How would it work otherwise? The lockdowns are announced when they happen. What's the alternative? Announcing them weeks before they go into force? Then people

How would it work otherwise? The lockdowns are announced when they happen. What's the alternative? Announcing them weeks before they go into force? Then people would be up in arms the nasty Tory government are delaying the lockdowns. They are "making things up as they go along" or as it's more charitably known, reacting to events.