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| What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work? | What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work? |
| (4 days later) | |
| The Covid inquiry is taking evidence from politicians, civil servants and health experts about the roll-out of vaccines and anti-viral treatment across the UK. | |
| In July 2024, the inquiry's first report said the UK's flawed pandemic preparations had led to more deaths and greater economic damage than there should have been. | In July 2024, the inquiry's first report said the UK's flawed pandemic preparations had led to more deaths and greater economic damage than there should have been. |
| Just under 227,000 people died in the UK from Covid between March 2020 and May 2023, when the World Health Organization said the "global health emergency" was over. | Just under 227,000 people died in the UK from Covid between March 2020 and May 2023, when the World Health Organization said the "global health emergency" was over. |
| What is the Covid public inquiry and when did it start? | What is the Covid public inquiry and when did it start? |
| The Covid inquiry was launched by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in June 2022, more than a year after he said the government's actions would be put "under the microscope". | The Covid inquiry was launched by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in June 2022, more than a year after he said the government's actions would be put "under the microscope". |
| The announcement came after the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign said it was considering launching a judicial review over government "time-wasting". | The announcement came after the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign said it was considering launching a judicial review over government "time-wasting". |
| Johnson said the inquiry would cover decision-making during the pandemic by the UK government, as well as the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Johnson said the inquiry would cover decision-making during the pandemic by the UK government, as well as the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The first public hearings took place in London in June 2023. Subsequent hearings have been held in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. | The first public hearings took place in London in June 2023. Subsequent hearings have been held in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. |
| Public inquiries are established and funded by the government and are led by an independent chair. They can compel witnesses to give evidence. | Public inquiries are established and funded by the government and are led by an independent chair. They can compel witnesses to give evidence. |
| No-one is found guilty or innocent, but the inquiry publishes conclusions and recommendations, which the government is not obliged to accept. | No-one is found guilty or innocent, but the inquiry publishes conclusions and recommendations, which the government is not obliged to accept. |
| Covid inquiry: The UK pandemic in numbers | Covid inquiry: The UK pandemic in numbers |
| Who is leading the Covid inquiry? | Who is leading the Covid inquiry? |
| The inquiry is chaired by former judge and crossbench peer Baroness Hallett, who previously led the inquests into the 7 July London bombings. | The inquiry is chaired by former judge and crossbench peer Baroness Hallett, who previously led the inquests into the 7 July London bombings. |
| She said that loss and suffering would be at the heart of the inquiry, adding it would be "firmly independent". | She said that loss and suffering would be at the heart of the inquiry, adding it would be "firmly independent". |
| Baroness Hallett promised the inquiry would be "thorough and fair" | Baroness Hallett promised the inquiry would be "thorough and fair" |
| Baroness Hallett said the inquiry would examine how decisions on limiting the spread of Covid were made and communicated; the use of lockdowns and face coverings; and the impact on children, health and care sector workers, and the clinically vulnerable. | Baroness Hallett said the inquiry would examine how decisions on limiting the spread of Covid were made and communicated; the use of lockdowns and face coverings; and the impact on children, health and care sector workers, and the clinically vulnerable. |
| She will also consider the effect on bereaved families, and how the findings could be applied to other national emergencies. | She will also consider the effect on bereaved families, and how the findings could be applied to other national emergencies. |
| Loss and suffering at heart of Covid inquiry | Loss and suffering at heart of Covid inquiry |
| What did the Covid inquiry's first report say? | What did the Covid inquiry's first report say? |
| Several reports are expected, covering everything from political decision-making to vaccines. | Several reports are expected, covering everything from political decision-making to vaccines. |
| Publishing the first of these in July 2024, Baroness Hallett said the UK was "ill-prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone the coronavirus pandemic". | Publishing the first of these in July 2024, Baroness Hallett said the UK was "ill-prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone the coronavirus pandemic". |
| "Never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering," she added. | "Never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering," she added. |
| The 217-page report, external argued the UK planned for the wrong pandemic - a mild one where spread of a new virus was inevitable - and this led to the "untested" policy of lockdown. | The 217-page report, external argued the UK planned for the wrong pandemic - a mild one where spread of a new virus was inevitable - and this led to the "untested" policy of lockdown. |
| It said the UK government and devolved nations "failed their citizens", and that ministers did not sufficiently challenge scientific experts. | It said the UK government and devolved nations "failed their citizens", and that ministers did not sufficiently challenge scientific experts. |
| It made a series of recommendations for reforming the way the government approaches emergency planning across the four nations of the UK. | It made a series of recommendations for reforming the way the government approaches emergency planning across the four nations of the UK. |
| Baroness Hallett said she wanted these to be acted on quickly, with changes in place within six months or a year. | Baroness Hallett said she wanted these to be acted on quickly, with changes in place within six months or a year. |
| What else is the inquiry looking at? | What else is the inquiry looking at? |
| The inquiry is split into different parts., external | The inquiry is split into different parts., external |
| Work on the first module, resilience and preparedness, external, has finished, but the inquiry is actively investigating several other aspects of Covid: | Work on the first module, resilience and preparedness, external, has finished, but the inquiry is actively investigating several other aspects of Covid: |
| decision-making and political governance in Westminster, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland | decision-making and political governance in Westminster, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| the impact on healthcare systems across the UK | the impact on healthcare systems across the UK |
| vaccines, therapeutics and anti-viral treatment | vaccines, therapeutics and anti-viral treatment |
| government procurement and PPE | government procurement and PPE |
| the care sector | the care sector |
| test-and-trace | test-and-trace |
