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2020 in pictures: Coronavirus in the UK

31 December 2020

A selection of some of the most striking images taken by news photographers covering the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.

News image — Stonehenge, deserted on 26 March. After weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown on 23 March to tackle the spread of coronavirus. In a TV address, he said: "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home."

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder An aerial view of Stonehenge without any cars or people nearby — Stonehenge, deserted on 26 March. After weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown on 23 March to tackle the spread of coronavirus. In a TV address, he said: "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home."

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News image — An empty Brighton Palace Pier on 22 March.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder An aerial view of an empty Brighton pier — An empty Brighton Palace Pier on 22 March.

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News image — In the days before lockdown, shoppers rushed to the supermarkets to stock up on essential items like food and toilet rolls, with queues seen here at 5.50am at Tesco Extra in New Malden, south-west London, on 20 March.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder A large supermarket with a very long queue winding around the car park — In the days before lockdown, shoppers rushed to the supermarkets to stock up on essential items like food and toilet rolls, with queues seen here at 5.50am at Tesco Extra in New Malden, south-west London, on 20 March.

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News image — Some animals took advantage of the quieter streets: goats took a stroll around the deserted streets of Llandudno, north Wales, on 31 March. Town councillor Carol Marubbi said: "They are curious... and I think they are wondering what's going on, like everybody else."

Peter Byrne / PA Media Goats stroll around deserted streets — Some animals took advantage of the quieter streets: goats took a stroll around the deserted streets of Llandudno, north Wales, on 31 March. Town councillor Carol Marubbi said: "They are curious... and I think they are wondering what's going on, like everybody else."

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News image — A national weekly tradition of people clapping outside their homes began on 27 March. The gesture was a display of gratitude for the work of the NHS and care workers in treating people with coronavirus. The initiative was devised by Annemarie Plas, from London, who was inspired by the same event happening in her home country of the Netherlands.

Getty Images People applauding from balconies — A national weekly tradition of people clapping outside their homes began on 27 March. The gesture was a display of gratitude for the work of the NHS and care workers in treating people with coronavirus. The initiative was devised by Annemarie Plas, from London, who was inspired by the same event happening in her home country of the Netherlands.

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News image — NHS staff from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester participate in "Clap for Carers" on 2 April. Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were also among those thanked by people across the country.

Finnbarr Webster / Getty Images NHS staff applaud outside the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester — NHS staff from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester participate in "Clap for Carers" on 2 April. Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were also among those thanked by people across the country.

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News image — Buildings around the UK were also lit in blue - the colour of the NHS logo - to pay tribute to the work of NHS staff. This is The Kelpies - a metal sculpture of horses' heads - in Falkirk.

PA Media The Kelpies in Falkirk are lit up in blue — Buildings around the UK were also lit in blue - the colour of the NHS logo - to pay tribute to the work of NHS staff. This is The Kelpies - a metal sculpture of horses' heads - in Falkirk.

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News image — Due to the lockdown, unsold new and used cars were stored at the disused Upper Heyford aerodrome in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Cars were also stored on disused airport runways in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder Aerial view of cars being stored on airport runways — Due to the lockdown, unsold new and used cars were stored at the disused Upper Heyford aerodrome in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Cars were also stored on disused airport runways in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

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News image — With more time spent at home, many people had mass clear-outs of possessions they no longer wanted. This led to some recycling points becoming overwhelmed, like this one at a Tesco Extra Store in Wembley, north London.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder An aerial view of lots of rubbish discarded next to a recycling centre — With more time spent at home, many people had mass clear-outs of possessions they no longer wanted. This led to some recycling points becoming overwhelmed, like this one at a Tesco Extra Store in Wembley, north London.

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News image — Easter weekend was quiet, with the government urging people to stay at home. This is Bournemouth beach on Good Friday.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder An aerial view of an empty Bournemouth beach — Easter weekend was quiet, with the government urging people to stay at home. This is Bournemouth beach on Good Friday.

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News image — Drive-in testing centres were built across the UK, like this one in north-west London, seen on 1 April.

Chris Gorman / Big Ladder An aerial view of an empty testing centre — Drive-in testing centres were built across the UK, like this one in north-west London, seen on 1 April.

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News image — On 3 April, Health Secretary Matt Hancock opened the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in London, a temporary hospital with 4,000 beds set up for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Stefan Rousseau / PA Media Matt Hancock stands in front of NHS Nightingale Hospital — On 3 April, Health Secretary Matt Hancock opened the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in London, a temporary hospital with 4,000 beds set up for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

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News image — On 5 April, the Queen gave a message of hope in a special address to the nation, seen here on a billboard screen in an empty Piccadilly Circus in central London. The Queen said: "While we have faced challenges before, this one is different ... better days will return; we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."

Glyn Kirk / Getty Images A billboard screen in Picadilly Circus shows an image of the Queen — On 5 April, the Queen gave a message of hope in a special address to the nation, seen here on a billboard screen in an empty Piccadilly Circus in central London. The Queen said: "While we have faced challenges before, this one is different ... better days will return; we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."

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News image — A dog in fancy dress with its owner and a sign paying tribute to NHS staff during a national "clap for carers" in April.

Niklas Halle'n / Getty Images A dog wears a doctor's uniform — A dog in fancy dress with its owner and a sign paying tribute to NHS staff during a national "clap for carers" in April.

