Michael Gove apologises for mistakes by government during Covid crisis

UK was too slow to lock down and initial approach to testing was chaotic, minister tells inquiry

Michael Gove has apologised for mistakes made by the government during the Covid pandemic, saying the UK was too slow to lock down in early 2020 and then again that autumn.

Giving evidence to the Covid inquiry, Gove, who was the lead minister in the Cabinet Office for much of the pandemic, said the initial approach to testing for the virus was chaotic, not enough focus was paid to the impact of lockdown on children, and there was a need for “reflection” on how PPE was procured.