U.Okay. was ill-prepared for pandemic as a result of sources have been diverted to Brexit, ex-health chief says

LONDON — Britain was ill-prepared for a pandemic partly as a result of authorities sources had been diverted away from pandemic planning to brace for a presumably chaotic exit from the European Union with out a deal, the U.Okay.’s former well being secretary instructed an inquiry Tuesday.

Matt Hancock additionally mentioned officers needed to scramble to supply protecting gear, arrange mass testing and call tracing techniques “from scratch” as soon as the coronavirus pandemic broke out as a result of the U.Okay.’s planning angle was totally “geared towards how to clear up after a disaster, not prevent it.”

“The doctrine of the U.K. was to plan for the consequences of a disaster – can we buy enough body bags? Where are we going to bury the dead?” Hancock mentioned.

“Large-scale testing did not exist and large-scale contact tracing did not exist because it was assumed that as soon as there was community transmission, it wouldn’t be possible to stop the spread, and therefore, what’s the point in contact tracing?” he added.

That assumption was “completely wrong” and a “colossal” failure, Hancock mentioned.

Hancock acknowledged that an official pandemic preparedness board paused its work in 2018 to 2019 as a result of sources have been moved away to focus as an alternative on the specter of a “disorganized Brexit.”

Britain’s authorities was consumed in 2019 with the potential for crashing out of the EU with out a deal on the departure phrases in place. A bitterly divided Parliament rejected then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan 3 times.

The U.Okay. finally left the commerce bloc in 2020.

As well being secretary, Hancock turned one of many best-known politicians in Britain as he led efforts to halt the unfold of the coronavirus earlier than he was compelled to stop in June 2021, when he was caught breaking social distancing guidelines with an aide. Pictures of him kissing the aide in authorities places of work have been splashed throughout entrance pages on the time.

Hancock has beforehand confronted criticism concerning the U.Okay.’s COVID testing measures and the way authorities didn’t handle the unfold of the pandemic in care properties for the aged. The U.Okay. had one of many highest COVID-19 dying tolls in Europe, with the virus recorded as a explanation for dying for nearly 227,000 folks.

Hancock mentioned an emotional sorry Tuesday to all those that died and have been affected.

“I’m profoundly sorry for each death that has occurred. I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me,” he mentioned.

Earlier, Hancock was confronted by members of the group COVID Families for Justice who held up photos of family who died within the pandemic as he arrived on the inquiry in central London.

The wide-ranging inquiry, led by a retired choose, goals to research the U.Okay.’s preparedness for the coronavirus pandemic, how the federal government responded and what classes might be realized for the longer term.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the U.Okay. throughout the pandemic, agreed in late 2021 to carry the probe after heavy stress from bereaved households.