Video
Michael Gove admits UK was not prepared for the coronavirus
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove - Credit: Pippa Fowles/Crown Copyright/10 Downing Street/PA Wire
Michael Gove told a Commons public administration committee that the UK was not prepared for an epidemic like the coronavirus.
The chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster told MPs that disaster preparation plans did not factor in a highly contagious respiratory disease like Covid-19.
Gove said that the government's previous epidemic planning - known as Operation Cygnus - was focused on a response to a global influenza.
You may also want to watch:
He said: 'The government had a dossier on threats to the country, including a global influenza... but nothing quite like Covid-19.'
Most Read
- 1 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 2 Nigel Farage launches new party in Scotland to promote 'positive case for the Union'
- 3 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 4 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 5 Brexit changes lead to exodus of Brits from Spain, UK nationals claim
- 6 James O'Brien schools Brexiteer who refuses to accept new EU-UK trade rules
- 7 Brexiteer rebuked after backing Nigel Farage's 'East Germany' claims
- 8 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 9 Tory candidate suspended by party over comments about ‘fat’ food bank user
- 10 No 10 defends Stanley Johnson receiving two coronavirus vaccines while others don't
He added: 'The work that was done in exercise Cygnus was designed to anticipate what would happen in flu pandemic. The exact nature of this virus meant that response had to be recalibrated.'
Health minister Matt Hancock addressed parliament in March saying the UK was one of the best prepared countries to face a pandemic in the world. Britain is now on course to have one of the worst coronavirus death rates in Europe.
Gove insisted the government was constantly changing its response to the virus as more information on its behaviour came to light. He also refused to disclose what means the government used to assess the impact of social distancing measures.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
