The UK government must learn from the mistakes made during the pandemic – the response has often been reactive; decisions tended to lack speed; there was insufficient learning from the international experience, particularly in relation to non-pharmaceutical interventions and Test and Trace; and the engagement with relevant sectors (particularly social care) required significant improvement. These were just some of the findings from a recent inquiry into the government’s handling of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
Coronavirus: lessons learned to date, examining the initial UK response to the pandemic,1 is a 150-page report containing 38 recommendations and drawing on evidence from over 50 witnesses – including the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Professor Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick Vallance, Sir Simon Stevens, Dame Kate Bingham, Baroness Harding of Winscombe, and Dominic Cummings – as well as over 400 written submissions. The report was
