lockdown was given “very little thought” forward of the pandemic and there was a failure to think about the “potentially massive impact” it may need, the Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.
There was additionally an absence of forethought round a number of the main areas of life affected by the outbreak of a coronavirus pandemic, the inquiry’s lead counsel, Hugo Keith KC, mentioned because the probe opened on Tuesday.
He informed the inquiry’s first public listening to that, whereas it'd now appear “extraordinary” given the expertise the UK has had, there had been “very little debate pre-pandemic” round whether or not a lockdown could be needed and the way it may very well be averted.
Meanwhile Pete Weatherby KC, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK, mentioned proof that can be introduced to the inquiry is prone to present “a lack of responsibility in Government...with little or no ministerial leadership”.
He mentioned the households he represents imagine this led to a gradual response to a pandemic the place “lost time is measured in lost lives”.
Their feedback got here as key individuals within the inquiry made opening statements.Presided over by Baroness Heather Hallett, the probe is about to final years and value greater than £100million, because it examines the nation’s response to the pandemic.
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Local well being chiefs had been “repeatedly excluded” from pandemic planning, the Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.
Steven Ford KC is representing the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), a task which he mentioned had been “likened to a local chief medical officer”.
Mr Ford mentioned administrators of public well being possess a “deep knowledge” of their communities and populations, however had been “repeatedly excluded from key communications and guidance developed at a national level”.
Mr Ford added: “They should have been consulted earlier and more comprehensively by national bodies.
Brexit preparations diverted focus away from preparing for a pandemic, a lawyer has admitted in the inquiry.
Neasa Murnaghan KC, for the Northern Ireland Department of Health, said there were also some advantages associated with the EU exit preparations, including recently-trained staff for emergencies and increased buffer stocks of medicines.
She said: “Whilst these preparations did divert some of our focus away from pandemic preparedness planning...on the positive side the many aspects of additional training, improvements in the resilience of supply chains and the preparedness to manage the potential consequences were,...thought to be advantageous.”
The Cabinet Office’s refusal at hand over requested paperwork to the Covid Inquiry is “corrosive” and can harm confidence within the course of, the inquiry has heard.
Sam Jacobs, a lawyer representing the Trades Union Congress, mentioned its place “smacks of having something to hide” and warned the “infighting” between Boris Johnson and the Government “jars with the terrible losses” suffered in the course of the pandemic.
“What the public want to know is … whether the Cabinet Office can approach this inquiry, not just now but going forward, with the spirit of openness and candour that we deserve,” HE SAID. “Those in the cabinet either have the will to respond openly to this inquiry, or they do not.”
He added: “It is a matter of regret to is that these substantive hearings start under something of a cloud.”
If performed correctly, the Covid-19 Inquiry might cut back avoidable deaths in future pandemics, a consultant of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) mentioned.
Sam Jacobs urged individuals to “reflect on the symbolic importance of this inquiry”.
He added: “If the country, when confronted with the next pandemic, as it undoubtedly will, has the benefit of lessons learned, it is no hyperbole to say this inquiry has the opportunity to reduce avoidable deaths in their thousands.”
Lawyer Sam Jacobs, showing on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has opened by paying tribute to the frontline employees who labored in the course of the pandemic.
Te TUC brings collectively 5.5mil working individuals who make up its member unions, and who span a variety of sectors “profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
“We focus on the loss and sacrifice during the pandemic of the working population,” mentioned Mr Jacobs.
“Those in health and social care were truly on the frontline of a national emergency. Of course, so many others also kept the country going.
“Those who stacked our shelves, who drove the buses and trains so key workers could attend work, who delivered parcels to our doors, who worked the production line so food and necessary goods could continue to be produced, who cleaned our transport and public bjuildings, and so many others.
“Far too many died. In theperiod March to December 2020 alone there were 8,000 deaths of work-aged people related to Covid-19.”
Claire Mitchell KC, the lawyer for Scottish bereaved households, mentioned the Covid inquiry would hear from former well being secretary Matt Hancock in addition to Sir Oliver Letwin, former minister for Government coverage.
The response of the Welsh Government to the pandemic has come below fireplace from a barrister representing bereaved households.
Kirsten Heaven, addressing the inquiry on behalf of The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, mentioned the individuals of Wales are nonetheless feeling “trauma due to the devastation caused by Covid-19” and really feel “let down” by authorities.
She added: “They have experienced first-hand what they consider to be the catastrophic failure of the Welsh Government to adequately prepare for and respond to a pandemic in Wales.”
Unlike Scotland, Wales has not been granted its personal inquiry and Ms Heaven mentioned the households of the bereaved are “very disappointed” in “what they consider to be an inadequate response” to the probe by the Welsh Government.
She mentioned the households had been “frankly shocked by the brevity and lack of detail” of witness statements submitted by the Welsh Government and its advisers to module one of many UK inquiry.
Ms Heaven added: “It also appears very disappointing that in some quarters there appears to be a reluctance by certain ministers to take political responsibility for failures to prepare for a pandemic in Wales.
“This inquiry is the only opportunity the people of Wales will have to ensure there is proper scrutiny on the decisions of the Welsh Government and their advisers,
“The people of Wales want answers. They are also looking for accountability and for failures to be acknowledged so that lessons can be learned.”
The listening to is now again in session.
It is reopening with a gap assertion by Kirsten Heaven, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Wales.
The listening to has now been adjourned till 2pm, when it is going to resume.
Evidence is prone to present an absence of accountability in Government and “chaos” which led to a gradual response to a pandemic the place “lost time is measured in lost lives”, the Covid inquiry has been informed.
“The families expect the evidence will show a lack of responsibility in Government for civil emergency preparedness, with little or no ministerial leadership and the chaos of committees which led to poor planning and ultimately a reactive rather than proactive response to the virus,” Pete Weatherby KC, of Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK, mentioned.
“We anticipate the evidence will show that the most fundamental consequence of this was a slow reaction. And with a pandemic, time is of the essence and lost time is measured in lost lives.”
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