The lead lawyer for the UK Covid-19 inquiry has highlighted the “potentially massive impact” of lockdowns on society, stating that the consequences were not adequately considered prior to the pandemic. Hugo Keith KC expressed concerns about the lack of preparation and debate surrounding the necessity and ramifications of national lockdowns, emphasizing the failure to anticipate the effects on education and the economy. As the inquiry began hearing evidence, Keith acknowledged the unavoidable nature of the virus but questioned whether its impact on the UK could have been mitigated. The inquiry aims to examine the country’s preparedness for the pandemic, evaluate the response, and derive lessons for the future.
During the initial module of the inquiry, key politicians, civil servants, scientists, unions, and representatives of health and care organizations will provide oral evidence. However, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group has criticized the inquiry’s timetable and expressed concerns about the anonymization and summarization of shared stories, which they consider inadequate and potentially biased. In response, the inquiry’s chair, Baroness Hallett, assured the public that their contributions would be recognized, and she acknowledged the difficult balance in addressing the critics’ concerns.
Mr. Keith further revealed that the UK was caught off guard by several aspects of the pandemic, including the need for lockdowns. He stated that minimal pre-pandemic discussion occurred regarding the possibility of a lockdown in the face of a rapidly spreading virus, let alone the implementation challenges. He questioned the NHS’s preparedness and funding to handle a crisis more akin to influenza. Mr. Keith highlighted the shocking disparity in Covid mortality rates, with significantly higher death rates in deprived areas and among certain ethnic minority groups and individuals with disabilities.
The inquiry will also consider the impact of the wider political environment, including Brexit and the collapse of the power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland, on emergency planning. The origin of Covid and the timing of the first human infection were deemed irrelevant for the inquiry’s purposes.
Pete Weatherby KC, counsel for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, criticized the lack of ministerial leadership, poor planning, and a reactive rather than proactive response to the virus. The spokesperson for the prime minister responded to claims regarding the impact of Brexit, stating that the government would address these matters at the appropriate stage of the inquiry.
In regard to the inquiry’s request to access Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages, a legal challenge has been launched by the Cabinet Office, arguing the irrelevance of some messages. This marks the first time a government has taken legal action against its own public inquiry. Rishi Sunak, Johnson’s successor, is challenging the request, while Johnson himself has consented to sharing messages sent after May 2021.
The UK has witnessed a significant number of Covid deaths, with over 227,000 people having died with Covid mentioned on their death certificates. Vaccinations have played a crucial role in preventing deaths and severe illness, with more than 151 million doses administered in the UK.