Coronavirus (covid-19) statistics and analysis

Public health

• Guidance: Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family
• Announcement: New campaign to prevent spread of coronavirus indoors this winter
• Announcement: Stronger enforcement measures as easements resume
• Guidance: Optional badges for social distancing
• Statement: Face coverings to be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from 24 July
• Guidance: Face coverings
• Guidance: Meeting people with others safely
• Announcement: Face coverings to be mandatory on public transport
• Guidance: Staying alert and safe
• Guidance: Closing certain businesses and venues in England
• Guidance for public health officers: Potentially infectious persons
• Guidance: Infection prevention and control
• Guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing
• Guidance for people with animals

Our travel advice

Our travel advice pages explain that you must comply with the restrictions on travel, both domestic and international, that apply in each nation across the UK.

It sets out the risks that you may face if you go to another country, including non-COVID risks, if you are able to travel abroad.

We continue to advise against all non-essential international travel to some countries and territories. You should check the country page for your destination. We also currently advise against cruise ship travel.

We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping this advice under constant review so that it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British people.  We take a range of factors into account.  For coronavirus, this includes the incidence rate and the resilience of healthcare provision in each country.  Find out more about how our travel advice works.

Updates to the travel corridor list

We will keep the conditions in these countries, territories and regions under review. If they worsen we will reintroduce self-isolation requirements.

Countries, territories or regions removed from the travel corridor list

Namibia, Uruguay and US Virgin Islands were removed from the exempt list at 4am Saturday 19 December.

If you arrive in England from Namibia, Uruguay or US Virgin Islands after 4am Saturday 19 December, you will need to self-isolate.

If you arrived in England from Namibia, Uruguay or US Virgin Islands before 4am Saturday 19 December, you may not need to self-isolate. Read .

The Canary Islands were removed from the exempt list at 4am Saturday 12 December.

If you arrive in England from the Canary Islands after 4am Saturday 12 December, you will need to self-isolate.

If you arrived in England from the Canary Islands before 4am Saturday 12 December, you may not need to self-isolate. Read .

Countries, territories or regions added to the travel corridor list

Botswana and Saudi Arabia were added to the exempt list at 4am Saturday 12 December.

If you arrive in England from Botswana or Saudi Arabia after 4am Saturday 12 December, you may not need to self-isolate. Read the .

If you arrived in England from Botswana or Saudi Arabia before 4am Saturday 12 December, you will need to self-isolate.

Countries, territories and regions on the travel corridor list

You do not need to self-isolate if you’re travelling to England from one of the countries, territories or regions listed on this page. You must have spent the last 10 days in one of these places, or in the UK.

If you visited somewhere that is not on the list in the 10 days before your arrival in England, you will need to self-isolate. Visiting includes making a .

You will still need to complete the passenger locator form before you enter the UK.

• Anguilla
• Aruba
• Australia
• the Azores
• Bahrain
• Barbados

• Botswana (arrivals before 4am 12 December need to self-isolate)

• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands

• the Channel Islands

• Cuba
• Falkland Islands

• Faroe Islands

• Fiji
• Finland

• Greek islands: Corfu, Crete, Kos, Rhodes, Zakynthos

• Greenland
• Grenada
• Ireland

• the Isle of Man

• Israel and Jerusalem (read about the UK position on Jerusalem)

• Macao (Macau)
• Madeira
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Qatar
• Rwanda

• Saudi Arabia (arrivals before 4am 12 December need to self-isolate)

• Seychelles
• South Korea
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Sri Lanka
• St Barthélemy
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Taiwan
• Vietnam

COVID-19 cases in Bristol and R number in South West

On the COVID-19 data: including cases in Bristol and R number for the South West page we publish a bi-weekly report which gives an overview of the latest COVID-19 data for Bristol including:

• the number of COVID-19 cases in Bristol in the past week
• the number of community tests undertaken
• the number of new cases of the virus
• growth rate of infections
• number of registered deaths
• the R (reproduction) number for the South West

Other sources of data include the number of lab-confirmed cases (on Open Data Bristol) and central government COVID-19 data.

You can look up the weekly cases in your area by postcode on GOV.UK.

