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An inquiry into the UK government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has concluded that the response in the first wave was significantly delayed, resulting in thousands of avoidable deaths. The report emphasizes that earlier voluntary measures such as social distancing and isolating symptomatic individuals, if implemented before 16 March 2020, might have prevented the need for a full lockdown. However, by the time ministers initiated strict measures, the virus had already advanced too far, making lockdown unavoidable. The inquiry attributes an additional 23,000 deaths in England during the initial wave to a delay of one week in enforcing restrictions. Furthermore, the report criticizes the governments of all four UK nations, pointing to a dysfunctional and disorderly atmosphere at the heart of decision-making in Downing Street.
Baroness Hallett, chairing the inquiry, noted that while the government faced difficult choices under extreme circumstances, there was a critical failure across all four nations to acknowledge the severity and urgency of the threat posed by the virus early in 2020. Ministers had partially relied on what proved to be “misleading assurances” regarding the UK’s preparedness. Compounding this was advice from government scientists who underestimated how rapidly the virus spread, initially recommending postponing restrictions to allow herd immunity to build – a misjudgment that delayed critical action.
The extensive report, nearly 800 pages in length and the second of ten expected installments, identified several key failings. Among these were the government’s repetition of errors from spring 2020 in handling the second wave, including delayed introduction of lockdown measures in November due to indecision by the Prime Minister. It also condemned breaches of restrictions by politicians and their advisors, which undermined public trust and compliance with pandemic measures. The inquiry highlighted a “toxic and chaotic” culture in government that hampered effective advice and decision-making, as well as poor coordination and mistrust between the UK government and devolved administrations. Moreover, policies such as the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, championed to boost hospitality in August 2020, were implemented without scientific backing and conflicted with public health messaging. Vulnerable populations—such as older adults, disabled people, and some ethnic minorities—were not adequately considered, nor were the consequences of school closures sufficiently weighed in decisions impacting children.
While acknowledging the hardships inflicted by lockdowns, including interruptions to childhoods, delays in non-Covid health treatments, and widened inequalities, the report praises the government’s vaccination rollout, describing it as “remarkable” and a pivotal moment for the UK in combatting the virus. Despite the modeling suggesting that an earlier lockdown could have cut first-wave deaths by 48%, the report does not conclude whether this would have materially reduced the overall pandemic death toll in the UK, which reached 227,000 by its official end in 2023. Various subsequent factors could have influenced ultimate mortality figures.
Voices representing families affected by Covid-19 voiced profound sorrow over the findings. Deborah Doyle from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said, “It was devastating to think of the lives that could have been saved” and accused Prime Minister Johnson of prioritizing his political image over public safety. Johnson has yet to comment on the report. Former adviser Dominic Cummings dismissed the findings as part of “cover-ups and rewriting history,” claiming that experts at the time recommended minimal restrictions to allow herd immunity by September. Opposition figures pledged to review the recommendations thoroughly. Labour leader urged cautious consideration while warning that the pandemic’s costs continue to strain public services and finances. The Liberal Democrat leader called for Conservative leadership to acknowledge failures and prevent recurrence of such a tragedy
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