when was the first covid lockdown uk

The first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 23, 2020. The lockdown order, including stay-at-home directives, came into legal effect on March 26, 2020. This national lockdown was implemented to curb the spread of the virus and included closing many sectors, with public instructed to stay home except for essential reasons such as exercise, shopping for essentials, medical needs, or work that could not be done from home.