BREAKING NEWS Covid Inquiry: The UK Government 'failed' to protect the public due to 'significant flaws' in pandemic preparedness, scathing report concludes READ MORE: Scientists pinpoint reason women are more at risk of long Covid By Ryan Hooper For The Daily Mail Published: 12:13, 18 July 2024 | Updated: 12:30, 18 July 2024 e-mail 1 View comments The human and financial cost of the Covid pandemic was much worse than it should have been because the UK was not adequately prepared for it, a scathing report has concluded today. Baroness Heather Hallett, who chaired the Covid 19 Inquiry, delivered her first report into the pandemic, highlighting the grave lack of preparedness and resilience that meant the virus tore through communities and overwhelmed the NHS . She said the UK prepared for the 'wrong type' of pandemic - an influenza-style virus, instead of pandemics caused by other respiratory diseases, like Covid, which require an altogether different approach.
She set out a list of recommendations for the new Labour Government, and warned: 'It is not a question of if another pandemic will strike, but when.' And she urged for the issue to be treated seriously, 'in much the same way as we treat a threat from a hostile state'. Baroness Heather Hallett, who chaired the Covid 19 Inquiry, highlighting the grave lack of preparedness and resilience that meant the virus tore through communities and overwhelmed the NHS The UK had 'significant flaws' going into the pandemic in early 2020.
