‘We’re tired and confused’: Britons share their feelings about lockdown

Adjusting to life indoors again? Boris Johnson’s decision to impose a second lockdown across England has at least brought back a degree of clarity after months of ever-changing regulations and fights with local leaders over tier categories and funding.

Wales remains in “firebreak” lockdown until next week, most businesses in Northern Ireland have been shut down until mid-November, while Scotland is still considering whether to move from its five-level regional system into a lockdown of its own.

In our new Lockdown Diaries series, people from all walks of life and all corners of the country share their views and experiences of the latest restrictions.

Joanne Whitehead, 40, business consultant in north Yorkshire:

I’m broadly in favour if the lockdown, but I’d like to know why we didn’t we do this when Keir Starmer and others were calling for it weeks ago? Before lockdown we were in a tier 1 area – but my family are in Doncaster, which is tier 3. So I’ve no idea whether I’ll be allowed to travel and see them at Christmas. I’d consider myself someone without any party loyalties, but I think the way the government has handled everything has been a farce.

We were too slow into lockdown, then they lost control of the message about following rules with the Barnard Castle thing. Are we in it together or not? The government has given so many contracts worth billions of pounds to private companies who don’t have a great track record, yet they can’t even fund school meals over Christmas?

Shahab Uddin, 48, owner of Streetly Balti restaurant in Birmingham:

I believe the government has got it wrong on the lockdown and is punishing the restaurant sector unjustly. Most restaurants like mine all have Covid-safe practices in place, and most diners will behave and eat and drink responsibly. So why disrupt more livelihoods than is necessary? How are we supposed to manage?

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme was a smashing success in getting people back out and comfortable being in restaurants likes ours. But then we had this period of real uncertainty and confusion about all the different rules, and we saw customers dropping off week by week.  

People are tired and confused about what we’re all supposed to be doing. I think we just want a proper plan for the months ahead. Other countries are getting back on their feet. Why is it we’re struggling so badly in this country?

Dawn Henderson, 56, community health worker in Edinburgh:

We’re lucky in Scotland to have good leadership. I think Nicola Sturgeon has really excelled herself during the crisis. She stays calm and we get clear information and explanations from her on a daily basis. I think most people understand the rationale behind the five different tiers we’re going into in Scotland. We have to prioritise people’s health. I understand the frustration with closures, but the only way to get the economy back up and running is to get Covid under control.

My daughter worked in a care home at the beginning of the pandemic – she had full PPE, but she still caught the virus. I don’t think people realise just how contagious this is. If we have to go into full lockdown again in Scotland, then we just have to try to get it in perspective. The evidence is clear, we have to act to save lives.

Monique Jackson, 31, artist living in London:

I am glad England is finally listening to the advice of scientists and doing as other countries in Europe are doing by going into lockdown. I’m leading quite a reclusive life because I’m still suffering from the effects of Long Covid. The first five months after getting the virus was horrific – chest pains, fatigue, headaches and even tinnitus, with many other symptoms since then.

Some friends visit me in the garden, but it’s a very different life now. I have started getting some illustration work – I’ve been doing illustrations about Long Covid. I’m also taking part in a lot of online discussions about the condition. I’d like to be useful, if I can.

People in London are still struggling to get tests, or get their results quickly. It’s really time to improve accessibility for testing. I hope people are listening to advice from scientists and medics, even if it means facing the full reality of what’s going with infections.

Simon Kidwell, 50, primary school headteacher in Cheshire:

I am in favour of the lockdown measures to protect the NHS. It is right that we prioritise keeping children in school. There’s been real mismanagement from Westminster over recent months. The free school meal vouchers issue – ministers really didn’t read the room. What Marcus Rashford has done is incredible. He’s even a hero in Liverpool now.

We’ve coped really well things in our school. Since the reopening, we’ve only had to close one bubble for two weeks after a child tested positive. Staff are incredibly tired – putting the different distancing routines has been exhausting for them. It’s work, eat, sleep for all of us at the moment. I’ve only been out for a few meals since the first lockdown was lifted, which I do miss.

Matthew McIlveen, 30, owner of hair salon in County Antrim:

The four-week lockdown we have in Northern Ireland means hairdressers have to stay closed until 13 November. It’s so frustrating. It’s the sheer unfairness of retail businesses being allowed to stay open while people in our industry are not. We managed the process of keeping customers safe over the summer really well – and now we’re twiddling our thumbs. I wrote to all the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) about it. I got some sympathetic responses, but others were dismissive. 

We’ve being told we should be reopening on 13 November, but it doesn’t fill me with hope. I’m not all that hopeful we’ll actually be able to open up again in November – or even before Christmas. Financially, is it sustainable for the country to keep having these lockdowns?

Risha Lancaster, 51, co-founder of homelessness charity Coffee4Craig in Manchester:

If the lockdown is needed, so be it. I don’t think anyone can be too shocked about it, given the rising infections. It does make the row with Greater Manchester over tier 3 money seem a bit odd now. I was totally behind the mayor Andy Burnham. I think most people here saw he was fighting for funding so we can support businesses and services. There is a feeling that we’re the poor relations in the north.

A lot of homeless people in Manchester went into hotels during the lockdown period. Although some of that provision isn’t there any more, there’s been a real effort to try to get as many people as possible into some kind of accommodation.

What Marcus Rashford has done on food poverty is phenomenal – he’s really shown up the government. We knew Marcus was star – he came here a while ago and dropped off a load of sleeping bags for us. No fuss, just a very sincere guy.

Steve Clarke, 61, carer and housing campaigner in Wales:

I’m semi-retired from my work in the housing sector now, and I’m caring for my wife – who has dementia. I think the 17-day circuit-breaker was needed in Wales to stall the exponential growth of the virus here. We’re coming out of it on Monday – but my concern is that its highly likely to turn into a stop-start scenario, with three or four more lockdowns until the spring.

While it may hold back the worst impacts and save lives, lockdowns will have significant financial costs. If this one is estimated to cost the Welsh economy £500m, that could easily turn into a £1.5-2bn costs before there’s a hint of a vaccine being produced in the spring. Unless we get the R rate down significantly, I think more lockdowns will be needed in England too. And I’m concerned we don’t have all the tools in box to mitigate the impacts on businesses.