Some witnesses offered tearful apologies, while others defiantly denied any fault. After six weeks of hearings at the UK Covid-19 public inquiry, the evidence regarding the UK’s readiness for the pandemic is now clear. The nation was caught completely off guard, which was evident by the high number of Covid deaths in comparison to other countries. The bereaved families bluntly stated that the UK was “catastrophically unprepared”. The inquiry chair, Lady Hallett, sought to understand why this was the case. The evidence showed that austerity measures and Brexit had left the UK more vulnerable. George Osborne denied the impact of austerity, while Michael Gove argued that Brexit preparedness made the country “match-fit” for the pandemic. The government’s organizational structure for pandemic preparedness and response was criticized for being confusing. The UK’s plan for pandemic flu did not consider asymptomatic transmission, unlike the Covid-19 and Sars viruses. This was seen as a flawed approach, as mass testing became crucial in controlling the spread of the virus. The lack of planning for lockdowns or quarantine was also highlighted. The witnesses called for a more flexible plan that could adjust to different viral threats. However, a culture of groupthink prevailed, and the focus remained on flu preparedness. The witnesses acknowledged the lack of radical thinking and imagination in pre-pandemic planning. Lockdowns were not seriously considered due to the assumption that the public would not tolerate them. The results of the 2016 pandemic exercise, Exercise Cygnus, demonstrated that the UK’s preparedness was insufficient for a severe pandemic. However, the report was kept secret until October 2020. The closed institutional culture and lack of challenge to orthodoxies were criticized. The recommendations from Exercise Alice, a smaller pandemic exercise in 2016, were not properly followed up on. Overall, the inquiry highlighted the failures in the UK’s pandemic preparedness and the need for a more comprehensive and flexible plan.
UK Covid Inquiry Reveals How the Nation Was Caught Unprepared
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