Characteristics of COVID-19 related deaths are presented in Section 4. Section 3 reports on epidemiological data for COVID-19 to highlight trends in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the UK: lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths (Section 3.1), testing data for COVID-19 (Section 3.2), and daily hospitalisation, type of admission, treatment modality and recovery rates (Section 3.3).

Data definitions and data sources used in subsequent sections of the paper are described in Section 2.

Section 1.2 describes key health indicators in the UK (health behaviours and socio-demographic factors, and mental health as important contextual information to help with evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and the health care system). Section 1.1 presents a sociodemographic profile of the UK (population figures, population density, life expectancy and household composition). In this report, we aim to describe the epidemiological data on COVID-19 observed in the UK population and the policy response to the pandemic, including impact on the healthcare system, business and economic activity. Financial interventions were rapidly introduced to protect the UK economy. COVID-19 cases subsequently increased exponentially, and a host of measures have been rapidly implemented to decelerate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (‘flattening the curve’) to reduce the impact on the healthcare system, including social distancing, self-isolation and lockdown strategies.

The first identified cases of COVID-19, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in the United Kingdom (UK) were reported in late January 2020, with person-to-person transmission within the country confirmed by late February.

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