My recollection was a bit different and as I’ve said before if anyone’s not seen it the lockdown doc on bbc is well worth a watch as it’s interviewing SAGE/Nervtag scientific advisors who admit some of the stuff they just got wrong (understandable in unprecedented times)
Bit long but this is interesting and details the advice around borders (even mentions Liverpool’s match/large live events at start of March) . There’s no doubt mistakes were made but by and large the government, rightly or wrongly appears to have followed the scientific advice at the time
publications.parliament.uk
The documentary supports that. Basically the view that if the virus is here it’s here (which was probably Dec/Jan). Closing borders totally, especially from certain European nations would slow the spread but a lot of the other stuff ie temp checks on arrival etc etc, don’t really have much benefit.
It sounds like stronger enforcement of quarantine etc at the time would’ve given NHS more time to prepare but not sure it would have eradicated/majorly suppressed the virus in the longer term, unless there are only relatively few numbers of cases here and you keep borders shut.In the early days the major challenge would be the vast numbers of U.K. nationals/residents returning from especially Europe which is hard to control/monitor, not stopping ‘foreigners’ coming here
Ps sorry for the long post !!!