockdown. However, countries like South Korea and Taiwan, which relied on contact tracing by cellphones, have far fewer cases and deaths. Among the countries not following this strategy is, most notably, Sweden. Measures in Sweden included the closing of universities and high schools and asking older and at-risk residents to avoid social contact, while keeping restaurants, primary schools and kindergartens open.

Countries in Asia without lockdowns include Turkmenistan, Taiwan, Japan Cambodia and South Korea.

Nicaragua is also yet to impose a lockdown while a proposed lockdown by the government has been ordered to be delayed by the High Court in Malawi.

In the United States and Brazil, a handful of states have not introduced any lockdown-type measures (commonly known as "stay-at-home orders").

See also

• COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines
• COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
• COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Hubei
• COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India
• COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy
• 2020 Malaysia movement control order
• National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Normalization of deviance – one reason people stop using effective prevention measures
• Preventive action
• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic