Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Navigating a Global Pandemic

This research paper by Joan McGregor examines the United Kingdom's response to the Covid-19 pandemic up to August 2020, with a primary focus on England. It analyzes the intersection of the public health crisis with political distractions like Brexit, the impact of long-term austerity on the NHS, and the resulting socioeconomic disparities, particularly affecting BAME groups and low-income populations.

• The UK government's initial response to Covid-19 was characterized by a lack of decisive action, including delays in banning mass gatherings and closing pubs and restaurants. The government's messaging was described as mixed, unclear, and often contradictory.
• The pandemic occurred during a period of political preoccupation with 'Getting Brexit Done' and followed a decade of austerity that severely undermined the capacity of the National Health Service (NHS).
• The UK government faced significant failures in the procurement and distribution of essential medical equipment, such as PPE and ventilators, and was criticized for a lack of clear strategy and standards.
• BAME groups experienced a disproportionately higher risk of developing and dying from Covid-19 due to multiple factors, including overrepresentation in lower socioeconomic groups, multi-generational households, and employment in lower-band key worker roles.
• The economic impact of the pandemic was severe, with the Bank of England's chief economist warning that unemployment could reach levels not seen since the early 1980s. There was a 69.1% increase in Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit claimants searching for work between March and April 2020.
• The government implemented several financial measures to support the economy, including furlough schemes and loans for businesses, but food insecurity increased dramatically and domestic violence and homicides rose during lockdown.
• The government established temporary 'Nightingale' hospitals in seven locations across England at a cost of approximately 220 million, though by mid-May, only the Manchester site was still treating patients.

APA

McGregor, J. (2020). Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Navigating a Global Pandemic. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-uk/

Chicago

McGregor, Joan. Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Navigating a Global Pandemic. Public Affairs Research Institute, 2020. https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-uk/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McGregor |first1=Joan |title=Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Navigating a Global Pandemic |publisher=Public Affairs Research Institute |date=18 September 2020 |url=https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-uk/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mcgregor2020covid19, author = {McGregor, Joan}, title = {{Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Navigating a Global Pandemic}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-uk/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }