UK complacent over Covid pandemic planning - families' lawyer

1. "Very little thought" was given about what the impact of a national lockdown could be ahead of the pandemic, the inquiry's lead lawyer says
2. Speaking at the start of the inquiry's public hearings, Hugo Keith KC says there was a failure to think through the consequences for education and the economy
3. Pete Weatherby KC, counsel for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, accuses the authorities of "complacent" pandemic planning that was geared towards a flu outbreak
4. This part of the inquiry is focusing on the UK's "resilience and preparedness" for a pandemic
5. The session began with the chair, Lady Hallett, saying the inquiry will be a "huge task"
6. A group of families who lost loved ones during the pandemic has accused the inquiry of "excluding" them from proceedings
7. No-one will be found "guilty" or "innocent" in the inquiry - the idea is to learn lessons

How many Covid deaths have there been in the UK?

According to the latest tally, there have been 227,321 deaths in the UK with Covid on the death certificate.

The chart below shows how the rate flucutated from the start of the pandemic.

BBC

Will the inquiry take too long?

Nick Triggle

Health Correspondent

The start of the public hearings has been a long time coming – as we just covered, Boris Johnson announced the public inquiry back in May 2021.

The length of time it has taken to get to this point and how long the whole inquiry could take has raised concerns.

The inquiry has been split into modules – there are currently six planned. There will be at least three years of public hearings, but some believe it could take much longer than that.

By comparison, Sweden has already finished its inquiry.

With pandemics said to occur every 10 years on average, the fear is learning the lessons from Covid and enacting change could take too long.

What is a public inquiry?

This inquiry was launched by Boris Johnson in May 2021 and it will cover decision-making in Westminster and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Any inquiry has the power to make people appear as witnesses, and to provide evidence. The list of witnesses is published on a week-by-week basis - politicians, past and current, are expected to attend.

After Lady Hallett's remarks, the main particpants today are expected to be the counsel - that is, the lawyers.

Inquiries are expected to publish conclusions and may make recommendations. The intention is not to find anyone "guilty". Public hearings are due to last at least three years.

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first public hearings of the UK's Covid Inquiry.

The session will begin with a statement from the chair, former Court of Appeal judge Lady Hallett, at 10:00 BST.

There will then be a video featuring bereaved families, followed by evidence sessions.

Stay here for live coverage and analysis. When the hearings start, you'll be able to watch by pressing play above.

Piranha Photography

Lady Hallett, in a photo released by the inquiry