# Britain’s COVID inquiry launches with pledge to put bereaved at its heart Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-06-13 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Britain's COVID Inquiry Pledges to Put Bereaved at Meta Description: Former PM Boris Johnson orders COVID inquiry to investigate UK's response to pandemic, with focus on preparedness, public health and economic impact URL: https://financedigest.com/britains-covid-inquiry-launches-with-pledge-to-put-bereaved-at-its-hearthtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-06-13t103358z1lynxmpej5c0bsrtroptp4health-coronavirus-britain-anniversary-1736813886625-compressed.jpg) # Britain’s COVID inquiry launches with pledge to put bereaved at its heart LONDON (Reuters) – The chair of Britain’s COVID-19 inquiry pledged to put the bereaved and those who suffered at the heart of her work as she began main hearings on Tuesday into how the coronavirus pandemic was handled. Former prime minister Boris Johnson had ordered the inquiry to look into the United Kingdom’s preparedness as well as the public health and economic response after Britain recorded one of the world’s highest death tolls from COVID. More than 175,000 deaths from the virus had been reported by the time Johnson stood down in July last year. I have promised many times that those who have [suffered hardship and loss](https://www.financedigest.com/global-economy-suffers-53bn-natural-disaster-loss-during-1h-2017-according-to-aon-catastrophe-report.html "Global economy suffers bn natural disaster loss during 1H 2017, according to Aon catastrophe report") are and will always be at the heart of the inquiry,” the chair, Heather Hallett, said at the start of the hearing. “I am listening to them. Their loss will be recognised.” Module one, which is looking into Britain’s preparedness for the pandemic, opened on Tuesday. The inquiry has held preliminary hearings, but this [week will see the first evidence heard in the inquiry since](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-steadies-near-16-week-low-yuan-set-for-biggest-weekly-gain-since-2005.html "Dollar steadies near 16-week low, yuan set for biggest weekly gain since 2005") it was formally launched in June 2022. With a national election [expected next](https://www.financedigest.com/the-death-of-cards-and-what-to-expect-next.html "The death of cards and what to expect next") year, the detailed examination of decision-making could create political headaches for current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was finance minister during the pandemic. However, evidence hearings on module two, which covers governance and decision-making in the pandemic, are not [due to start until later in the year](https://www.financedigest.com/mechanical-and-electronic-fuzes-market-one-the-most-booming-industry-in-upcoming-years-due-to-global-demand-in-industry-by-2027.html "Mechanical And Electronic Fuzes Market| One the Most Booming Industry in Upcoming Years Due to Global Demand in Industry by 2027"). The [government has launched a legal challenge against the inquiry over its requests for internal government WhatsApp messages from Johnson’s time in office which it says](https://www.financedigest.com/internet-data-growth-has-not-pushed-up-telcos-network-costs-dutch-government-says.html "Internet data growth has not pushed up telcos’ network costs, Dutch government says") are “unambiguously irrelevant” to the inquiry. The inquiry argues that it is for the chair to determine what material is relevant. The legal [case will be heard](https://www.financedigest.com/depp-lawyers-question-heard-about-knife-love-notes-in-defamation-case.html "Depp lawyers question Heard about knife, love notes in defamation case") about the end of June. (Reporting by Alistair Smout, Editing by William Maclean) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---