Today the UK Covid-19 Inquiry opens its seventh investigation: Test, Trace and Isolate across the UK (Module 7). Public hearings are planned for Summer 2025.
Module 7 will investigate the approach to testing, tracing and isolation adopted during the pandemic in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from January 2020 until February 2022.
The investigation will consider the policies and strategies developed and deployed to support the test, trace and isolate system by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. It will also consider the decisions made by key bodies, other options or technologies that were available and factors that may have influenced public compliance.
More details are included in the provisional scope for Module 7, which is published on the Inquiry website.
The Core Participant application window will be open from 19 March 2024 to 26 April 2024.
A Core Participant is an individual, organisation or institution that has a specific interest in the work of the Inquiry.
Core Participants can access evidence relevant to this investigation, make opening and closing statements at Inquiry hearings and suggest lines of questioning.
For more information, please see our guide on how to apply to be a Core Participant.
The Inquiry is aiming to start holding preliminary hearings for Module 7 in Summer 2024.
The hearings will take place at the Inquiry’s Hearing Centre, Dorland House, London. All hearings are open to the public to attend. Information on how to attend can be found on the website.
At preliminary hearings, the Inquiry Chair makes decisions about how investigations will run. The Inquiry does not hear evidence at these hearings. There will be submissions from the Counsel to the Inquiry and Core Participants to help prepare for the public hearings, where evidence is heard.
Module 2: Core UK Decision-making and Political Governance witness update
The Inquiry can confirm that the Module 2 oral evidence of Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has been rescheduled to be heard on Thursday 23 May 2024 at Dorland House, Paddington.