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COVID-19 is a pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. This page will be updated as the situation develops.

==UK Timeline==* On 5 March COVID-19 was listed as a notifiable disease in England. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolved governments had done so by 26 February.*From 16 March the government began listing social distancing guidance advising large gatherings should not take place: it advised against all non-essential travel and social contact, to include working from home where possible and avoiding venues such as pubs, restaurants and theatres. These were updated daily with further restrictions requested (but not mandated) of individuals and organisations. *On 18 March the government announced loan guarantees (CBILS) for some businesses following forecasts of a significant drop in business. For the hospitality and leisure sector there will be a business rates holiday and a £25k cash grant per retail and leisure business for those without specific pandemic insurance.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467 BBC News] (Retrieved 18 March 2020)</ref> This was subsequently extended to include other measures, including a WHO ended its 'furlough' scheme by which the government funded up to 80% of wages for laid off staff.*On 23 March the government advised more severe measures which closed the shops and resulted in a partial 'shutdown', with people told not to leave their homes.*On 25 March the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/contents/enacted/data.htm Coronavirus Act 2020] was passed, public health emergency powers legislation under which subsequent Orders were made legally to regulate activities by the authorities in England, Scottland, Wales and Northern Ireland.*On 17 April the partial shutdown was extended for a further three weeks. The government pay scheme for furloughed workers was extended until the end of June and would be extended again "if necessary".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52323918 BBC Business, 'Coronavirus: Salary subsidy scheme extended into June', 17 April 2020] (Retrieved 18 April 2020)</ref>*On 22 April Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical officer, said social distancing would have to stay in place until a vaccine was available, with “highly disruptive” distancing needed to be in place for “really quite a long period of time” and until at least the end of the year.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/uk-will-need-social-distancing-until-at-least-end-of-year-says-whitty Mason, R. and Proctor, K., 'UK will need social distancing until at least end of year, says Whittyinternational concern', The Guardian, 22 April 2020] (Retrieved 22 April 2020)</ref> An unprecedented 20% contraction in the UK economy in April followed lockdown.*On 10 May the government announced plans to ease lockdown restrictions in England to enable more people to go back to work, but that people should avoid public transport for social distancing reasons. At the earliest shops would not open until June and pubs and restaurants until July.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News, 11 May 2020] (Retrieved 11 May 2020)</ref> People in England should now aim to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, such as declaration on public transport and in some shops. *On 11 5 May the ORR published heritage railways recovery plan guidance, reminding them always to risk assess their return to service2023.<ref>[https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/42877/heritage-railway-recovery-plan-in-response-to-covid-19.pdf ORR's heritage railways recovery plan guidanceBy then there were over 750 million confirmed global cases, May 2020]</ref>*On 12 May the furlough scheme was extended until 31 October but with employers to be responsible for part of the cost from 1 August.*On 9 June it was announced all shops could open in England from 15 Junenearly 7 million deaths. From the same date face coverings Vaccines became required while using public transport in England, but guidance remained to avoid public transport where possible.*On 23 June relaxations were allowed on social distancing, and opening of pubs available from 4 July. *On 17 July further relaxations were announced to allow use of public transport and, effective 1 August, updated advice on going to work, and opening most remaining leisure settings, with appropriate social distancing.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53441912 'Coronavirus: Boris Johnson sets out plan for 'significant normality' by Christmas', BBC News, 17 July late 2020] (Retrieved 17 July 2020)</ref>*On 31 July the following day's relaxed restrictions were withdrawn following an increase in cases, leading to fears of a 'second wave'. The SVR's reopening was not affected. The three-month period to the end of July showed a further contraction in the UK economy of 7.6%. *From August were frequent and short notice changes in guidance with both further relaxations, local lockdowns being introduced and restrictions on overseas travel. *Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull saw local restrictions from 18 September as infections and hospital admissions rose across the UK and elsewhere. From October a three tiered system of restrictions were applied with the SVR in tier 1 (medium) and parts of the West Midlands in tier 2 (high).*On 31 October the government announced a further lockdown in England from 5 November to 2 December. The furlough was re-extended to 31 March 2021.*On 26 November the government announced that the restrictions reverted to an enhanced, three-tier system from 2 December, with a fourth tier added later in the month. Both Worcestershire and Shropshire in Tier 2. *On 8 December the first person was inoculated.*Despite some recovery from May onwards, the UK economy in October remained 8% below the pre-pandemic levels.over 13 billion doses given<ref>[https://www.theguardianourworldindata.com/business/2020/dec/10org/uk-economy-almost-at-a-standstill-before-new-covid-restrictions-hit-ons-says Elliott, L., 'UK economy almost at a standstill before new Covid restrictions hit, ONS says', The Guardian, 10 December 2020vaccinations Our World in Data] (Retrieved 10 December 2020)</ref>*Both Shropshire and Worcestershire moved to 'tier 3' on 31 December as infection rates rose. A third English national lockdown followed from 5 January to 29 March 2021.*A 'two jab' vaccination programme started from 8 December 2020.<ref>[https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/12/landmark-moment-as-first-nhs-patient-receives-covid-19-vaccination/ NHS.gov.uk] (Retrieved 11 July 202123 June 2023)</ref> By July 2021 over half the population had received the second jab and were deemed fully vaccinated.*In February 2021 the government published proposals for the conditional lifting of restrictions in England in stages between March and June. The latter date was extended to 19 July, with some restrictions continuing until 26 August.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News 10 July 2021</ref> Concurrently the spread of the delta variant saw a 'third wave' of infections with numbers of infections rising exponentially from early May and peaking in mid-July.

