It is one year since the first positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Scotland. This blog looks at the key milestones of the last 12 months.
For a more detailed timeline please see our Timeline of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland which includes all major developments, as well as links to relevant policies and guidance.
Finally, please check out our Coronavirus (COVID-19) hub for related content and our Coronavirus (COVID-19) data blog for the latest statistics.
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
01 March 2020 | First positive case of COVID-19 confirmed in Scotland. |
13 March 2020 | First confirmed death of a COVID-19 patient in Scotland. |
13 March 2020 | People with symptoms of COVID-19 told to stay at home for seven days. |
16 March 2020 | Cancellation of all mass indoor and outdoor events of 500 people or more. |
20 March 2020 | All schools and nurseries closed by the end of this week. |
24 March 2020 | Start of ‘lockdown’ in Scotland. |
06 May 2020 | National Records of Scotland records the first weekly reduction of registered deaths (for the week ending 3 May) since March 2020. |
11 May 2020 | People told they can go outside more than once a day to exercise. However, people should stay local and either go alone or with members of their household. |
18 May 2020 | UK Government announces an update to Coronavirus symptoms to include anosmia or ‘the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell’. |
18 May 2020 | Testing made available to everyone who is symptomatic over the age of five. |
21 May 2020 | Scottish Government publishes a COVID-19 ‘Route Map’ to take Scotland through and out of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
28 May 2020 | NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect scheme rolled out across Scotland. |
29 May 2020 | Move to Phase 1 of the route map out of lockdown. |
19 June 2020 | Move to Phase 2 of the route map out of lockdown. |
22 June 2020 | Face coverings become mandatory on public transport. |
02 July 2020 | Due to a spike in cases in Dumfries & Galloway, the Scottish Government implements the first localised delay in the relaxation of restrictions. Other areas would be impacted in a similar way as the pandemic continued. |
10 July 2020 | Face coverings become mandatory in shops. |
10 July 2020 | Move to Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown. |
30 July 2020 | Advice on self-isolation changed from 7 to 10 days. |
03 August 2020 | Eat Out to Help Out Scheme introduced by UK Government. |
11 August 2020 | Pupils return to Scotland’s schools. |
25 August 2020 | Face coverings introduced in schools and dedicated school transport. |
10 September 2020 | Scottish Government’s Protect Scotland app launches, complementing NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system. |
14 September 2020 | Indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to six people from two households. |
23 September 2020 | Ban on gatherings in homes. |
25 September 2020 | 10pm curfew introduced in hospitality sector. |
23 October 2020 | Scotland’s Strategic Framework – a five-level tiered framework – is published by the Scottish Government. |
29 October 2020 | Face covering exemption cards introduced. |
20 November 2020 | New travel regulations prevent people who live in a Level 3 or Level 4 area from travelling outside their local authority except for an essential purpose. Travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK also becomes illegal except for essential purposes. |
24 November 2020 | Scottish Government announce details of a UK-wide “limited relaxation” of restrictions over the Christmas period. |
02 December 2020 | UK medicines regulator authorises first COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. |
02 December 2020 | First Community Asymptomatic Test site opens in Scotland. |
08 December 2020 | The first vaccinations against COVID-19 are given in Scotland to those who will be carrying out the vaccination programme. |
14 December 2020 | The self-isolation period for positive contacts and overseas arrivals is reduced from 14 days to 10 days. |
14 December 2020 | First vaccinations in care homes in Scotland. |
19 December 2020 | Easing of restrictions around Christmas is limited to Christmas Day only. |
30 December 2020 | The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is approved for use in the UK. |
05 January 2021 | Mainland Scotland goes into lockdown. |
18 January 2021 | All travel corridors are suspended. |
18 January 2021 | Scotland introduces pre-departure testing for international travellers. |
25 January 2021 | Health boards begin scheduling appointments for COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 70-79. |
10 February 2021 | The number of first dose vaccinations in Scotland reaches the 1 million milestone. |
18 February 2021 | Testing is expanded to include anyone who is identified as a close contact of somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19. |
22 February 2021 | Children in early learning and childcare, and primaries 1 to 3, return full-time to classrooms. |
22 February 2021 | People with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers begin to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. |
23 February 2021 | Scottish Government publish the updated Strategic Framework, setting out the broad order of priority for re-opening. |
25 February 2021 | More than 1.5 million people in Scotland (a third of those eligible) have received first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. |
Alexandra Gherghiniş, Alisdair Grahame and Emma Robinson, SPICe.