UK Covid-19 Inquiry Releases First Report on Preparedness

London: A public inquiry into Britain's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is set to release its first report on Thursday, scrutinizing the nation's preparedness for such a crisis. Britain experienced one of the world's highest COVID-19 death tolls, with over 230,000 fatalities reported by December 2023.

The inquiry was initiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021 and officially launched the following year, with former judge Heather Hallett appointed as its chair. The initial findings highlight significant shortcomings in the government's readiness and response.

Evidence presented early in the inquiry suggested that the government was under-prepared and failed to implement necessary measures to protect vulnerable populations. These findings mirror the conclusions of a 2021 report by the National Audit Office, the government's spending watchdog. That report criticized the government for not being adequately prepared for a crisis like the pandemic, failing to act on lessons from previous simulation exercises, and being preoccupied with Brexit.

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"We know that for lives to be saved in the future, lessons must be learnt from the mistakes of the past," said Brenda Doherty, representing the campaign group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK. "Sadly, nobody knows the true cost of the government's failure to prepare as we do."

The first module of the inquiry has focused exclusively on assessing the UK's preparedness. Future reports will delve into more politically sensitive topics, including governance and decision-making during the pandemic, amid widespread criticism of government inefficiency and mishandling.

Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister ended in July 2022, marred by multiple scandals, including revelations of parties held during COVID lockdowns. A parliamentary committee later determined that Johnson had misled lawmakers about these gatherings. His successor, Rishi Sunak, who served as the finance minister during the pandemic, was also fined for violating lockdown rules.

The forthcoming reports from the inquiry are expected to provide further insights into the government's actions and decisions throughout the pandemic, offering a comprehensive review of the UK's response to one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

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