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Rivka Gottlieb shared a deeply personal account at the conclusion of witness testimonies at the Covid inquiry in west London, reflecting on the trauma of losing her father, Michael, during the early days of the pandemic. Michael, a fit and active 73-year-old who worked part-time in a golf shop and taught children at his local synagogue, died alone in hospital amid strict restrictions. Rivka recalled that when he was admitted to the Royal Free hospital in March 2020, alongside her mother Milli, they expected a brief stay and treatment, not the turn of events that would leave her father on life support.
Michael’s condition worsened rapidly, and communication became difficult for the family. He sent a message via WhatsApp informing Rivka that he was being put on a ventilator. Two weeks later, the family was informed that he would not recover, and doctors were preparing to reduce his life support. Rivka described this period as “a dark and terrifying time,” compounded by the challenges of limited updates and constant fear when receiving calls from the hospital. Meanwhile, her mother was discharged but continues to suffer long-term effects from the virus, including breathlessness and confusion.
The Covid inquiry has been extensive, gathering over eight hours of emotional testimony from relatives affected by the pandemic. Since public hearings began in June 2023, 381 witnesses have provided oral evidence across London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, contributing to a vast review of around 600,000 documents. The inquiry has sought insights from a broad spectrum of individuals, from government officials and scientists to frontline workers such as porters, cleaners, and nurses.
Financially, the inquiry stands as one of the most expensive in UK history, with costs climbing to £204 million, alongside an additional £111 million spent by the government on legal and staffing expenses. The final hearings also examined the wider societal impacts, including the closure of community spaces and the mental health effects experienced by vulnerable and broader populations. More than 227,000 people died with Covid recorded on their death certificates between March 2020 and May 2023, underscoring the scale of loss discussed at the inquiry and the anguish faced by families separated from their loved ones during the crisis
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