Tomorrow we will get the next weekly registered deaths report from the ONS, where the decline in excess deaths was visible in the last report, so I'm expecting a much improved look this time. What's notable though about many weeks this winter is not all the deaths registered as being with Covid were excess, a small proportion typically took place under the 5 year average line. This suggests we will reach a point fairly soon (though not necessarily tomorrow), where we're still logging a number of deaths with covid that looks unacceptable to those favouring restrictions, but on the wider picture are not experiencing excess deaths.
I wonder how much impact things like lockdown and WFH is having in terms of activities that people die from.
As an example, I am expecting that deaths from road accidents is going to be fairly largely down for 2020 compared to 2019.
Also, especially for recent figures, we have seen a massive reduction in flu this winter, partly down to an increased take up of the vaccine compared to previous years but also because it is clear that the actions in place to prevent COVID spread are also preventing the spread of the flu (again, given things like WFH and not mixing indoors with other households, that shouldn't be surprising).
Now despite my disagreements with many people on this forum about government policy, I am not using the above to argue for more lockdowns or more restrictions etc. But I am saying that we should take the graph you provided and frame it in the context of what has happened in the last year in terms of deaths from other causes. It will also be important to keep an eye on deaths from other causes going forward too, because of the risk associated with various things caused by lockdowns (cancelled or delayed appointments, mental healths issues etc - as I have said before, whilst I accepted the governments policies when it comes to restrictions / lockdowns, that does not mean I am "happy" about it and does not mean I don't see the downsides - despite being labeled a "locktavist" here).
Imagine if you saw a headline like this 12 months ago, you'd think the world was going mad. Police 'horrified' at kids being kids and playing football together outdoors. I do realise there is a bit of context in terms of forcible entry to the outdoor pitches but much of the emphasis is purely on the kids playing together.
It is important to remember we live in a country where "no ball games" signs are considered normal, and where groups of kids / teenagers are often harassed by adults and police for "loitering". So whilst yes, such a headline would be seen as nuts 12 months ago, I don't think we are as kind to groups kids playing as you seem to think we are as a country in normal non covid times.