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News image — Street art expressing appreciation of the NHS appeared in a number of towns and cities, including this mural by artist Rachel List in Pontefract, northern England.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images A girl walks past a mural of a doctor with rainbow angel wings — Street art expressing appreciation of the NHS appeared in a number of towns and cities, including this mural by artist Rachel List in Pontefract, northern England.

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News image — Throughout 2020, millions of people worked from home, including British Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft and her partner Nathan Maguire, seen here training at their home in Chester.

Molly Darlington/ Reuters Two wheelchair athletes train outside their homes — Throughout 2020, millions of people worked from home, including British Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft and her partner Nathan Maguire, seen here training at their home in Chester.

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News image — A member of the clinical staff at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she cares for a patient at the Intensive Care unit.

Neil Hall / Getty Images A clinical staff member holds the head of a patient whilst wearing PPE — A member of the clinical staff at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she cares for a patient at the Intensive Care unit.

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News image — Beachgoers enjoyed the sunshine in Bournemouth on 25 June during a heatwave, ten days before lockdown restrictions were lifted in England.

Glyn Kirk A busy beach in Bournemouth — Beachgoers enjoyed the sunshine in Bournemouth on 25 June during a heatwave, ten days before lockdown restrictions were lifted in England.

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News image — A customer shows off her jewelled David Bowie face covering at Tusk Hair stylists in Camden, London, just after midnight on 4 July, following lockdown easing in England.

Getty Images A customer wearing a face mask with David Bowie's face on has her hair washed in a hair salon — A customer shows off her jewelled David Bowie face covering at Tusk Hair stylists in Camden, London, just after midnight on 4 July, following lockdown easing in England.

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News image — A man pours a drink over himself in Soho, London. Pubs, restaurants and cinemas in England reopened on 4 July after three months of lockdown restrictions.

Peter Summers/Getty Images A man pours a drink over himself in the street — A man pours a drink over himself in Soho, London. Pubs, restaurants and cinemas in England reopened on 4 July after three months of lockdown restrictions.

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News image — Sharde Laing Cummings takes a reservation at Haks Oscar barber shop in Chelsea, London, after the reopening on 4 July. Businesses were required to adhere to strict safety measures and social distancing rules.

Getty Images A receptionist takes an appointment reservation over the phone — Sharde Laing Cummings takes a reservation at Haks Oscar barber shop in Chelsea, London, after the reopening on 4 July. Businesses were required to adhere to strict safety measures and social distancing rules.

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News image — The Queen knighted 100-year-old veteran Captain Tom Moore at Windsor Castle on 17 July. Captain Sir Tom rose to prominence during lockdown, when he raised £39m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

Chris Jackson The Queen uses a sword to knight Captain Tom Moore — The Queen knighted 100-year-old veteran Captain Tom Moore at Windsor Castle on 17 July. Captain Sir Tom rose to prominence during lockdown, when he raised £39m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

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News image — Students at Bristnall Hall Academy, near Birmingham, celebrated their GCSE results on 20 August. Passes for pupils in England rose dramatically this year, following the last-minute decision to uphold grades awarded by teachers after exams were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Jacob King / Reuters Students open their GCSE exam results — Students at Bristnall Hall Academy, near Birmingham, celebrated their GCSE results on 20 August. Passes for pupils in England rose dramatically this year, following the last-minute decision to uphold grades awarded by teachers after exams were cancelled due to the pandemic.

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News image — Pupils from Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, greet each other on their first day of term as schools in England reopen on 2 September after the coronavirus lockdown.

Owen Humphreys / PA Media Two grils wearing masks embrace each other — Pupils from Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, greet each other on their first day of term as schools in England reopen on 2 September after the coronavirus lockdown.

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News image — Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reflected in a woman's eye as she watches his TV address to the nation on 22 September about a marked increase in coronavirus infections across the UK. Mr Johnson urged the public to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to follow new measures, which, he said, could last up to six months.

Phil Noble / Reuters A close up of a woman's eye with the image of Boris Johnson reflected in her iris — Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reflected in a woman's eye as she watches his TV address to the nation on 22 September about a marked increase in coronavirus infections across the UK. Mr Johnson urged the public to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to follow new measures, which, he said, could last up to six months.

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News image — As England's second lockdown began in November, military personnel worked in testing centres in Liverpool as part of a city-wide testing pilot.

Oli Scarff / AFP Soliders wear PPE in a testing centre — As England's second lockdown began in November, military personnel worked in testing centres in Liverpool as part of a city-wide testing pilot.

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News image — Police officers block off Oxford Street in central London to control an anti-lockdown demonstration on 5 November. The Metropolitan Police said: "This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk." At least 104 protesters were arrested.

Niklas Halle'n / AFP Police officers stand in a line, blocking off Oxford Street — Police officers block off Oxford Street in central London to control an anti-lockdown demonstration on 5 November. The Metropolitan Police said: "This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk." At least 104 protesters were arrested.

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News image — Approval was given to the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine in December, and 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person to receive it, in the UK's biggest ever immunisation programme.

Jacob King / AFP Margaret Keenan receives a coronavirus vaccine from a nurse — Approval was given to the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine in December, and 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person to receive it, in the UK's biggest ever immunisation programme.

Photos are subject to copyright.

Coronavirus pandemic