UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core decision-making and political governance, Volume I · 2025
Volume I: Introduction and key events from
¶UK Covid-19 Inquiry
¶Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core decision-making and political governance
Volume I: Introduction and key events from
¶January 2020 to May 2022
¶A report by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
¶November 2025
¶UK Covid-19 Inquiry Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core decision-making and political governance
Volume I: Introduction and key events from
¶January 2020 to May 2022
¶A report by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
¶Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 20 November 2025
¶HC 1436-I
¶© Crown copyright 2025 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/official-documents. Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to contact@covid19.public-inquiry.uk ISBN 978-1-5286-5449-4 E03296643 11/25 Version 1.1 Printed on paper containing 40% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by HH Associates Ltd. on behalf of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office
CORRECTION SLIP
¶Title: UK Covid-19 Inquiry
¶Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core decision-making and political governance
Volume I: Introduction and key events from January 2020 to May
¶A report by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
¶Session: 2024–26
¶HC 1436-I
¶ISBN: 978-1-5286-5449-4
¶Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 20 November 2025
¶Corrections:
¶Text currently reads (Chapter 2, para 41): In Scotland, on 24 January 2020, Ms Sturgeon received a briefing from Health Protection Scotland incorrectly stating: "We now know that people carrying the virus are only infectious to other people when experiencing symptoms." Ms Sturgeon challenged the view that asymptomatic transmission was not possible. The following day she received further advice from Health Protection Scotland, which explained that "it is likely that person to person transmission, when it does occur, mostly involves transmission of virus from people with symptoms" and that:
¶Text should read:
¶In Scotland, on 24 January 2020, Ms Sturgeon received a briefing from the Scottish Government's Health Protection Policy Team incorrectly stating: "We now know that people
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carrying the virus are only infectious to other people when experiencing symptoms." — 104
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Ms Sturgeon challenged the view that asymptomatic transmission was not possible. The — 105
¶following day she received advice from Health Protection Scotland, which explained that "it is likely that person to person transmission, when it does occur, mostly involves transmission of virus from people with symptoms" and that:
¶Date of correction: 16 January 2026
¶Text currently reads (Chapter 3, para 16): Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) from July 2014 to April 2022, had written to the Chief Executives of health and social care trusts on 1 March 2020, warning them that:
¶Text should read: Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) from July 2014 to April 2022, had written to the Chief Executives of health and social care trusts on 26 March 2020, warning them that:
¶Date of correction: 16 January 2026
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