ANGUISH, fear, love and pride. So many emotions and such vivid memories of the pandemic came flooding back as the Covid inquiry started its public hearings today.
After a solemn opening statement by inquiry chair Baroness Hallett, a harrowing video was played of families, including from London, who so tragically lost loved ones during those bleak years. "It happened all very quickly, within seven days my mum was gone, just like that," recalled Lucy, from the capital. Hazel, also from London, explained how her daughter alerted her that her father was becoming unwell, struggling to breathe, before being told he had to go to hospital. Fighting back tears, she added: "They tested him and they said it's definitely Covid." Inquiry officials had warned that the film of "some of those who suffered most during the pandemic" may be "difficult to watch". But even this could not prepare people, tuning into the inquiry, for the raw pain still being felt by so many across the country.
Baroness Hallett stressed that grieving families of victims of Covid-19 “will always be at the heart” of Britain’s public inquiry into the pandemic.
Opening the first six weeks of evidence sessions, she said: “I’ve promised many times those who suffered hardship and loss are, and will always be, at the heart of the inquiry. I’ve done my very best within the constraints upon me of time, resources and terms of reference to fulfil that promise.
Esta historia es de la edición June 13, 2023 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 13, 2023 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis
