Covid review finds no public inquiry needed

Chair says gov't response was 'reasonable', but pandemic has left some traumatised

A public inquiry into government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is not being recommended by the chair of the Covid review.

Kate Brunner KC published her 3600-page report earlier today.

In her findings, Ms Brunner acknowledges there are members of the public who would have preferred the process of evidence gathering to be carried out in public, but she doesn't consider her review was hampered by a lack of statutory powers.

Looking at how the Island responded to the outbreak, she describes government's initial response as 'reasonable' and 'successful', resulting in a relatively low economic cost and a short time in lockdown.

But, she highlights that the pandemic caused havoc and distress to some Manx residents, stating lives were lost, some people remain very unwell and many people were traumatised.

Some aspects of lockdown are described as 'inappropriately harsh', such as not allowing bubbles between single parents, which Ms Brunner says created hardship, stress and mental health issues, which grew with each lockdown.

Ms Brunner found that emergency planning was not adequate, with the Island too reliant on the UK, with insufficient attention being paid to borders.

Social care was not well supported, she concludes, adding that the outbreak at Abbotswood, which resulted in the deaths of 20 residents at the home, occurred at no fault on the part of the home, but she found there was a lack of attention paid to care homes in government's planning.

The chair describes the way government managed as 'high risk', and warns it could have led to far worse outcomes, but she does recognise that ministers and civil servants worked 'extremely hard'.

However, the report states the Island's recovery, particularly with regards to education, has not been given high enough priority.

Ms Brunner says she has no concerns over government withholding or altering evidence, but admits she was alive to the possible of documents being altered throughout the process.

She did however find her review was hampered by 'chaotic' data and record management within government, stating it had not been possible for government to provide the review with reliable data.

The report confirms that 142 Covid deaths have been recorded on the Isle of Man since the start of the outbreak up to October last year - the oldest was 105 years old, the youngest was 31.