Lockdown compliance and pandemic fatigue

Institute for Government

How can the government keep the public on board with coronavirus restrictions? A rise in Covid-19 cases has forced the government to put England into a second national lockdown. But, in contrast with the spring, some experts think people are less likely to follow the rules this time around. Is this due to growing confusion, a loss of faith in what the rules are trying to achieve, or are people simply growing tired of the restrictions on their lives? How should the government respond to any drop in adherence – and where does the balance lie between helping individuals to comply or punishing them when they don’t? To discuss these issues, we were delighted to welcome: Chris Cook, Contributing Editor at Tortoise Ann John, Professor in Public Health and Psychiatry at Swansea University and Chair of the National Advisory Group to the Welsh government Stephen Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews and member of SPI-B Anthony Yates, former Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Director of Research at the Institute for Government.