How Covid-19 has impacted Great Britain’s social climate
According to The Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people wearing face coverings when outside their home remains at a high level of 97% across the country.
The national report, Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain, further uncovered how other social factors such as shopping habits and work routines have been affected by Covid-19.
Tim Vizard, Principal Research Officer at the ONS, said that the report found some “changes to behaviours and experiences of adults”, since the switch from local tier systems to national lockdown.
Under the current lockdown restrictions, which end on December 2, it is essential for people to stay at home and people are urged to “work from home” if they can and if their workplaces are closed. The majority of people are furloughed.
ONS data collected during the second lockdown shows the level of individuals choosing to travel to work has decreased by seven percent to 51%.
Unsurprisingly, following the introduction of the second lockdown on November 5 data shows an increased percentage of those exclusively working from home (31%) or not working at all (18%).
The steady level of Britain’s population shopping for necessities like food and medicine remains at a reasonably sturdy gradient.
As a result of the recent national restrictions, the number of shoppers buying ‘other things’ such as recreational items has decreased by half, at 10%, the lowest it has been since mid-June.
With the announcement of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions over the Christmas period, it can be expected that the levels of shopping and working from home will increase significantly.
