Five years after the country went into lockdown, SomersetLive readers and readers of sister titles still believe that the decision to implement lockdown was necessary. However, opinions vary based on geography and readership. Over 15,000 readers participated in the Reach lockdown survey, shedding light on public sentiment regarding the government’s response to the pandemic.
According to the survey, nearly two-thirds (61%) of respondents felt that the country made the right call with the initial lockdown five years ago, while 39% disagreed. In Somerset, 67% of participants agreed with the decision to go into lockdown. Bristol stood out with the highest support at 72%, making it the most pro-lockdown city in the UK, according to Reach titles' readers.
The survey revealed that only 14% believed that the lockdown occurred at the right time, with nearly half (49%) feeling that it should have happened sooner. In Somerset, this figure was even higher at 55%. When asked about local lockdown rules, 58% of respondents in Somerset deemed them justified.
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Support for lockdown differed across the UK, with England (63%) and Wales (62%) showing stronger pro-lockdown sentiment than Scotland (51%) and divided opinions in Northern Ireland (50-50).
Opinions on whether schools should have stayed open during lockdown were divided, with just over half (53%) of respondents across the UK supporting the government’s decision to close schools. The sentiment was strongest in Wales (55%) and England (54%). In contrast, the majority in Scotland (55%) and Northern Ireland (54%) felt that schools should have remained open. In Somerset, 55% agreed with the school closures.
Participants were given the option to select up to three emotions they experienced during lockdown. The most commonly selected were “isolated” (38%) and “anxious” (37%). Around a quarter (26%) felt “safe,” while a fifth (21%) were “reassured,” and 19% felt “vulnerable.” Surprisingly, 12% felt “content” during lockdown.
Despite the support for the initial lockdown, 50% of respondents claimed that it changed their lives for the worse, while only 9% believed it had a positive impact, and 41% saw no change.
Looking to the future, the majority (58%) do not think the country will go into lockdown again. However, concerns about another pandemic remain, with 45% worried about another outbreak.
Regarding mask-wearing, over a quarter of respondents still wear a mask, with 72% of Somerset participants stating they never wear one.
Opinions on the NHS’s recovery from the pandemic were overwhelmingly negative, with 76% believing it has not recovered. In Somerset, 75% shared this sentiment. Additionally, 45% expressed concerns about a future pandemic.