Analysis: England's five lockdown lessons

The best explanation of how Boris Johnson's government arrived at its current approach draws on information gaps, risk methodologies, mis-sequencing, behavioral tendencies, and the political desire for early wins.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signaled that, despite the game-changing nature of vaccine deployment, the eventual exit will be gradual, slow, and subject to many reviews based on science and evidence.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent warning that the lifting of England’s current third lockdown will be no “great open Sesame,” despite the fall in infections and the encouraging progress of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program, should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the underlying dynamics of the virus. 

So, why did Johnson’s government not take this approach during England's first two lockdowns?