==COVID-19 in England==COVID-19 was listed as a notifiable disease in England on 5 March 2020. From 16 March the government began guidance on social distancing, large gatherings, travel and working from home. By 25 March the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/contents/enacted/data.htm Coronavirus Act 2020] was passed, emergency powers legislation under which subsequent Orders were made legally to regulate activities. Three separate ‘lockdowns’ took place: from March to May 2020<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News, 11 May 2020] (Retrieved 11 May 2020)</ref>, from 5 November to 2 December and from 5 January to 29 March 2021. This roughly corresponded with peaks in numbers of daily deaths in mid-2020 and in late 2020 to Spring 2021, and a third wave of infections from late summer 2021. Outside of lockdown periods, there were frequent changing guidance and rules on activities such as distancing, gatherings, wearing masks, working from home, avoiding venues such as pubs, restaurants and theatres. These were practically lifted in February 2022. There were restrictions on overseas travel and incoming travellers. There was a severe recession. The 2020 decline in UK gross domestic product (GDP) of 9.7% was equal to the decline in 1921. <ref>[https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8866/#:~:text=GDP%20declined%20by%209.7%25%20in,two%20months%20earlier%20in%20February ‘Coronavirus: Economic impact’, House of Commons Library, 17 December 2021] (Retrieved 20 March 2022)</ref> Compared to the pre-pandemic level, UK GDP in the first quarter of 2023 was still 0.5% lower.<ref>[https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn02784/ 'GDP – International Comparisons: Key Economic Indicators', House of Commons Library, 14 June, 2023] (Retrieved 23 June 2023)</ref>  A rapid vaccination programme commenced in December 2020 and extended by the end of 2021 to a 'three jab' programme. By 2023 UK deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate exceeded 227,000<ref>[https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths 'Deaths in United Kingdom', ONS, Updated 22 June 2023]</ref>. ===Relief measures=== On 18 March 2020 the government announced loan guarantees (CBILS) for some businesses. For the hospitality and leisure sector there was a business rates holiday and a £25,000 cash grant per retail and leisure business for those without specific pandemic insurance.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467 BBC News] (Retrieved 18 March 2020)</ref> This was subsequently extended to include other measures, including a 'furlough' scheme by which the government initially funded up to 80% of wages for laid off staff and which continued until summer 2021. ==Timeline of events on the SVR===

*26 November: The Railway confirmed that Christmas services would operate as planned from 3 December, the published statement being "''The Railway is in an area that has been designated as Tier 2 in the new post-national lockdown restrictions. This means that we’re able to open December 3rd and Christmas events will go ahead as planned. If you have bought event tickets, or are interested in buying event tickets, but you live in a Tier 3 area we strongly recommend that you read the Government guidelines before you travel out of your Tier 3 area''".<ref>SVR Website (retrieved 30 November 2020)</ref>

*Local 'hop on hop off' services were announced on 12 August, initially to restart midweek only in place of excursion trains from 7 September.<ref name=blaug21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug21 Branch Lines, August 2021]</ref> This soon changed with the announcement on 17 August that from 7 September all regular services and the Autumn Galas would revert to a more traditional operation, either with full-day freedom-of-the-line tickets or on journeys between selected stations with passengers able to choose their itineraries, rather than travelling on designated trains. The Railway would*In December 2021 the SVR announced that it had been awarded £1, however012, continue to offer a small number 900 as part of private bookable compartments, where passengers are guaranteed exclusive use the latest round of a compartment on a single train, throughout the day.*With numbers of continuing third wave infectionsCulture Recovery Fund, hospitalisations paying for salaries and deaths remaining stable but high, concerns over running costs for the Omicron variant led to the reimposition of mask wearing on public transport period between 1 October 2021 and in shops from November, just as [[Christmas services]] were starting31 January 2022<ref>[https://www.bbcrailadvent.co.uk/news2021/12/ukculture-recovery-fund-severn-valley-railway-awarded-1-million-in-59445124 'Covid: Face masks relatest-introduced as UK Omicron cases found', BBC News 27 November 2021round.html?mc_cid=c5ab8cec52&mc_eid=1655d51c43 Rail Advent]</ref>.

In mitigation, it successfully applied to HSBC for a £1.5 million loan under the CBILS scheme, which alongside its existing overdraft facility would mean £2.5 million available. The SVR Charitable Trust won a [[:Category:Lottery funding|National Lottery Heritage Fund]] grant to support the reopening of the Railway.<ref name="blaug20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, August 2020]</ref> In 2020 and 2021 respectively it received: *From Wyre Forest District Council awarded the Railway £50,000 and £133,714 under its discretionary business grant scheme. It received *£555,484 and £155,231 in furlough payments during 2020 and was awarded .*£906,000 and £1,012,900 from the Culture Recovery Fund phase phases 1and 3.<ref name="report20"/><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-59690403 'Covid-19: Severn Valley Railway gets £1m recovery grant, BBC, 17 December 2021] (Retrieved 17 December 2021)</ref>

The [[SVR Apprentices|SVR Junior Club]], local branch meetings and buffet and dining services were suspended through 2020 and 2021, and much of 2022. In 2021 its February half-term, Easter and services to early April were all lost, with later reopenings for its museums and pubs. It had restricted passenger numbers until 7 September. Passenger numbers partly recovered to 122,001, and turnover to £1.99 million. Its expected loss in 2021 was projected to exceed sightly less that of 2020at £407,453, and it was applying for net of further Cultural Recovery Fund monies.<ref name=blsep21/> Repayment  The 5-year repayment of the CBILS loan started in October 2021 at £28£25,000 per monthplus interest, equating initially to £28,000.<ref name="report20"report21>SVR(H) annual report and financial statements for the period ended 3 January 2022</ref>. The financial position contributed to increases in shares thresholds for [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Benefits_from_2022|shareholder travel benefits]].

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic 2019–20 coronavirus COVID-19_pandemic COVID-19 pandemic on Wikipedia]