Lockdown policies implemented to defeat the spread of COVID-19 have been shown to be effective from an epidemiological perspective, but little is known about how they affect wellbeing and individual health perception. Using information from the 2020 Social Survey for Andalusia (a southern region in Spain), this paper examines how lockdown affects self-reported health. Contrary to what might be expected, perceived population health generally improved, but not in every social group, with young people and low-income groups reporting a deterioration. Moreover, perceived health became more difficult to predict in terms of the classic health, socio-demographic, socio-economic and residential determinants, with lockdown-related changes being particularly relevant. Direct contact with COVID-19, economic problems resulting from the lockdown and changes in daily activities became key explanatory factors for perceived health, particularly affecting the mental and emotional state of the population.
