Coronavirus 52 The Reckoning

The UK Government has announced there will be an inquiry into its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, but not for another year.

Lord make me good, but not just yet.

Meanwhile, never mind the Prime Minister's Covid Inquiry, kicked down the road and into the long grass, let's start here: The Independent Panel for Preparedness and Response, have been holding the inquiry ordered by the World Health Organisation last summer, and have now published their report, Covid-19 Make it the Last Pandemic.

The British media have largely ignored the launch of this report*. It is, or at least should be, deeply embarrassing to the UK, and other, governments.

For those reluctant to read the lengthy report, here is an excellent video introduction to the Inquiry and a summary of its findings and recommendations, presented by the leaders of the Panel.

As a follow-up to that introduction, here is the Press Conference of the report launch.

The report not only explores what happened and what should have happened, but makes urgent demands for what should be done, now, to halt the current pandemic, and in the future to ensure that this is the last pandemic.

That's all you need from me so watch, listen, read and tell the world about what The Independent Panel tells us.

*The Guardian (other newspapers are available) has a couple of pieces:

Sarah Boseley's report.

Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's summary of their report. 

As I write this, there is no mention of the report on the BBC News website's 'Coronavirus' page, and I have heard no mention on the Radio 4 news bulletins.