![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PZI5AUHOOXU2ANTLJZXMOOQZJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=095d1d6af08401db64d9f90bfca9bc1889b9a1562175fe9d7a931dbe4351343c&width=400&height=225)
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St.Thomas' Hospital in London in March this year. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7Z7AFAMBW2RDD3YFD7YCIIIACE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7b4f5388d8a27be3919ff4db1f7faec54f185066adb2f153457c84d839d78d9&width=400&height=225)
A man walks along the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. A report has said mistakes, delays and failures in the UK's Covid-19 response cost lives. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DGT5363Q7JHIG4YXEFSXMNSBOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=90f11c0679467ab01666cb12b914bb1dbaa00046600874c470c9abb0219cae67&width=400&height=225)
An almost empty Westminster Bridge stands backdropped by the early morning sun on March 24, 2020, the first day of Britain's first lockdown. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EWKH75MULIG6TXUQZVXGN4AKKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5adb4c4dcde069267a3be3099a4de0082e54b98102cdd30071a66915c5d9fd57&width=400&height=225)
A woman is told to go home by a police officer on Primrose Hill in London in April 2020. The government's guidance at the time was to only use parks for dog walking, one form of exercise a day alone or with members of the same household. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYSTW4FNOS6ID4BSFP3ZDXFXTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fff4f58bfd05e1fa6f0c00d8a24908bb65e31399e36eefcb1a9cc7a3d9141216&width=400&height=225)
An image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her historic television broadcast commenting on the coronavirus pandemic are displayed on a big screen at Piccadilly Circus in London in April 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KLAPLDB74I3K2BEJEBIQ5VM6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6dfd7fc95a20f4de36f37924fa8a998f7576f6c76c5c2f44f3dcbfd49604c577&width=400&height=225)
NHS staff applaud outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London during the weekly "Clap for our Carers" in April 2020. The applause took place across Britain every Thursday at 8pm to show appreciation for healthcare workers, emergency services, and all those helping people with coronavirus and keeping the country functioning while most people stayed at home in the lockdown. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXT3WLLBTRBX6J55R2ALGDDWHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eaee7d400b592c41e8712a1cae2054e68434b29df5a37a0efe5fe38cf30bb28&width=400&height=225)
A packed Brighton beach on Britain's hottest day of the year on June 24 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OXXQB5NYX3LC5VUNE357LBUG4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=4eac59ee5274b937129b5dc934d5070d6424ff947189c139477d9e965dc99e2f&width=400&height=225)
People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square to protest against coronavirus restrictions in September 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KBAKQEN7NPMT27TIGFVO2OPLOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d91a576c7a8515bc14e4644f9448ee4a955f856814d69a4db58b97316d3b0537&width=400&height=225)
Year seven pupils in class during their first day at Kingsdale Foundation School in London in September 2020. Schools in England had started to reopen with special measures in place to deal with Coronavirus. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L2WE6J5O2Q2KDREBLHOXONLLFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc96ea4951b109283d6b679d92edb38113a972c47d01386be68b239c24bab053&width=400&height=225)
Crowds of shoppers walk under the Christmas lights in Regent Street, in London iun December 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSTVPWGEKEU3BIZVM4GLNAELZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=90045f563501d21d0ab5a0dd30aaf9d16152547760564c49990ba0df18cba62b&width=400&height=225)
Critical Care staff prone a Covid-19 patient on the Christine Brown ward at King's College Hospital in London in January 2021. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PZI5AUHOOXU2ANTLJZXMOOQZJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=095d1d6af08401db64d9f90bfca9bc1889b9a1562175fe9d7a931dbe4351343c&width=400&height=225)
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St.Thomas' Hospital in London in March this year. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7Z7AFAMBW2RDD3YFD7YCIIIACE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7b4f5388d8a27be3919ff4db1f7faec54f185066adb2f153457c84d839d78d9&width=400&height=225)
A man walks along the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. A report has said mistakes, delays and failures in the UK's Covid-19 response cost lives. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DGT5363Q7JHIG4YXEFSXMNSBOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=90f11c0679467ab01666cb12b914bb1dbaa00046600874c470c9abb0219cae67&width=400&height=225)
An almost empty Westminster Bridge stands backdropped by the early morning sun on March 24, 2020, the first day of Britain's first lockdown. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EWKH75MULIG6TXUQZVXGN4AKKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5adb4c4dcde069267a3be3099a4de0082e54b98102cdd30071a66915c5d9fd57&width=400&height=225)
A woman is told to go home by a police officer on Primrose Hill in London in April 2020. The government's guidance at the time was to only use parks for dog walking, one form of exercise a day alone or with members of the same household. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYSTW4FNOS6ID4BSFP3ZDXFXTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fff4f58bfd05e1fa6f0c00d8a24908bb65e31399e36eefcb1a9cc7a3d9141216&width=400&height=225)
An image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her historic television broadcast commenting on the coronavirus pandemic are displayed on a big screen at Piccadilly Circus in London in April 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KLAPLDB74I3K2BEJEBIQ5VM6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6dfd7fc95a20f4de36f37924fa8a998f7576f6c76c5c2f44f3dcbfd49604c577&width=400&height=225)
NHS staff applaud outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London during the weekly "Clap for our Carers" in April 2020. The applause took place across Britain every Thursday at 8pm to show appreciation for healthcare workers, emergency services, and all those helping people with coronavirus and keeping the country functioning while most people stayed at home in the lockdown. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXT3WLLBTRBX6J55R2ALGDDWHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eaee7d400b592c41e8712a1cae2054e68434b29df5a37a0efe5fe38cf30bb28&width=400&height=225)
A packed Brighton beach on Britain's hottest day of the year on June 24 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OXXQB5NYX3LC5VUNE357LBUG4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=4eac59ee5274b937129b5dc934d5070d6424ff947189c139477d9e965dc99e2f&width=400&height=225)
People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square to protest against coronavirus restrictions in September 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KBAKQEN7NPMT27TIGFVO2OPLOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d91a576c7a8515bc14e4644f9448ee4a955f856814d69a4db58b97316d3b0537&width=400&height=225)
Year seven pupils in class during their first day at Kingsdale Foundation School in London in September 2020. Schools in England had started to reopen with special measures in place to deal with Coronavirus. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L2WE6J5O2Q2KDREBLHOXONLLFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc96ea4951b109283d6b679d92edb38113a972c47d01386be68b239c24bab053&width=400&height=225)
Crowds of shoppers walk under the Christmas lights in Regent Street, in London iun December 2020. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSTVPWGEKEU3BIZVM4GLNAELZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=90045f563501d21d0ab5a0dd30aaf9d16152547760564c49990ba0df18cba62b&width=400&height=225)
Critical Care staff prone a Covid-19 patient on the Christine Brown ward at King's College Hospital in London in January 2021. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PZI5AUHOOXU2ANTLJZXMOOQZJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=095d1d6af08401db64d9f90bfca9bc1889b9a1562175fe9d7a931dbe4351343c&width=400&height=225)
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St.Thomas' Hospital in London in March this year. AP Photo
Startling numbers expose true cost of UK’s lockdowns
Britain has seen its borrowing swell, economic output contract and house prices surge since the start of the crisis
![Alice Haine](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe79ea096-d70a-4c7a-8b34-9f28e517d833.png?smart=true&auth=20a56d43f6a47fbaa98d84a82aa0cd7f8c79279600608ce4c3b2a3958f7764b9&width=70&height=70)
Alice Haine
25 March, 2021
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