Planning and building safety

• Q&A: Planning update on cultural venues and holiday parks
• Collection: Planning guidance to support the Business and Planning Act
• Announcement: New measures to help the construction industry boost building and return to work safely
• Guidance: coronavirus planning update
• Guidance: Coronavirus compulsory purchase
• Guidance: Coronavirus community infrastructure levy
• Guidance: construction site working hours Q&A
• Guidance: Application of the building regulations
• Announcement: Pledge to ensure necessary building safety improvements can continue
• Guidance from the Planning Inspectorate
• Guidance: Remediation and Building Safety
• Announcement: Government to grant permission for pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways

Public spaces and services

It is mandatory to carry a mask with you and to wear it in all locations where social distancing cannot be guaranteed. This includes mandatory use on public transport. It is mandatory to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, including in shops and places of worship. Children below the age of twelve are exempt.

Up to four people are allowed to meet together outdoors, respecting social distancing rules and wearing a mask.

It is mandatory to wear a mask in busy shopping streets and public buildings when not seated. Further details have been published by the Belgian Government (in English).

Local authorities have been empowered to take additional measures in the event of a spike in the numbers of local cases. These powers range from requiring that masks be worn in additional locations and circumstances, to introducing localised lockdowns. In Brussels it is mandatory to wear a mask in all public places and streets. You should check regularly the website of the relevant city or town and Belgian Government advice for the latest detailed information.

Travel in Portugal

Mainland Portugal is currently in a ‘state of emergency’.

Confinement is mandatory if you are:

• suffering from or infected with coronavirus (COVID-19), or
• being actively monitored by the health authorities for COVID-19 symptoms

You must observe the rules on social distancing and hygiene:

• keep a social distance of 2 metres
• use a face covering in enclosed spaces, and outdoors where a distance of 2m cannot be maintained
• wash your hands regularly

Respect the rules on maximum occupancy on public transport and in stores, restaurants, cafés and other establishments. If you use public transport, avoid travelling at peak times and ensure you disinfect your hands before and after your journey. Buy your ticket in advance online or from a vending machine at the station. Maintain your distance from other passengers as much as possible.

Taxis are operating. Use the back seat and open the window. Avoid paying in cash, where possible. Face masks are mandatory for everyone over the age of 10 on all forms of public transport and private hire.

See below for local and inter-regional travel restrictions.

You can be fined up to €500 if you breach the regulations.

How to take part in the scheme

To take part in the scheme you need to:

• book a test with one of these private test providers
• choose to opt into the scheme on the passenger locator form

You will be asked to enter details of your test in the passenger locator form. You must do this to take part in the scheme.

You should book your test before you travel to England. This is so you can enter details of the test when you opt into the scheme on the passenger locator form.

If you decide to take part in the scheme after you have arrived in England, you will need to complete another passenger locator form.

You will have to pay the private test provider for your test. You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children.

The test provider will either send a test to your address or you can attend a testing site. You may leave your house to post your test or to travel directly to and from the testing site. You should follow safer travel guidance and avoid public transport if possible.

Contact us

• Fill in our coronavirus (COVID-19) general enquiries form
• Call 0800 694 0184 (freephone, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm), translation service available
• Deaf BSL users can contact the phoneline through a BSL Interpreter using SignVideo
• Report someone who’s not following government social distancing restrictions on the Avon and Somerset Police website
• Tell us about a business that isn’t following the government’s social distancing regulations or order to close: email health.safety@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 922 2500, or fill in the form on the Avon and Somerset Police website

Jury trials and jury service

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon announced that new jury trials would start in a few courts week commencing 18 May 2020. This followed discussions with the Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP.

Trials will take place under special arrangements to maintain the safety of all participants, including jurors. These measures include supporting social distancing and appropriate cleaning standards and have the express support and backing of Public Health England and Public Health Wales.

Our court and tribunal tracker list can be used to find out which Crown Courts have been assessed as currently suitable to hold jury trials.

The essential work of courts and tribunals continues. Local restrictions tiers (England), alert levels (Wales) and local protection levels (Scotland) allow people to travel when necessary. This includes all those required to attend a court or tribunal, including jurors, witnesses, defendants, complainants and victims. All our buildings are COVID-secure. You should not come to any of our buildings if you have coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating. You must contact the court or tribunal to let them know in advance, so that they can make appropriate arrangements for your hearing.

