COVID-19 first phase UK variant. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Here the first phase (ic19) variant is shown budding (red dots) from a Vero mammalian kidney epithelial cell 24 hours after infection. The first wave peaked between the end of March and early April 2020. National intervention began on 23 March 2020 and restrictions were gradually lifted between 13 May and 4 July 2020. Infection fatality ratio (IFR) fell at the end of the first wave due to improvements in clinical management. The coronaviruses take their name from their crown (corona) of surface proteins, which are used to attach and penetrate their host cells. As of mid-September 2021 226, 130, 821 cases and 4, 653, 230 deaths have been recorded world- wide. Magnification x 12000 at 10cm wide. Specimen courtesy of Greg Towers, UCL