Covid-19 report: Serious errors and late lockdowns cost lives
A new report by MPs says lockdowns should have happened earlier
Last updated 24th May 2022
A report by MPs has said serious errors and delays, including on testing, care homes and the timing of the first lockdown, cost lives during the Covid-19 pandemic
The study, from the cross-party Science and Technology Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee, said the UK's preparation for a pandemic was far too focused on flu.
The report also says both scientists and ministers waited too long to bring in lockdown measures in early 2020.
The pandemic plan was too focused on flu
In a wide-ranging report, MPs said the UK’s pandemic planning was too “narrowly and inflexibly based on a flu model” that failed to learn the lessons from Sars, Mers and Ebola.
Former chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies told MPs there was “groupthink”, with infectious disease experts not believing that “Sars, or another Sars, would get from Asia to us”.
The MPs said the “decisions on lockdowns and social distancing during the early weeks of the pandemic – and the advice that led to them – rank as one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced”.
Lockdowns and social distancing should have come sooner
The MPs also argued that earlier social distancing and locking down “would have bought much-needed time” for vaccine research to bear fruit, for Covid treatments to be developed and for a proper test and trace system to be set up.
They said the “early weeks of the pandemic expose deficiencies in both scientific advice and Government action”, with no real idea of how far the virus had spread and a downplaying of the role of asymptomatic transmission.
Furthermore, there was a false belief that the public would not accept lockdown, or would only do so for a short period of time.
But MPs offered praise in two areas – treatments and vaccines – saying ministers were “correct to identify that a vaccine would be the long-term route out of the pandemic” and supported research and development.
What are some of the errors and delays?
- The UK was too slow to bring in isolation of infected people and their households, compared with other countries such as those in Asia.
- The UK policy once Covid emerged was to take a "gradual and incremental approach" to interventions such as social distancing, isolation and lockdowns. These decisions in the early days of the pandemic will now be considered as "one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced", according to MPs.
- While allowing people to become infected early on to reach herd immunity was not an official Government strategy, there was a "policy approach of fatalism about the prospects for Covid in the community". This approach focussed more on flattening the curve and moderating the speed of infection throughout the population, rather than stopping the spread of the virus.
- There was "inconsistency in Government messaging after the first wave of the pandemic".
- The UK implemented "light-touch border controls" only on countries with high Covid rates, even though 33% of cases during the first wave were introduced from Spain and 29% from France.
- Earlier social distancing and locking down "would have bought much-needed time" for vaccine research to bear fruit, for Covid treatments to be developed and for a proper test and trace system to be set up.
- It was only in the days leading up to the March 23 first lockdown that people within Government and advisers "experienced simultaneous epiphanies that the course the UK was following was wrong, possibly catastrophically so."
- Scientific evidence for some measures was lacking, such as the imposition from September 24 2020 of a 10pm curfew on pubs.
- There was a national failure to share data between central and local government.
- Test and trace has "failed in its stated objective to prevent future lockdowns despite vast quantities of taxpayers' money being directed to it".
- There were "unacceptably high death rates among people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities." Increased exposure to Covid as a result of people's housing and working conditions played a significant role.
"Some big achievements with some big mistakes"
In a joint statement, Tory MPs Greg Clark and Jeremy Hunt, who chair the committees, said: "The UK response has combined some big achievements with some big mistakes. It is vital to learn from both to ensure that we perform as best as we possibly can during the remainder of the pandemic and in the future.
"Our vaccine programme was boldly planned and effectively executed. Our test and trace programme took too long to become effective.
"The Government took seriously scientific advice but there should have been more challenge from all to the early UK consensus that delayed a more comprehensive lockdown when countries like South Korea showed a different approach was possible.
"In responding to an emergency, when much is unknown, it is impossible to get everything right.
"We record our gratitude to all those - NHS and care workers, scientists, officials in national and local government, workers in our public services and in private businesses and millions of volunteers - who responded to the challenge with dedication, compassion and hard work to help the whole nation at one of our darkest times."
The Covid-19 UK timeline
December 2019
The first case of Covid-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 2019.
