Gloom descends on England as nation prepares for second lockdown

Much has been made of how Covid has deepened divisions in Britain: between the haves and the have-nots, the work-from-homers and the have-to-go-to-workers, the doves and the hawks, England’s north and south.

But as England approaches its second national lockdown on Thursday, a communal feeling unites the nation: gloom. If a sound could sum up the country’s mood it would be a long, drawn-out sigh. Give it a few more weeks and it could become a Munchian scream.

Working in the Humbugs sweet shop in Chippenham in Wiltshire, Rita Sargant summed up the prospect of a month at home succinctly. “Rubbish,” she said. “Life’s for living. I’m 89 and if I get Covid, get me a bottle of whisky and a box of chocolates and leave me.”

Whereas the panic-buying first time around was focused on toilet rolls and tinned tomatoes, this time people are stockpiling for comfort, she said. “People love their sweets. They’ve been coming in to stock up.”

In the supermarkets, yeast and bread flour – the “It” ingredients of the first wave – remain in plentiful supply, suggesting England is now happier on the sofa watching Bake Off instead of baking their own bread.

Asked what she would do during lockdown, Sargant replied: “God knows, I’ll go mad. Last time, I spent a lot of time in the garden, but I can’t do that this time because of the weather. I’ll walk three or four miles a day to keep me going.”

Millions of people kept fit with Joe Wicks during lockdown part one, but even the Body Coach himself cannot face daily workouts this time.

The 34-year-old said he was going to share three new workouts a week until the latest lockdown is over, “however long that takes”. Talking to Radio 4’s You And Yours on Tuesday, Wicks admitted it was hard to get motivated to exercise during winter “when it’s dark and grim and wet”.

Gyms are supposed to close on Thursday, but several insist they will defy the law and stay open. The owners of Gainz, a 24-hour gym in Bedford, posted a statement on Instagram explaining their reasoning. “We witnessed a breakdown in people’s mental health during the first lockdown and this isn’t something anybody wants to repeat,” they wrote. Bedfordshire police said it was aware of the post and said that as the legislation is not yet in force, the council was leading on the matter.