The government has been using psychological methods to create fear and compliance. On this chart Covid-19 rules are compared to the Chart of Coercion:
Below you can read how the government deliberately encourages instilling fear to make people compliant. This is published on the gov website:
Here is the full document: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/887467/25-options-for-increasing-adherence-to-social-distancing-measures-22032020.pdf