Today (Thursday 5 March 2026), marks the final day of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s public hearings following three weeks of evidence on the Inquiry’s Module 10 investigation, covering the impact of the pandemic on society. In her closing statement the Inquiry Chair, Baroness Hallett, has made it clear that the Inquiry’s work is not yet over as she turns to publishing her remaining reports and recommendations.
Throughout its hearings phase the Inquiry has sat for 238 public hearing days and has heard evidence from 381 witnesses, both at its hearing centre in London and across the UK at hearings in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
In addition to the oral evidence provided during hearings, the Inquiry has received over 600,000 documents including witness statements, expert reports, roundtable reports and Every Story Matters records, which have drawn upon the stories of tens of thousands of people who shared their pandemic experience with the Inquiry.
Today the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has also published the last of its 10 Every Story Matters records, laying out the key themes in the many thousands of stories people have shared with the Inquiry online and at events around the country. The record is the result of analysis of the key topics and themes covered in people’s pandemic experiences. Every Story Matters records provide evidence of the human impact of the pandemic and help the Chair to make recommendations for the future.
I would like to thank all of those people who have engaged with the Inquiry to date, whether this was by sharing their experiences with Every Story Matters, featuring in one of our impact films or by following the hearings, in person or remotely, via social media, our website or our newsletter.
I am especially grateful for the contributions of those who lost loved ones, or who suffered hardship or loss as a result of the pandemic. I can only imagine how difficult this must have been. Their commitment and dedication to this process is greatly appreciated.
The Inquiry’s focus now turns to writing and publishing the Chair’s remaining findings and recommendations. The Inquiry has so far published two sets of reports and recommendations, Module 1 covering ‘Resilience and Preparedness’ in 2024, followed by Module 2 covering ‘Core UK Decision-Making and Political Governance’ across all four nations of the UK which was published on 20 November 2025.
On 19 March 2026, the Inquiry will publish its Module 3 report and recommendations on ‘Healthcare Systems’, followed by the publication of the Module 4 report on ‘Vaccines and Therapeutics’ on 16 April 2026.
I encourage the public and followers of the Inquiry to push for the changes I recommend and for those responsible for implementing my recommendations to do so. Whilst the Inquiry is open, I will be monitoring the implementation of those recommendations.
The families who lost loved ones, the key workers who risked their lives and the general public who made enormous sacrifices during the pandemic deserve to see meaningful change. We shall need the support of the core participants and the public to ensure they do.
Support available
The Inquiry acknowledges that some content in the Every Story Matters record may be distressing or triggering for some people. If you are affected by this content, please know that support services are available via the Inquiry website.