January 2020
Chinese state media reported the first known death from Covid-19 on 11 January 2020. The city of Wuhan was closed off by Chinese authorities on 23 January 2020, cancelling all transport entering and leaving the city. In January, the WHO also declared Covid-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
February 2020
February was when the virus started to receive real global recognition. It was officially named Covid-19 by WHO, and countries around the world started to report cases and deaths. Italy reported Europe's first major outbreak and had to use tents to treat surging numbers of patients as hospitals ran out of room.
March 2020
UK Governments introduced a national lockdown from 23 March 2020, instructing people to "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives", after the UK reported its first official death from Covid-19 on 2 March 2020. Cities around the country appeared deserted. In late March the United States became the worst hit country with the most reported cases at that point.
April 2020
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into intensive care with Covid-19 on 6 April 2020. Worldwide, cases topped one million and deaths passed 200,000. April also saw the first peak of the virus in the UK.
June 2020
England and Scotland made face coverings mandatory on public transport in June, while Northern Ireland and Wales followed suit in July. Face coverings then became mandatory in shops in each nation, with Scotland and England introducing the rule in July, Northern Ireland in August and Wales in September.
September 2020
In September, the official global death toll reached 1 million. However, the official figures are thought to greatly understate the number of people who have actually died from Covid-19. In the US alone, Covid-19 deaths surpassed 200,000.
November 2020
In November, England entered a second lockdown in an attempt to try and curb the spread of the virus.
December 2020
The UK became the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against Covid-19 for use in December. Vaccinations began on 8 December 2020, when 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person outside of a clinical trial to receive the jab. Later on in the month, the UK approved a second vaccine, developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. However, it wasn't all good news, as a new variant of Covid-19 was also discovered in December, which was much more transmissible than the original strain.
January 2021
In January 2021, the mass vaccine roll out began across the UK. However, all four nations all went back into full lockdown as the UK entered a second wave of the virus, with the peak surpassing that of the first wave in April. The UK also reached the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths.
February 2021
At the height of the third lockdown, the first cases of the South African variant came to dominate diagnosed Covid cases in the UK. February also saw the UK meet its target of administering 10 million first doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Boris Johnson also unveiled the UK's strategy to return to normal life after the pandemic. The country would only come out of lockdown once the vaccines showed a strong effect of fighting the virus. To stop the spread, the Prime Minister also announced new regulations to international travel. Travellers from countries on the government's "red list" would be made to quarantine in hotels at their own expense. It was also revealed that any resumption of non-essential international travel would not happen until May 17th.
March 2021
March saw the one-year anniversary since the first lockdown. However, the country began to cautiously reopen, with the "stay at home" order being formally lifted. The government did, instead, recommend that people "stay local" from March 29th.
People could begin to socialise again with the implementing of the rule of six in outdoor spaces such as parks and gardens. As well as this, gyms and leisure centres were able to open their doors, while schools and colleges could welcome pupils back for the first time in months.
April 2021
Following an increase in vaccinations and the reduction of Covid cases, the Prime Minister confirmed the easing of restrictions on April 12th. The government's move to Step 2 provided the biggest reopening of the economy since the pandemic began, with outdoor venues including pubs and restaurants being given the go ahead. Non-essential retail shops such as hairdressers and clothes shops could also begin to open their doors again. The rule of six in outdoor spaces continued to be enforced.
India was also added to the UK's "red list" after a significant rise in cases following the discovery of the Delta variant.
May 2021
As the economy began to bounce back, further restrictions were eased on May 17th. The number of people allowed to gather rose to 30 people, with the rule of six allowed for indoor spaces for social gatherings. Hospitality venues could also open indoors, following government guidelines.
Mass gatherings were also trialled in May, with up 10,000 people allowed to attend large-scale events like football matches. Non-essential international travel was cautiously permitted, allowing holidaymakers to visit countries on the "green" and "amber" lists.
June 2021
In June, the Delta variant – first discovered in India – became the dominant strain of coronavirus and drove a third wave in infections across the UK.
