Introduction to the Covid-19 Inquiry Report
The long-awaited independent report into how well or poorly the government has handled the Covid pandemic was published. The chair of the inquiry said the UK’s response could be summed up as "too little, too late". The report examines whether the lockdowns were timely and appropriate and what impact rule-breaking at the heart of government had on public trust.
Key Findings of the Report
The report said the lockdown could have been avoided if measures such as social distancing and isolation of people with symptoms and their household members had been put in place before mid-March 2020. By the end of January 2020, it should have been clear that the virus posed a serious and imminent threat, while February 2020 was "a lost month" and the lack of urgency in government overall was "inexcusable".
The Impact of Delayed Lockdown
Introducing the lockdown a week earlier on March 16 would have meant 23,000 fewer deaths in England in the first wave, modeling suggests. This would have meant 48% fewer deaths in the first wave. However, the report does not suggest that the overall death toll from the pandemic would have been reduced by an earlier lockdown.
Criticism of the Government’s Response
The report describes a “toxic and chaotic” culture at the heart of the UK government during its response to the pandemic, which it says has undermined the quality of advice and decision-making. The then-Prime Minister has also been criticized for excessive optimism in the face of the looming pandemic and “vacillations” in key lockdown decisions.
The Effect of Lockdowns on Society
While the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 undoubtedly saved lives, they also "left lasting scars on society and the economy, stalled normal childhood, delayed diagnosis and treatment of other health problems, and exacerbated societal inequalities". The report said children were not given enough priority and ministers did not adequately consider the impact of school closures.
Rule-Breaking by Politicians
The report says that rule-breaking by politicians and their advisers has undermined public trust in decision-making and significantly increased the risk that people will not comply with the measures taken. This includes events such as trips to second homes during the lockdown and visits to the home of scientific advisers by people they had a relationship with.
Devolved Governments’ Response
All four nations have been criticized for their planning and decision-making, which the inquiry found was hampered by a lack of trust between the UK government and the devolved administrations. The devolved administrations were too reliant on the UK government leading the response, and the four nations differed in their strategy for exiting the first national lockdown.
Recommendations for Improvement
The report contains a long list of recommendations, including establishing structures to improve communication between the four nations in the event of an emergency, better considering the impact decisions might have on people, and creating expert groups to advise on economic and social impacts. The government does not have to adopt the inquiry’s recommendations, but it does have to act on them, which could influence future policy.
