The Tory Cabinet minister said: "We were not well prepared as we should have been ideally. I think that is true.
"The virus was novel and indeed - I think this probably goes beyond the remit of the inquiry - a significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made and that presents sort of challenges."
Hugo Keith KC, lead counsel, said it was not in the inquiry's terms of reference to look at the "somewhat divisive issue" of Covid's origins.
The Levelling Up Secretary apologised to victims and to bereaved families for government "errors", such as locking down too late.
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Denne historien er fra November 29, 2023-utgaven av Daily Express.
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