Special arrangements in place for jury trials

Arrangements to allow appropriate social distancing to be maintained at all times include but are not limited to:

• providing a second courtroom linked by closed circuit TV, to enable the media and others to watch proceedings
• a separate courtroom for jury deliberations
• use of plexiglass to help keep people separated
• entrances and exits are carefully supervised
• increased building and touchpoint cleaning will take place

Special arrangements have been put in place to ensure physical access to jury trials for the media and members of the public.

If you are attending a jury trial under these new arrangements see our user guide on what we have put in place and what we expect of you: Jury trials checklist (PDF, 465KB, 4 pages)

Each Crown Court has had to meet clear standards and criteria approved by public health bodies before holding jury trials.

If you have received a jury summons

If you receive, or have already received a jury summons for a future date, please keep planning to attend court but do not attend court unless you have been contacted by a jury officer. They will contact you to confirm the days and time you need to attend during your service. At that stage, if following government advice you need to self-isolate, you will not be expected to start your jury service. You will need to contact the court to let us know if there’s another reason why you cannot attend. If you are not needed for jury service, the court will let you know.

Due to coronavirus we have . Make sure you bring sufficient food and bottled water (not glass) with you for the day. Note that you may be required to taste test on entry to the building. You can .

If you need to speak to someone about your personal circumstances, please contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau on 0300 456 1024. You can also see our general guidance on jury service.

Travel in Spain

You should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect yourself and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus.

On 25 October, the Spanish government declared a nationwide State of Emergency which includes a national obligatory overnight curfew (specific curfew times vary, starting between 10pm and midnight and lasting until 6am). It also provides regional governments with legal powers to impose further mobility restrictions in their region if deemed necessary (e.g. entry and exit restrictions to and from specific areas).

The situation is evolving and restrictive measures to control the virus may be introduced across the country at short notice. For details of local outbreaks and the specific measures in place in your destination, you should check the advice of local authorities in your destination prior to travel.

There are some exemptions to entering and exiting confined areas or travelling during the hours of curfew such as travel to your place of employment, attendance at medical appointments or transiting the area to return to your place of residence. Entry for tourism purposes is not currently permitted and should be avoided.

If you think you have reason to qualify as exempt and need to travel into or out of a confined area or during the hours of curfew, you should carry evidence of your reason for travel such as a certificate from your employer, proof of medical appointment, or proof of onward journey such as train or flight tickets. To find out more about specific exemptions you should refer to guidance from local authorities.

Many municipal and regional authorities have introduced other types of measures such as limiting the opening hours and capacity of bars and restaurants, and in some places these remain closed until further notice.

Social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 6 people.

The use of face coverings is mandatory for anyone over the age of 6 years old on all forms of public transport in Spain and in many other indoor and outdoor public spaces. Specific rules on the use of face masks may vary from one region to the next, you should refer to local authorities for advice. You should carry a face mask with you and be prepared to wear it throughout your stay.

The situation is evolving and restrictive measures to control the virus may be introduced across the country at short notice. The UK currently advises against travel to Spain however, should you choose to travel against this advice, you should consult the Spanish Ministry of Health map for further details of local outbreaks in Spain and check the advice of local authorities in your destination prior to travel.

Road travel

Land borders are open.

The French government has implemented additional entry requirements for those travelling to and transiting through France. If you are planning to drive from Spain through France, check the latest FCDO travel advice for France ahead of your journey.

On 25 October, the Spanish Government declared a nationwide State of Emergency which includes a national obligatory overnight curfew (specific curfew times vary, starting between 10pm and midnight and lasting until 6am). It also provides regional governments with legal powers to impose further mobility restrictions in their region if deemed necessary (e.g. entry and exit restrictions to and from specific areas).

Inter-regional travel may be restricted if your point of origin and destination fall within a confined area where entry and exit restrictions are in place. You should check the advice of local authorities in your destination prior to travel.

Transiting confined areas is permitted; however, you should be prepared to show evidence of your onward journey such as train or flight tickets to your final destination. Other exemptions include travel to your place of employment and attendance at medical appointments; however, entry for tourism purposes to confined areas is not currently permitted and should be avoided.

If you think you have reason to qualify as exempt and need to travel into or out of a confined area or during the hours of curfew, you should carry evidence of your reason for travel such as a certificate from your employer, proof of a medical appointment or evidence of your onward travel to your place of residence as stated above. To find out more about specific exemptions you should refer to guidance from local authorities.

If travelling with people who are not from the same household, all passengers must wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth. Penalties may be imposed if you do not comply.

COVID marshals

COVID marshals are here to help people and businesses:

• stay safe outside their homes
• follow guidance for stopping the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

They work in different parts of the city at different times. They wear high vis jackets and have Bristol City Council badges to identify them.

Their job is to:

• explain the government rules and guidance
• help shops and supermarkets manage queues so everyone can stay a safe distance apart 
• remind people to wear a face covering where needed, unless they’re exempt
• make sure businesses are following COVID-secure guidance and advise them when they’re not
• give face coverings and hand sanitiser to people who need them
• clean outside surfaces that people touch often, such as the buttons at pedestrian crossings
• work with the police and report COVID-19 rule breaches

COVID marshals can’t give out fines or force a business to close.

Meeting people safely

• Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September).
• Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people (from 24 September).
• There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14 (from 24 September).
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).

Government has announced an initial £60 million to support additional enforcement activity by local authorities and the police, in addition to funding that has already been awarded.

The spread of the virus is also affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibition halls and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1 October.

The government’s expectation is the measures described above will need to remain in place until March.

Businesses

• Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September).
• In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
• Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume on site (from 24 September).
• Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24 September).
• Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September):
  • A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
  • Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
  • Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.

Homelessness and rough sleeping

• Announcement: Rough sleepers to be helped to keep safe this winter
• Guidance: Next Steps Accommodation Programme
• Announcement: 274 councils set to receive housing support for vulnerable people
• Guidance: Hostel services for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping
• Letter: Funding for emergency accommodation and support for EEA rough sleepers
• Announcement: £105 million to keep rough sleepers safe
• Announcement: 6,000 new supported homes as part of plans to end rough sleeping
• Guidance for accommodation providers
• Letter from Minister Hall to local authorities on plans to protect rough sleepers
• Letter from Minister Hall to caravan and park home owners
• Letter from Minister Hall to hotels on providing accommodation to support vulnerable people
• Announcement: £3.2 million emergency support for rough sleepers during coronavirus outbreak
• Announcement: Rough sleeping taskforce created

Social distancing

The risk of transmission is small at 2 metres and where possible, people taking part in General Aviation activities should maintain 2 metres distance from people outside their household or support bubble.

If you cannot keep a 2 metre distance, reduce the risk by maintaining a 1 metre distance where possible, and taking suitable actions:

• limit the number of people or households that come into contact with each other
• increase the frequency of hand washing and access to hand sanitiser
• use face coverings
• sit / stand side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them
• stay outdoors, rather than indoors, where possible
• touch as few surfaces as possible and increase surface cleaning
• minimise the time spent close to other people, where possible
• keep the activity time involved as short as possible
• making adjustments for those with specific needs or protected characteristics, for example disabled people, older people and pregnant women
• consider groups of people who process information differently or who may not be able to distance from others
• advise people to avoid loud talking, shouting or singing
• dispose of waste safely, including items such as used disposable face coverings

Read .

Public spaces and services

Gatherings of over 50 people outside of work places are prohibited, including all weddings, conferences and sporting events. Bars, restaurants other than in hotels, events and recreational centres are currently closed. Places of worship are permitted to hold services, subject to limitations set by state authorities. On 21 December, the Nigerian Government announced that schools will remain closed until at least 18 January 2021.

Visits to public institutions, including government buildings, have been limited.

Additional measures include a mandatory requirement to wear face masks in public spaces. Check the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control website for updates on further guidance on the implications of the lockdown restrictions.

Travel in Switzerland

You should follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing. These include:

• Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly
• Keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres from other people
• If it is not possible to maintain that distance, wear a face mask.

Wearing a face mask is compulsory when travelling on public transport, and at Geneva, Zurich and Basel airports. It is compulsory to wear a face mask on all flights to and from Switzerland. Failure to do so is punishable by a fine. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from this requirement, as are individuals who are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons. Cantons have imposed further restrictions, and you should check for further details.

