POST LOCKDOWN EFFECT IN THE UK
The outbreak of the COVID-19 following several lockdowns had a tremendous impact in the UK and globally. The lockdowns brought restrictions to movements, total shutdown of markets, schools, worship centres, and all forms of social places. The number one effect of the lockdown was global social disintegration. Several factors suffered greatly during the lockdown and still have lockdown effects on them.
Discussing post lockdown effects in the UK could come in two phases: short-term effect and long-term effect. Looking at short-term effects we consider travel restrictions as they stopped visitation and being with distant family, friends, and loved ones, also social disintegration as earlier stated above, the fear of movement because of the very consciousness of getting infected by the virus. These effects wear off as time goes by, most certainly at the end of the lockdowns, unlike the long-term effects that are deeper, and their impacts can still be evident after several years.
Long-term effects of the lockdown in the UK
Pandemics are capable of reshaping and reconstructing society and also that of the socio-economic structure of a community. Examining the post lockdown effect in the UK could be mainly seen under these factors; Economy, social, and the health sector.
Economy
These periods have resulted in the worst deep in the history of the UK economy. Due to the COVID-19 and several lockdowns, resulting in joblessness, low or no income also reduced income revenue and taxation.
Recession:
One of the impacts of the lockdown on the UK economy could be the recession in the UK’s economy. Retail outlets, bars, clubs, and other business places had been highly affected during the lockdowns whereby they experienced an entire business shut down. Soon after the lockdowns, businesses just started picking up. While some organisations had cut down staff, leaving people jobless, some still have workers working remotely. The fear of contracting the virus made moving around difficult for the UK citizens, which is why most people resorted to having a PCR home test rather than going to clinics. This situation gives an outlook of what quieter commuting is likely to be in the nearest future, business and company closure is the imminent cause of the recession in the UK.
Social Effects
The lockdown had a considerable impact in the UK and on all residents of the UK in several social ways. Citing Education as a tool in social advancement that has been badly affected after several lockdowns, before the post lockdown era government had closed down schools and learning institutes in a quest to curb the virus though commendable yet it had to an extent brought down the educational standard also tampering with Syllabus of the educational system. Statistics have also proven that not all students were able to return to school after the lockdown, especially students from poorer homes or diaspora students from poorer countries and this has brought about educational inequality in the society. Also, another social impact of the lockdowns, as well as the pandemic as a whole, are the several travel procedures and requirements for either leaving the UK or coming into the UK example is presenting a covid test fit to fly certificate that certifies that you have done COVID-19 testing before your journey. Also, a negative result after doing a PCR test for travel is one of the travel requirements in the UK.
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