Anxiety levels ‘highest since January 2021’ – ONS

Anxiety in the run-up to Christmas has reached its highest level since the January lockdown, provisional figures suggest.

Some 38% of adults are experiencing high levels of anxiety, according to an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey between December 15 and 19.

This is the highest proportion since January 13-17, when Britain was in its third national lockdown.

The average anxiety score, which has been rising since the end of November, rose to 4.3 – the highest level since January 27-31.

And the proportion of adults who are very or somewhat worried about the effect of Covid-19 on their lives rose to 67%, from 56% earlier in December.

The latest estimates are based on a survey of 3,314 adults in Britain as part of the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle survey examining the social impacts of coronavirus.

It comes as the Government enacted Plan B measures, such as making face coverings mandatory in most indoor public areas, and asking people to work from home where possible, in response to a rapid rise in Omicron cases.

The Government has promised no further restrictions in England before Christmas but has not ruled out curbs after this period.

Some 63% said they have already visited or plan to visit family or friends in their homes, 50% have hosted family and friends or are planning to, and 29% said they will meet up with others in food and drink outlets or have done already.

Measures people said they have taken or plan to take include taking a rapid result lateral flow test before seeing others (54%), visiting only well-ventilated areas (22%), wearing a face covering (73%) and socially distancing where possible (69%).

A fifth of adults (21%) say they are very or fairly unlikely to keep windows and doors open when they have visitors over the next fortnight, while 47% said they would be very or fairly likely.

Reasons given include the home getting too cold (85%) and increased heating costs (44%).

Half of adults said they feel they have enough information about the UK’s plan for dealing with coronavirus, 29% said they do not and 19% said they were unsure.