City residents share pandemic experiences

The inquiry is hearing from the public about the impact Covid had on their communities

People in West Yorkshire have shared their experiences of the coronavirus pandemic with the UK's Covid inquiry.

Officials from the inquiry were in Bradford on Wednesday to hear from members of the public, at a drop-in session at Forster Square Shopping Centre.

It forms part of a wider consultation in towns and cities across the country which will shape the inquiry's response to the pandemic.

The sessions will continue on Thursday at the shopping centre between 10:00 and 16:00 GMT.

Jacqueline Spencer expressed sympathy for people who lived alone during the pandemic

Jacqueline Spencer, 79, one of the millions who contracted the virus, attended the drop-in session to make her views known.

Her pandemic experience was made more complex by the fact her late husband suffered from dementia, though he never caught Covid himself.

"How people on their own coped (with Covid) I don't know, because it's the loneliest place to be," Mrs Spencer told BBC Look North.

"You need your family and just someone who cares makes all the difference."

Mrs Spencer, from Thackley, said the government "really blew it" with their handling of the pandemic and failed to "lead by example".

Then Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously told the inquiry he was "sorry for the pain and suffering" households across the UK felt during the pandemic.

But he insisted they did their "level best" to respond to the virus.

Margaret Waterhouse caught Covid while on a cruise with her husband, Graham

Margaret Waterhouse, from Horsforth, also was keen to share her opinions.

The 69-year-old tested positive for Covid while on a cruise with husband Graham in 2022.

She had been classed as vulnerable having previously had a heart transplant.

"It was a fearful time," Mrs Waterhouse said.

"I was always aware (of the advice) and washing hands and sanitising."

She said they had "judged" it was safe to travel.

"We didn't realise the hidden dangers," she said.

Community worker Piers Telemacque lost his grandfather during the pandemic

Community worker Piers Telemacque said he wanted the government to apologise for what he called its "disastrous handling" of Covid.

The 31-year-old lost his grandfather to the virus.

"With hindsight I think people feel silly for following the rules given they now know the government wasn't following the rules," he said.

"What position will we be in if there's another pandemic in three years and how can the government expect people to listen to what they say?"

Huma Nizami said uptake of the Covid vaccine within Asian communities in the city had been low

Huma Nizami, of Race Equality Network in Bradford, said the city was still reeling from the effects of Covid.

She said the uptake of the Covid vaccine among Asian communities in the area has been disproportionately low and the organisation was working to tackle that.

"If there's a pandemic again the government needs to step up and ensure appropriate measures are in place," she said.

"If they'd done that, a lot of lives in Bradford would have been saved."

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