Lockdowns exacerbated existing inequalities in society

During the lockdowns, the gap between struggling communities and middle-class households widened. Lockdown policies, while aiming to protect public health, failed to consider the immense hardships faced by the most vulnerable populations. From being trapped in high-rise flats with limited resources for homeschooling to being stuck with abusers, the negative impact of lockdowns on disadvantaged individuals was significant. The conversation about the impact of lockdowns was largely absent from the public discourse and COVID inquiries focused primarily on the timing of lockdowns rather than their consequences. Sweden, as a country that did not implement strict lockdowns, achieved better excess death results compared to other European nations.