Does a fifth of the population think we should still be in lockdown?

That shutting people away in their homes for weeks on end was going to have a bad effect on mental health was clear from the start of the pandemic, even if the Covid Inquiry doesn’t seem to think it a proper subject to cover the negative consequences of lockdowns. But a poll published this week by the organisation More in Common reveals just how debilitating an effect the pandemic continues to have on a remarkably large section of the population.

More in Common asked the following question: ‘Thinking of the current health situation in the UK would you support or oppose the government reintroducing each of the following Covid-19 restrictions at the current time?’ It then listed a series of interventions which were used during the pandemic. The results are astounding. Apparently 45 per cent of us still think we should continue to be forced to wear face masks on public transport, 29 per cent think nightclubs should still be closed, 23 per cent think the ‘rule of six’ should be re-introduced, limiting social gatherings, even outside, to a maximum of six people.