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Coronavirus: Eight ways the lockdown has changed the UK Coronavirus lockdown: Eight ways the lockdown has changed the UK
(2 months later)
Life in the UK has been transformed since restrictions were brought in to curb the spread of coronavirus.Life in the UK has been transformed since restrictions were brought in to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The restrictions, which have affected all aspects of society, will be reviewed this week and the government has promised to lay out a "comprehensive plan" to restart the economy, reopen schools and help people travel to work. The restrictions, which have affected all aspects of society, were relaxed further in most of England from Saturday, with pubs allowed to reopen and people allowed to meet indoors, while in Scotland the five-mile travel limit was also lifted on Friday.
But how has life changed over the past six weeks? But how has life changed over the past three months?
1) Some have returned to their cars 1) Visits to parks and beaches are up
While other transport use has consistently stayed down, there has been a slight uptick on the number of vehicles on the road. In the week after the lockdown was announced, the number of people driving fell to a third of its pre-pandemic level. At the start of June it was back up to about two-thirds. The number of people on public transport fell even further, with rail use down to just 7% at the start of June, according to Department for Transport figures.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries has said she wants to ''reinforce'' how important it is that people carry on reducing their travelling. Mobile phone data analysed by Google shows that people largely did as they were told. Visits to parks, beaches and outdoor spaces plummeted almost immediately as the country was told to only go outside for exercise once a day. Visits to public transport stations and workplaces are about half of normal levels.
Greater Manchester Police have warned of speeders ''using the quieter roads as their own personal racetrack" after a motorist drove at 115mph on a 40mph road. In some areas, such as Hartlepool, Bracknell Forest and Darlington in England - as well as Lisburn in Northern Ireland and East Renfrewshire in Scotland - the data suggested visits to parks and recreational spaces dropped by more than half compared with the five-week period in January and early February, which Google used to calculate its baseline.
Trips to supermarkets and workplaces are still down significantly compared with the start of the year, according to Google data. Across the country, that rose significantly once the first relaxation of lockdown was announced in May and people were allowed to exercise outside more than once per day, peaking during the late May bank holiday weekend.
However, visits to parks have almost returned to normal levels, after dropping by more than 50% in the first few weeks of lockdown. In mid-June, the rise in visits was biggest in places like Southend, Brighton and Wokingham.
Several parks, including Brockwell Park in South London, briefly closed at the start of April amid social distancing concerns. But Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has since said that people "need parks" and councils must keep them open.
It also appears slightly more people are travelling to their workplaces, which may be a factor behind the higher number of cars on the road.
2) The UK is 'past the peak' of the disease2) The UK is 'past the peak' of the disease
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK is "past the peak" of the coronavirus outbreak, but has stressed the country must not "risk a second spike".Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK is "past the peak" of the coronavirus outbreak, but has stressed the country must not "risk a second spike".
His comments may surprise some, given the jump in deaths during the last week of April, the BBC's Health Correspondent Nick Triggle says.
But those figures have been inflated by the retrospective inclusion of deaths in the community, mainly care homes, which date back to March.
By tracking hospital deaths, which are a sign of transmission in the general population, there is strong evidence that the UK hit the peak on 8 April.By tracking hospital deaths, which are a sign of transmission in the general population, there is strong evidence that the UK hit the peak on 8 April.
The number of deaths from all causes registered in a single week has fallen below the five-year average for the first time since mid-March, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures published on Tuesday.
Mr Johnson says the UK must keep the R rate - the number of people to which one infected person will pass the virus - below one in order to avoid a second peakMr Johnson says the UK must keep the R rate - the number of people to which one infected person will pass the virus - below one in order to avoid a second peak
3) The health service went digital 3) Doctors did more phone appointments than face-to-face
The way people are using the health service is changing.The way people are using the health service is changing.
Only about 14% of doctor's appointments were carried out over phone or video link in the year to February 2020.Only about 14% of doctor's appointments were carried out over phone or video link in the year to February 2020.
But that has all changed, with the number of phone appointments doubling in March as the public became conscious of the need for social distancing. But that has all changed, with the number of phone appointments slightly outstripping face-to-face consultations in May as the public became conscious of the need for social distancing.
