A damning report from the official Covid-19 public inquiry has concluded that the UK's first and second national lockdowns could have been entirely avoided if the Government had adopted a different strategy at the start of the pandemic.
Lockdowns Were Not Inevitable
The inquiry, led by Baroness Hallett, found that the severe 'stay at home' orders in 2020 and 2021 were not an unavoidable fate. Instead, the report states the Government was forced into these drastic measures after failing to implement crucial restrictions earlier.
It highlighted that if more stringent measures, such as social distancing and household quarantine, had been introduced sooner than March 16, the outcome could have been dramatically different. The inquiry specifically noted that had these steps been taken, 'the mandatory lockdown that was imposed might have been shorter or conceivably might not have been necessary at all'.
The Lasting Scars of Lockdown
While the inquiry acknowledged that the lockdowns ultimately saved lives during the health crisis, it also delivered a sobering assessment of their profound and lasting negative impacts.
The report found that the lockdown policies 'left lasting scars on society and the economy'. These included bringing ordinary childhood to a halt, creating significant delays in the diagnosis and treatment of other serious health issues, and exacerbating existing societal inequalities across the UK.
Public Reaction and Further Reading
The findings have sparked significant public debate. In a related poll, Daily Mail readers were recently asked whether they believed Ukrainian President Zelensky should accept a peace deal proposed by Donald Trump concerning Russia. The results showed a decisive majority, with 77% of more than 24,000 voters answering 'no', while only 23% said 'yes'.
The full details of Baroness Hallett's report are available to read on the Daily Mail, offering a comprehensive look into one of the most significant periods in recent British history.