| the impact on children and young people | the impact on children and young people |
| the government's business and financial responses | the government's business and financial responses |
| the impact on society | the impact on society |
| There is no specific timescale for how long the inquiry will last, but Baroness Hallett aims to hold the final public hearings in 2026. | There is no specific timescale for how long the inquiry will last, but Baroness Hallett aims to hold the final public hearings in 2026. |
| Scotland is holding a separate inquiry into the pandemic. | Scotland is holding a separate inquiry into the pandemic. |
| Who has previously given evidence to the inquiry? | Who has previously given evidence to the inquiry? |
| The inquiry has heard from hundreds of witnesses, including current and former politicians, civil servants, government advisers, public health experts and representatives of bereaved families. | The inquiry has heard from hundreds of witnesses, including current and former politicians, civil servants, government advisers, public health experts and representatives of bereaved families. |
| Many were extremely critical of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in No 10 throughout the pandemic. | Many were extremely critical of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in No 10 throughout the pandemic. |
| He began his two-day evidence session in December 2023 by apologising for the "pain and the loss and the suffering" experienced during the pandemic. | He began his two-day evidence session in December 2023 by apologising for the "pain and the loss and the suffering" experienced during the pandemic. |
| Barnard Castle, ICU and heckling: Johnson grilled at Covid inquiry | Barnard Castle, ICU and heckling: Johnson grilled at Covid inquiry |
| Johnson admitted mistakes were made and that "there were unquestionably things we should have done differently", but insisted that ministers had done their "level best" in difficult circumstances. | Johnson admitted mistakes were made and that "there were unquestionably things we should have done differently", but insisted that ministers had done their "level best" in difficult circumstances. |
| Five takeaways from Johnson at the Covid inquiry | Five takeaways from Johnson at the Covid inquiry |
| Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave evidence about his role as Chancellor during Covid. | Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave evidence about his role as Chancellor during Covid. |
| He also apologised to "all those who suffered... as a result of the actions that were taken", but denied his Eat Out to Help Out Scheme had increased infections and deaths. | He also apologised to "all those who suffered... as a result of the actions that were taken", but denied his Eat Out to Help Out Scheme had increased infections and deaths. |
| Rishi Sunak served food at Wagamama as part of a promotional event for Eat Out to Help Out | Rishi Sunak served food at Wagamama as part of a promotional event for Eat Out to Help Out |
| The government's chief medical officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, and former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, previously told the inquiry they had not been consulted about the policy. | The government's chief medical officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, and former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, previously told the inquiry they had not been consulted about the policy. |
| Did Sunak's Eat Out scheme help to spread Covid? | Did Sunak's Eat Out scheme help to spread Covid? |
| Sir Patrick, Sir Chris and his former deputy Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam also said they had received substantial abuse from the public while carrying out their roles. | Sir Patrick, Sir Chris and his former deputy Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam also said they had received substantial abuse from the public while carrying out their roles. |
| Several witnesses accused Matt Hancock of lying during his tenure as Health Secretary, which he denied | Several witnesses accused Matt Hancock of lying during his tenure as Health Secretary, which he denied |
| Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has given evidence several times. | Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has given evidence several times. |
| He told the inquiry that the UK's pandemic strategy had been completely wrong, and later denied that he lied to colleagues, while admitting the UK should have locked down much sooner. | He told the inquiry that the UK's pandemic strategy had been completely wrong, and later denied that he lied to colleagues, while admitting the UK should have locked down much sooner. |
| Hancock also criticised the "toxic culture" in government, for which he blamed Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings. | Hancock also criticised the "toxic culture" in government, for which he blamed Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings. |
| In his evidence, Mr Cummings described a "dysfunctional" government and was very critical of Johnson's approach. The hearing also discussed scathing text messages he sent, many of which contained offensive descriptions of ministers and officials. | In his evidence, Mr Cummings described a "dysfunctional" government and was very critical of Johnson's approach. The hearing also discussed scathing text messages he sent, many of which contained offensive descriptions of ministers and officials. |
| Mr Cummings said he regretted the handling of his infamous trip to Barnard Castle during the first lockdown, but denied that he had damaged public trust in the government. | Mr Cummings said he regretted the handling of his infamous trip to Barnard Castle during the first lockdown, but denied that he had damaged public trust in the government. |
| Covid inquiry WhatsApps paint picture of chaos | Covid inquiry WhatsApps paint picture of chaos |
| How inquiry is exposing deep flaws in Covid decision-making | How inquiry is exposing deep flaws in Covid decision-making |
| The inquiry also heard from Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish political leaders, including: | The inquiry also heard from Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish political leaders, including: |
| former Scottish First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf | former Scottish First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf |
| former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford | former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford |
| current Northern Irish First Minister Michelle O'Neill and former First Minister Baroness Foster | current Northern Irish First Minister Michelle O'Neill and former First Minister Baroness Foster |
| How can the public get involved in the Covid inquiry? | How can the public get involved in the Covid inquiry? |
| Groups representing bereaved families have urged the inquiry to ensure these voices are heard. | Groups representing bereaved families have urged the inquiry to ensure these voices are heard. |
| Anyone can share their experience through the inquiry's Every Story Matters, external project, and apply to attend public hearings in person., external | Anyone can share their experience through the inquiry's Every Story Matters, external project, and apply to attend public hearings in person., external |
| Public hearings are also streamed on the BBC News website and the inquiry's YouTube channel, external. | Public hearings are also streamed on the BBC News website and the inquiry's YouTube channel, external. |
| In addition, witness transcripts are published on the inquiry website., external | In addition, witness transcripts are published on the inquiry website., external |