On 11 March WHO characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic, a global outbreak. During March it escalated quickly in Europe and elsewhere leading to several countries prohibiting international movement and ‘lockdowns’ in regions and countries, with measures for ‘social distancing’.
==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 By March the government announced loan guarantees (CBILS) for some businesses following forecasts of a significant drop in business. For the hospitality and leisure sector 2022 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 '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, 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 available470 million confirmed global cases, 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 yearover 6 million deaths.<ref>[https://wwwcoronavirus.theguardianjhu.com/world/2020/apr/22edu/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 Whitty', The Guardian, 22 April 2020Johns Hopkins University] (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 2020March 2022)</ref> People in England should now aim to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, such as on public transport and in some shops. *On 11 May the ORR published heritage railways recovery plan guidance, reminding them always to risk assess their return to service.<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 guidance, 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 June. 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 2020] (Retrieved 17 July late 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 10 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?country=OWID_WRL 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 20 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 20212022)</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.*With numbers of continuing third wave infections, hospitalisations and deaths remaining stable but high, concerns over the Omicron variant led to the reimposition of mask wearing on public transport and in shops from November, just as [[Christmas services]] were starting.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59445124 'Covid: Face masks re-introduced as UK Omicron cases found', BBC News 27 November 2021]</ref> 'Plan B' restrictions followed from 10 December.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 'What are the new measures for England?', BBC News, 9 December 2021]</ref> The Office for National Statistics said the economy was still 0.5% below pre-pandemic levels at the end of October<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59605111 'Economic growth stutters before impact of Omicron', BBC 10 December 2021]</ref>.
==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 lockdown periods 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, and only in January 2022 did GDP reach the pre-pandemic level.<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><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-11/u-k-economy-surged-past-pre-covid-size-before-war-in-ukraine Bloomberg, 11 March 2022] (Retrieved 20 March 2022)</ref> A rapid vaccination programme commenced in December 2020 and extended by the end of 2021 to a 'three jab' programme. By March 2022 the UK had over 20 million confirmed infections. Deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate exceeded 185,000<ref>[https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths 'Deaths in United Kingdom', ONS, Updated 18 March 2022]</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===
The railway reopened in February 2020 as planned, operating between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Bewdley]] only, due to repairs on [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] and track relaying between there and [[Bewdley Tunnel]]. It was intended to reopen the line throughout from 4 April.
