LONDON: About 23,000 deaths in England could have been prevented if the first Covid-19 lockdown had been introduced earlier at the start of the pandemic, according to a public inquiry report released on Thursday.
The 800-page second report from the independent inquiry criticised the UK government, led by Boris Johnson in 2020, for a “lack of urgency” during the early stages of the pandemic. Modelling indicated that imposing a lockdown one week earlier than March 23 could have reduced first-wave deaths by 48 percent, inquiry chair Heather Hallett said. She added that February 2020 was “a lost month” and an earlier lockdown might have been shorter or possibly unnecessary.
While the report rejected claims that the government was wrong to implement the lockdown in March, it highlighted the consequences of delayed action. The UK recorded more than 128,500 Covid-19 deaths by mid-July 2021, with total fatalities surpassing 226,000 since early 2020. The inquiry also noted failures in preparedness, lack of protective equipment, and poor coordination between the UK government and devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Families affected by the pandemic strongly condemned the government’s response. Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said many loved ones “would still be alive today” if not for the decisions made by Johnson and his colleagues. The report called for reforms in emergency decision-making structures and better consideration of vulnerable groups during crises.
The inquiry, government-funded but independently chaired, aims to establish facts, identify mistakes, and draw lessons for future public health emergencies.