The big increase in diagnoses delayed the government's final major easing of restrictions, including the scrapping of the rule of six in indoor spaces. All legal restrictions would thus be lifted one month later in July.
July 2021
At the beginning of the month, the government confirmed that cases had sufficiently stabilised to confirm the easing of all remaining restrictions – including the wearing of face masks and social distancing. Boris Johnson announced that following restrictions would become a "personal choice".
July 19th was dubbed "Freedom Day", as the country fully opened up as it had been before the pandemic hit. Fully vaccinated people could now visit nightclubs and large-scale music events such as festivals. Those returning from "amber" list countries after getting two jabs would also no longer need to quarantine.
August 2021
As restrictions across England came to an end, Scotland and Wales chose to delay the full easing of limits until early August. But as children went back to education in Scotland, over 60 schools had confirmed Covid outbreaks, threatening the likelihood of a long-term end to restrictions.
Across the UK, vaccination numbers continued to rise, with 75% of adults in England receiving at least one dose of an approved vaccine. The immunisation effort was also extended to 16 and 17-year-olds to drive full immunity.
September 2021
While the number of confirmed Covid cases worldwide surpassed 7 million, the UK was emerging from the pandemic. The furlough scheme, brought in at the beginning of the pandemic, was formally ended – funding £70 billion of people's wages.
The government also announced its winter plan to prepare for a possible spike in infections. This included booster jabs with priority for the elderly and vulnerable risk groups. 12-15-year-olds also became eligible to receive a first dose.
October 2021
Covid passports came to divide the UK, as Scotland and Wales brought in respective schemes to control the spread of the Delta variant. Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced that the NHS would receive an extra ÂŁ5.9 billion in funding in the Budget.
International travel also returned to normal, with the scrapping of the travel list system. Washington D.C. also revealed that fully vaccinated British travellers could travel to the United States – for the first time in 20 months.
November 2021
As the country continued to come out from the pandemic, booster jabs were made available to those aged 40 and over. But towards the end of November, concerns were raised about a new mutation of the virus that had originated from southern Africa. Cases began to rise across the world as the newly named Omicron variant spread rapidly across the world. Flights were stopped to southern African nations including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Face coverings were also made mandatory once again in shops and on public transport.
December 2021
With the rising threat of Omicron, concern over whether restrictions should be reimposed. The Omicron variant spread across the country, and became the dominant strain of coronavirus being discovered by the middle of December. To combat the mutation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought in the government's 'Plan B', which once again mandated face coverings, as well as the introduction of Covid passes. However, support for the government's plans was at an all time low, with 100 Tory MPs going against the Prime Minister.
January 2022
On the 27th January, Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead to lift the restrictions, from face coverings to being no longer mandatory to NHS Covid-19 Pass becoming voluntary. At the same time, Scotland also eased Omicron restrictions on indoor settings, with social distancing being scrapped in hospitality.
Boris Johnson was in the limelight after alleged gatherings held during the first lockdown. With Number 10 facing a number of questions from the opposition over 'Partygate.
February 2022
The Queen tested positive for Covid-19 in February and experienced mild symptoms, after it was confirmed she had been in direct contact with her eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has set out his plans for "living with Covid", indicating that self-isolation would be lifted a month earlier.
March & April 2022
In March, all remaining travel restrictions were lifted for entering the UK. From the 18th of March, Passenger Locator Forms and pre-travel tests to the UK were scrapped, leading to a massive welcoming from the air travel industry. Face coverings would also be gradually phased out on airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. In April is was announced that children between 5 and 11 would be offered a covid-19 vaccine.
May 2022
The Met police investigated reports of gatherings at Downign Street and fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak for attending such events. Boris Johnson apologised in parliament but refused to say much more until the Sue Gray report came out. When that report was finally published it said senior leadership must 'bear responsibility'
June 2022
In the week ending 25 June an estimated 1,829,100 people tested positive for covid in England—around one in 30 people—according to the ONS coronavirus infection survey. A week earlier that rate was one in 40. Experts believe these increased rates were likely driven by the growth of the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.