Britons’ experience of 100 days on the lockdown rollercoaster

The UK is marking 100 days on the lockdown rollercoaster today – with the country desperately hoping that the worst of the crisis is over.

Surveys tracking public attitudes show that anxiety about coronavirus has fallen back from a peak when the draconian restrictions were imposed on March 23.

They also underline how widely the rules have been obeyed, despite the behaviour of some ‘covidiots’, and the lingering coronaphobia that ministers fear could derail the economic recovery.

Meanwhile, there has been a stark divide between people who have kept jobs and found they are spending far less, and millions who have been furloughed or laid off. Concerns about the economy are now rising as the scale of the hit from lockdown starts to become clear. 

The Office for National Statistics has been measuring the social impact of lockdown since before Boris Johnson dramatically made it official.

In polling from March 20-30, 85.8 per cent of Britons were worried they or someone in their family would be infected by coronavirus.

Some 55.7 per cent also believed the disease was going to negatively impact on their household finances.

By the peak of the outbreak in mid-April, 83.5 per cent reported they had not left their home in the past week other than for essential shopping, medical reasons, daily exercise or – in the case of key workers – travelling to do their jobs.

But as of the end of last month, that figure was down to 42 per cent. However, in itself that level is still high, underlining concerns from ministers that people might be unwilling to return to normal even as the economy reopens.

Some 94 per cent of Britons now say they have left their homes in the previous seven days, with the figure steadily creeping up. 

The proportion concerned about the impact of coronavirus currently has on their lives has drifted down from 84 per cent in March, but still stands at 64 per cent.

Half of the public were experiencing high anxiety in March, but that has now dropped to 28 per cent. 

There has been little change, however, in loneliness, which has remained stubbornly at around quarter of adults since the start of lockdown. 

Many people have been finding themselves spending less. 

Official estimates suggest around £182 a week of usual household spending – a fifth of average outgoings – have been simply blocked due to lockdown.

Spending on transport, holidays, restaurants and gym subscriptions are among the things that have been all-but ruled out. 

However, the scale of the wider hit to the economy has become clearer over the past 100 days. Numbers on furlough have now risen from 3.8million on April 23 to 9.3million this week.

The government has been underwriting 80 per cent of their salaries up to a ceiling of £2,500, but ministers are braced for a wave of redundancies as the support is withdrawn over the coming months.

Some 29 per cent now expect their own finances to get worse over the next 12 months, compared to 20 per cent who are more optimistic. The figures are more pessimistic among under-70s. 

Amid the gloom, there is evidence that the dramatic restriction on freedom has had silver linings.

Last week nearly half – 43 per cent – reported that they had experienced some positive lifestyle changes. 

Those aged under 70 were more likely to report benefits, 47 per cent feeling this way compared with 24 per cent above the age threshold.

The positive effects highlighted include 56 pe rcent who said they were spending more quality time with members of their household, and 50 per cent who enjoyed the slower pace of life.

Some 47 cited having to do less travel.