Professor Sir Peter Horby, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford said:
"Today the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has rightly recognised that the UK was ill prepared for the pandemic and is recommending fundamental reform.
"Whilst the UK pandemic plans are criticised, I was pleased to see that Baroness Hallett recognises that systemic weaknesses in the UK played a key role. Whilst plans are important, 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.' What matters even more than plans is replacing systemic weakness with systemic resilience.
"As such, I tentatively welcome the recommendation to simplify and unify structures, including creating an independent statutory body responsible for whole-system civil emergency preparedness, resilience and response, but it will be important to understand how that will dovetail with UK Health Security Agency.
"I also welcome the recommendations to establish (and test) new mechanisms for fast and reliable data to inform responses and to commission ‘hibernated’ and other studies designed to be rapidly adapted to a new outbreak.
"This recognises what worked well in the pandemic and the critical importance to national health and welfare of excellent science and sound science advice.
"In short, a quick read suggests the report is giving sound advice. We now need to see this followed by sufficient long-term commitment and money, not only to fully implement the recommendations of this report but to rebuild the UK’s health, social care and public health systems.
"Future pandemics are inevitable, and it is critical that these lessons are put into practice. We were on the back foot in 2020, but we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement these lessons and put humanity on the front foot next time."