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Covid Inquiry Module 2

Previously, the Chair of the Covid Inquiry announced that the Inquiry would be split into modules, with each module investigating a different area of the pandemic, from the Government’s preparedness to their response. The public hearings for Module 2 began on 3rd October and are scheduled to last until 14th December 2023. You can watch the hearings live, subject to a three-minute delay, via YouTube by clicking here. To see all of the public information about the Inquiry, please visit their website here. 

Nicola Brook has also re-started the Covid Inquiry Podcast, discussing what has happened on a weekly basis in court. You can also listen to all previous and recent installments on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Module 2 scope

Module 2 will cover “the UK’s core political and administrative decision-making in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic between early January 2020 until February 2022, when the remaining Covid restrictions were lifted”. This module will scrutinise the decisions made by not only the Prime Minister, but the Cabinet and any political and medical advisers, too.

Critically, Module 2 will investigate all major decisions made by the UK Government relating to lockdowns, social distancing, and any other restrictions that were enforced, including the timeliness of those restrictions. The provisional scope states that it will examine:

The decision-making relating to the imposition of UK-wide and, later, England-wide non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including:

  • The national lockdowns in March-July 2020, November-December 2020 and January-April 2021
  • Local and regional restrictions
  • Circuit breakers
  • Working from home
  • Reduction of person-to-person contact,
  • Social distancing
  • The use of face-coverings
  • Border controls

Module 2 will also consider the timeliness and reasonableness of such NPIs, including:

  • The likely effects had decisions to intervene been taken earlier
  • The development of the approach to NPIs in light of the understanding of their impact on transmission, infection and death
  • The identification of at risk and other vulnerable groups and
  • The assessment of the likely impact of the contemplated NPIs on such groups in light of existing inequalities.

To read the entire scope of Module 2, click here.

Sub-modules

Within the Module 2 investigation, the Chair will also be investigating the decisions made by the Governments of the devolved nations and jurisdictions under sub-modules. Module 2A will scrutinise decisions made by the Scottish Government between January 2020 and April 2022, Module 2B will cover the same scope for Wales between January 2020 and May 2022, and Module 2C will cover the same scope for Northern Ireland between January 2020 and March 2022.

The Chair has outlined the provisional scope for each sub-module, which you can find below:

Core Participant Status for Module 2

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group have been awarded Core Participant status in Module 2 of the Covid Inquiry, with Broudie Jackson Canter instructed as their Recognised Legal Representative. 

If you are bereaved and aren’t involved in the Inquiry but wish to be, we encourage you to join the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group to have your voice represented in this Inquiry.

Join the group