The Royal College of GPs has said most people were "pretty happy" with phone appointments. But charity Age UK has urged doctors not to drop home visits and to "proactively" seek out vulnerable patients.The Royal College of GPs has said most people were "pretty happy" with phone appointments. But charity Age UK has urged doctors not to drop home visits and to "proactively" seek out vulnerable patients.
At the same time, the number of people attending A&E dropped while the numbers of calls made to 111 - the NHS hotline - reached record highs.At the same time, the number of people attending A&E dropped while the numbers of calls made to 111 - the NHS hotline - reached record highs.
But the health service says it is vital that people continue to seek medical help if they need it.But the health service says it is vital that people continue to seek medical help if they need it.
"If you do have symptoms of stroke, chest pain and think it might be a heart attack, a sick child who is deteriorating, if you are a pregnant woman and the baby is not moving as much as it used to - it is important you don't delay," says NHS England's medical director Stephen Powis."If you do have symptoms of stroke, chest pain and think it might be a heart attack, a sick child who is deteriorating, if you are a pregnant woman and the baby is not moving as much as it used to - it is important you don't delay," says NHS England's medical director Stephen Powis.
4) Millions have turned to the government's furlough scheme4) Millions have turned to the government's furlough scheme
Six weeks ago, many people would have never heard of furlough. Three months ago, many people would have never heard of furlough.
But millions now rely on the scheme, which pays up to 80% of the wages of staff at businesses struggling to operate under coronavirus restrictions.But millions now rely on the scheme, which pays up to 80% of the wages of staff at businesses struggling to operate under coronavirus restrictions.
About 185,000 firms applied for the scheme on 20 April, the day it went live. Those claims alone covered 1.3 million workers and cost the Treasury an estimated £1.5bn.About 185,000 firms applied for the scheme on 20 April, the day it went live. Those claims alone covered 1.3 million workers and cost the Treasury an estimated £1.5bn.
Many more have applied since then, with two thirds of businesses polled by the Office for National Statistics reporting they have furloughed at least part of their workforce. Many more have applied since then, with two-thirds of businesses polled by the Office for National Statistics reporting they have furloughed at least part of their workforce.
One in four of firms still trading said their turnover had fallen by at least 50% since the lockdown. One in four firms still trading said their turnover had fallen by at least 50% since the lockdown.
At the same time, applications for universal credit have soared on this time last year. Firms have to start paying towards the scheme from August, and it will close entirely in October.
About three quarters of a million claims were made in the first week of lockdown, over 20 times as many as would apply in an average week. At the same time, applications for universal credit have soared compared with this time last year.
About three-quarters of a million claims were made in the first week of lockdown, more than 20 times as many as would apply in an average week.
While there is still considerable pressure on the benefits system, the figures show that the number of claims is now starting to come down, having peaked in the first week of lockdown.While there is still considerable pressure on the benefits system, the figures show that the number of claims is now starting to come down, having peaked in the first week of lockdown.
5) Most think normal life is a long way off 5) Better air quality
The majority of the public think normal life won't resume for at least four months, with about 40% saying they think it will take over six months for this to happen, according to the ONS. The lack of travelling did make a difference to the environment, as air pollution dropped compared with last year.
And the lockdown is having a significant effect on the way people live, with four in 10 saying it had affected their travel plans and their wellbeing, while one in five said it had affected their relationships. Average nitrogen dioxide readings across the UK were lower throughout lockdown than they were on equivalent days of the week in 2019. However, the gap narrowed after restrictions were eased in May and people were able to travel further afield.
6) Frozen food and alcohol are lockdown bestsellers While nitrogen dioxide is commonly associated with vehicle exhausts, it is not the only measure of pollution.
It appears that many people were turning to baking and drinking after a month in lockdown. Nonetheless, Hugh Coe, professor of atmospheric composition at the University of Manchester, said the drop in nitrogen dioxide levels showed "what we could achieve if we set our minds to it".
