Covid inquiry report live updates: UK’s pandemic plan failures set to be laid bare, with Brexit likely to be blamed

Covid inquiry report live updates: UK’s pandemic plan failures set to be laid bare, with Brexit likely to be blamed

Covid inquiry: Michael Gove apologises for government mistakes during pandemic

The failure of adequate pandemic planning in the UK is set to be laid bare today as the UK Covid-19 Inquiry publishes its first report, with Brexit at least partly to blame.

The survey looked at how prepared the country was to deal with a deadly outbreak before 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.

The inquiry’s chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, is likely to comment on preparations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and a government focused on Brexit.

Former British Prime Minister Lord Cameron has admitted in court that his government made a “mistake” in focusing too much on preparing for flu rather than a coronavirus pandemic. However, he defended the cuts to public services made under his leadership.

Matt Hancock, who was health secretary under Boris Johnson during the pandemic, said it was a “colossal” failure to assume the spread of the virus could not be stopped.

His predecessor in the post, Jeremy Hunt, admitted to being part of “groupthink”, leading to “narrow-mindedness”.

Lady Hallett is also expected to make recommendations on how the UK can better prepare for a future outbreak.

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What did politicians say in testimony given to the Covid inquiry?

Leading politicians, scientists and health experts appeared as witnesses in the first module of the inquiry, titled Resilience and Preparedness.

Former health secretaries Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt were thrust into the spotlight during the oral evidence sessions, alongside former prime minister Lord Cameron and former health secretary Michael Gove.

Lord Cameron has admitted it was a “mistake” for his government to focus too much on preparing to fight a flu wave rather than a coronavirus-type pandemic.

But he defended the public service austerity programme under his leadership between 2010 and 2016, which doctors and unions accused of leaving the NHS in a “precarious state”.

Mr Hunt admitted to being part of a “groupthink” when he was health secretary, leading to a “narrowness of thinking” that failed to extend the UK’s pandemic preparedness beyond planning for a flu outbreak.

Mr Hancock said it was a “colossal” failure to assume the spread of the virus could not be stopped.

Mr Gove, meanwhile, claimed that planning for a no-deal Brexit had made the UK “better able” to deal with the pandemic. He denied that shifting staff to Brexit-related tasks had had a detrimental effect on pandemic planning when he appeared before the inquiry in July.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron gives evidence to UK Covid-19 inquiry
Former Prime Minister David Cameron gives evidence to UK Covid-19 inquiry (Average PA)

Tara CobhamJuly 18, 2024 09:51

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Brexit likely to be blamed as failures of UK pandemic plan exposed

Brexit should be at least partly blamed for this problem, as failures to adequately plan for a pandemic in the UK are likely to be laid bare in the Covid-19 inquiry report published today.

The inquiry’s chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, is likely to comment on preparations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and a government focused on Brexit.

The report is also expected to highlight the UK’s focus on preparing for a flu pandemic rather than a coronavirus pandemic.

Lady Hallett could also highlight how austerity measures have led to cuts in public health.

Tara CobhamJuly 18, 2024 09:20

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UK Covid-19 inquiry to finally expose failures of government and politicians during pandemic

The UK government’s failure to properly prepare for a pandemic is set to be laid bare on Thursday, when the UK’s Covid-19 inquiry publishes its first report.

The inquiry’s chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, will report on the UK’s ability to cope with a deadly outbreak in the run-up to 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic swept across Britain.

The report is expected to highlight the UK’s focus on preparing for a flu pandemic rather than a coronavirus pandemic.

Tara CobhamJuly 18, 2024 08:40

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Doctors issue summer warning as new Covid variant spreads in UK

New variants of Covid have started to spread across the UK, prompting doctors to warn people to be wary of new strains:

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 07:00

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Top scientist says government made same mistake three times over Covid

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 06:00

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Infections and deaths increase slightly this summer compared to spring

Many people seem to have or know someone who has had Covid again. As Covid cases rise, here are the latest official figures from the UK Health Security Agency:

(UKHSA)

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 05:00

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Opinion: Investigation focused on game show

Last December, Matt Hancock’s being forced to deny he was a liar was the culmination of an unworthy circus, wrote John Rentoul:

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 04:00

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What the nine modules cover

The first survey module, Resilience and Preparedness, focused on pandemic planning.

The second focused on key decision-making processes and political governance in the UK.

The third examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health systems in the four countries of the UK.

Others look at vaccines and therapies, procurement, the healthcare sector and the “test, trace and isolate” strategy.

The modules announced but not yet opened will focus on children and young people; and on the economic response.

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 03:00

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Video: Covid-19 victims honoured at memorial wall ceremony

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 02:00

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Expert calls for counterterrorism-style planning to prepare for next disease

A leading expert says officials should prepare for future pandemic threats by adopting counterterrorism-style approaches.

Professor Liam Smeeth, Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “The main lesson from the first report of the UK Covid Inquiry is that if the UK waits for the next pandemic to strike, it will be too late.

“Fighting pandemics is like fighting terrorism: we must use similar approaches, such as collecting and sharing the best information on global disease threats and joining forces to confront outbreaks before they become pandemics.

“Like terrorists, deadly viruses do not respect national borders and can strike anywhere at any time.

“We must work with international partners to combat this global threat: that means not only improving our planning, surveillance and response capacity in the UK, but also supporting those on the frontline fighting outbreaks around the world.”

Academics said the question was not if another pandemic would strike, but rather “when”. It is therefore hoped that the recommendations, if implemented, could put the UK in a better starting position to deal with a new and unknown disease, known to many as Disease X.

(Sound wire)

Jane DaltonJuly 18, 2024 01:00