The lead lawyer questions the approach taken, saying the impact of lockdowns had not been fully considered.
The "potentially massive impact" of lockdowns was not considered, the lead lawyer for the Covid inquiry has said.
"Very little thought" was given about what the impact of a national lockdown could be ahead of the pandemic, Mr Keith told the inquiry, adding that there was a failure to think through the consequences for education and the economy. Chair Baroness Hallett pledged that the inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic would be the "thorough investigation" that the public deserves.
The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group has criticised the inquiry's timetable and says people have been "excluded from sharing key evidence". Mr Keith, counsel to the inquiry, said UK was "taken by surprise" over "significant aspects" of the pandemic, including lockdowns. He said the UK had been preparing for an outbreak more similar to flu, and questioned how well placed and funded the NHS was to cope.
"Did the attention paid to the risks of a no-deal Brexit - Operation Yellowhammer as it was known - drain resources and capacity that should have been continuing the fight against the next pandemic?" Mr Keith asked. The Cabinet Office launched a legal challenge against the request, arguing some of the messages were irrelevant. This is thought to be the first time a government has taken legal action against its own public inquiry.
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