Half of the 10 products seeing the biggest growth in the week to April 25 were related to home baking, with sales of fresh dough and pastry rising by 110% on the same time a year earlier. "It was only ever going to be a short term fall because we can't change our infrastructure over night," said Prof Coe.
At the same time, sales of stout were up 83% and cider up 63%, with overall sales of alcohol rising by more than a third. "People needed to get back to work and they were advised not to use public transport because of social distancing.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, sales of frozen and long lasting foods have also risen significantly on a year ago, according to the figures from consultancy Neilsen. "So even though fewer people than normal are working, more of them are now going by car.
In the week before the restrictions started, supermarket sales were 43% higher than the same time last year, as many rushed to stock up amid fear of shortages. "However what this period proves is that if we do switch to sustainable energy and zero carbon, we can make a big difference."
But average sales fell in the first fortnight of lockdown, before going back up again. 6) Most children are still at home
"When the country was told not to travel people stopped shopping," says Mike Watkins, Nielsen's head of retailer and business insight. "They had already bought a lot of stuff, and their larders and freezers were full." There are now about 1.5 million children in England going to school, but this is still just over 15% of those registered.
Are more people breaking lockdown? Schools closed to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers on 20 March.
7) Better air quality The following Monday the lockdown was announced and the numbers attending fell even further.
Air pollution levels in the UK have dropped significantly in the weeks since the country went into lockdown. The lowest attendance was on 13 April when 36,000 children were in. However, this was Easter Monday and schools would normally have been closed altogether.
The level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has fallen across the UK, with the daily average down by about 50% on the same period last year. Yet teachers and other staff were still in school even during two half-term breaks and the Easter holidays, as they stayed open to continue caring for the children of workers on the front line of the pandemic.
NO2, released from car exhausts, is a serious air pollutant. The government has said it expects to have all children in England back in school after the summer holidays in September.
Some cities have seen levels fall by more than 60%, including Brighton and Portsmouth, according to BBC analysis of Defra statistics. Schools in Wales reopened on Monday and those in Scotland and Northern Ireland will reopen in August.
8) Crime is down but anti-social behaviour is up 7) People wanted a cream tea and gardening goods
In England and Wales, crime fell by 28% in the four weeks to 12 April, compared to the same time last year. Home burglary, for example, was down by more than a third, as people spent far more time indoors. As people were told to stay at home as much as possible and non-essential shops were closed, searches for items to be delivered surged to record highs.
However, incidents of anti-social behaviour rose by 59%. In the first week after lockdown there was a rise in searches for "birthday delivery" as people tried to make celebrations special in the absence of parties with family and friends.
The increase was likely to be linked to breaches of lockdown measures, with more than 3,200 fines issued in England, the National Police Chiefs' Council said. Based on the number of births per day recorded between 2000 and 2018, about three million under-18s in England and Wales have had a birthday during lockdown.
The National Domestic Abuse helpline saw a 25% increase in calls in the first two weeks of lockdown, rising to 49% after three weeks, the charity Refuge says. As well as searches for supermarket delivery slots, with the Easter bank holiday falling around the peak of the pandemic, people were also trying to get hold of chocolate eggs By May, people were seeking other little luxuries such as cream teas.
It is now receiving hundreds of extra calls for help every week. 8) Some people still think 'normal life' is a long way off
During the lockdown, people became more and more pessimistic about a swift return to "normal life", according to surveys by the Office for National Statistics.
In the early days just over one in 10 people surveyed thought it would take more than a year - or even that their life would never return to normal.
By June, it was one in four, although there has been a recent rise in people thinking "normal" is less than six months away.
That may well change as the latest and most substantial easing of lockdown in England started on Saturday. Pubs and the rest of the hospitality sector are now allowed to reopen - along with hairdressers - and a relaxation of the 2m rule has come in.
Northern Ireland has also reduced social distancing to 1m, while in Scotland and Wales the recommendation to stay 2m apart is still in place.
This piece was first published on 13 April and has been updated to include the latest statistics.This piece was first published on 13 April and has been updated to include the latest statistics.
Additional reporting by Joel Massey, Jake Horton and Nicholas Barrett.Additional reporting by Joel Massey, Jake Horton and Nicholas Barrett.