Emergency fatigue may drive Britons to want to mix even more

Scientists are concerned how people will behave when lockdown measures are eased enough for them to mix with people outside their immediate households.

Academics fear two potential extremes caused by the lifting of long-term social distancing rules, with some people predicted to indulge in “even more” social interaction than normal, while others are expected to continue to adopt a voluntarily misanthropic existence.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also looking into the impacts of “emergency fatigue”, with some countries reporting citizens growing tired of life since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Katrine Habersaat, technical officer with the WHO in Europe, told a briefing that governments needed to look at trends in the public mood when considering how to amend lockdown measures. Lockdown restrictions have been in place in the UK since 23 March.

She said: “We are worried at one end of the continuum people will be so eager to go back to social interaction and maybe even want to do even more than before. At the other end we can see a group that continues to be so worried they still do not see people they rely on for social support, they don’t go to the doctor for a vaccination or other potentially lifesaving interventions.

“Through the entire continuum, we see scenarios that are worrying in this transition phase ahead. It underlines the need to be very aware of trends and shifts in the sentiments of the population so you can respond early on.” She also explained how “pandemic” or “emergency fatigue” was being reported around the world. Ms Habersaat urged governments to conduct surveys into behaviour