Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford Uni stringency index

The UK Government’s response stringency does not change during the time between under 10 to 100 cases.

That horizontal segment in the measure of the index (the level of stringency of the response) is odd. Does it mean we didn’t do anything? Or does it mean we didn’t change what we were doing?

I’m finding it hard to assess the meaning behind a stringency index. So, for example, looking at the curve for the Italian government’s response, the graph shows a fairly regular increase in stringency as the pandemic sets in. Does this mean the Italian government was continually revising its policy in relation to the outbreak?

I’ll have to go read all the details. The website is here: Stringency Index

Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. Please.