What exactly is a 'lockdown'?

The lack of clarity risks making a bad situation worse

Police officers patrolling in Soho, in central London, on Sept 24, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

FINANCIAL TIMES - The headlines tell the story. "Thousands in Madrid to lock down", "New Covid-19 rules for more parts of North and Midlands", "Can a 'circuit break' halt the second Covid wave?", "'Voluntary lockdown' plea to university's students" and "Further Covid-19 measures 'likely' in London".

That is just one website - the BBC - and all those headlines were displayed simultaneously.

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