Essential workers and those prioritised for testing

See separate lists for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

List of essential workers and those prioritised for testing in England:

• all NHS and social care staff, including:
  • doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff, including community pharmacists and their staff, students on clinical placements, volunteers and unpaid carers
  • the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector
  • those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines, and medical and personal protective equipment
  • NHS Blood and Transplant frontline staff (blood donation staff, specialist nurses for organ donation, staff running therapeutic apheresis services in NHS hospitals)
  • those providing ancillary support to NHS workers (such as hotel accommodation for NHS staff)
  • personal care assistants
• essential public services staff, including:
  • prisons, probation, courts and tribunals staff, judiciary
  • religious staff
  • charities and workers delivering critical frontline services
  • those responsible for the management of the deceased
  • journalists and broadcasters covering coronavirus or providing public service broadcasting
  • public health and environmental staff, such as specialist community public health nursing
• public safety and national security staff, including:
  • police and support staff
  • Ministry of Defence civilians, contractors and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of critical defence and national security outputs and critical to the response to the coronavirus pandemic), including defence medical staff
  • fire and rescue service employees (including support staff),
  • National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas
  • British Transport Police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• transport workers, including:
  • those who keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the coronavirus response
  • those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass
• education and childcare workers, including:
  • support and teaching staff
  • social workers
  • specialist education professionals
• critical personnel in the production and distribution of food, drink and essential goods, including:
  • those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery
  • those critical to the provision of other essential goods, such as medical supply chain and distribution workers, and testing (such as PHE labs), and veterinary medicine
  • workers critical to the continuity of essential movement of goods
• local and national government staff critical to the effective delivery of the coronavirus response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits
• public and environmental health staff, including in government agencies and arm’s length bodies
• funeral industry workers
• frontline local authority staff and volunteers, including
  • those working with vulnerable children and adults, victims of domestic abuse, and the homeless and rough sleepers (and hotel staff supporting these groups)
  • voluntary sector organisations providing substance misuse treatment
• utilities, communication and financial services staff, including:
  • staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure)
  • the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage)
  • information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the coronavirus response
  • essential staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 essential services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors

Travel in Turkey

HES codes for intercity travel and lodging

Turkish citizens and residents must request a HES (Hayat Eve Sigar) Code for domestic and international flights, train and ferry travel. As of 30 September the HES code will also be required when checking into accommodation including hotels, motels, boarding houses, pensions, camps etc. Some provinces also require submission of a HES code upon entry to public buildings, shopping malls and banks. This does not apply to foreign tourists. This can be done through the e-Devlet system, the ‘Hayat Eve Sığar’ smartphone application and by SMS.

IF YOU HAVE A TURKISH RESIDENT ID: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes (a) the letters “HES”, (b) your Turkish kimlik number (c) your year of birth, and (d) the number of days you will be traveling, plus 7 days. Put a single space between each item.

IF YOU HAVE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes (a) the letters “HES”, (b) your Turkish kimlik number (c) the last four digits of the series number of your ID, and (d) surname, the number of days you will be traveling, plus 7 days should be used. Put a single space between each item.

Airlines also have information on their websites in English about the HES code, including:

• SunExpress
• Turkish Airlines
• Pegasus

Social care

• Guidance: Overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus
• Letter: Adult social care winter plan
• Letter: COVID-19 infection rises: letter to care providers from Director of Adult Social Care Delivery
• Guidance: Supported living services
• Guidance: Visiting care homes during coronavirus
• Guidance: Home care
• Action plan for adult social care
• Guidance: Social care
• Guidance: Care home support package
• Guidance: Vulnerable children and young people
• Guidance: Changes to the Care Act 2014 to help local authorities prioritise care and support
• Guidance: Ethical framework for adult social care for local authorities and adult social care professionals
• Guidance: Admission and care of people in care homes
• Announcement: £2.9 billion funding to strengthen care for the vulnerable
• Guidance: Providing unpaid care
• Guidance: Financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
• Guidance: COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes
• Announcement: New guidance to support safe care home visits during lockdown
• Guidance: Discharge into care homes: designated settings