As the UK Covid-19 Inquiry closes its final module of public hearings after nearly three years, its investigation into the pandemic’s societal impact has revealed a landscape of enduring scars, deepened inequalities, and a starkly different “new normal” for many.
The inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, stated that this module aimed “to make a permanent record of the impact of Covid-19, lest people forget, and to recommend improvements for the future.” The evidence presented painted a picture of a nation where the consequences of the crisis were profoundly uneven.
Mental Health: A Legacy of Trauma and Neglect
Experts told the inquiry that demand for mental health services “soared overnight” during lockdown, with charities like Mind contacted by people in huge distress who had never previously experienced problems, after statutory services closed. Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, highlighted the particular impact on children and young people from “the rolling news, the constant noise about what was happening, that sense of crisis and emergency,” noting that helplines spiked every time a minister made an announcement.
The legacy includes complex grief and post-traumatic stress disorder from the inability to hold proper funerals, which “we still as a nation are not really understanding,” Hughes said. Mind views the inquiry as crucial to “reckon with the mental health impacts,” calling for long-term investment and parity between mental and physical health.
Disproportionately affected were racialized communities, disabled people, and those with severe mental illness, who bore the brunt of reduced support. The research briefing indicates the mental health impacts—trauma, anxiety, bereavement, isolation—are still being felt, with concern over cumulative distress from pandemic waves. The UK government’s response to these impacts has been described as slow, sporadic, and reactive, leading to short-term and long-lasting harm.
Key Workers: Enduring Abuse, Burnout and Ill-Health
The inquiry heard how key workers across sectors felt ignored and undervalued, facing high levels of abuse and intimidation while enforcing rules. John Leach, assistant general secretary of the RMT union, said verbal and physical abuse was “exacerbated” by Covid pressures and has become normalized, with transport workers regularly threatened with being spat at—a pattern he said continues today.
The case of Belly Mujinga, a 47-year-old railway ticket office worker who died of coronavirus after being spat at, caused early outrage. Joanne Thomas, general secretary of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, said workers felt “very regularly dehumanised.”
Beyond abuse, key workers faced heavy workloads, exhaustion, and burnout, with those in healthcare, social care, and funeral services working extended hours. Young retail workers reported pressure to work additional hours, increasing exposure and stress. Health and safety concerns were rife, including a lack of essential protective equipment and unsafe ventilation in some buildings.
Workers from ethnic minority backgrounds reported racialized verbal abuse. The impact on family life was significant, with little childcare support leading to guilt and overwhelm. Long-term, many continue to suffer from Long COVID, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with some careers impacted when employers refused necessary adjustments.
Transport workers were particularly hard hit: over 80% never worked from home in 2020, experienced disproportionately high infection and mortality rates, and saw a significant increase in workplace violence from passengers.
Homelessness: The Normalisation of Temporary Crisis
The Everyone In initiative, which housed rough sleepers in hotels and B&Bs, had a significant impact. However, St Mungo’s told the inquiry it “normalised temporary accommodation that we’ve never got away from,” a situation that increased during Covid-19 and is now seen as “the new normal.”
Shelter reported people in hotels were “having terrible mental health crises,” with skeleton staff completely untrained to deal with suicide attempts or severe reactions from substance withdrawal. The pandemic and subsequent recession have increased homelessness risk, with many accruing rent arrears due to job losses.
Experts urged that the housing and homelessness sector be incorporated into emergency planning for future pandemics, with clear guidance developed to prevent similar mistakes.
Disabled People: Disproportionate Deaths and Systemic Failure
Disabled people accounted for approximately six out of every 10 Covid-19 deaths, rising to seven in 10 in Wales between March and July 2020. A Public Health England report estimated people with learning disabilities were six times more likely to die, with the death rate for those aged 18-34 being 30 times higher. People with Down’s syndrome could have been over 30 times more likely to die.
Witnesses said social care services “disappeared overnight,” leaving people with disabilities “in a vacuum.” Lara Wong from Clinically Vulnerable Families said “extended shielding, repeated disruption to healthcare and prolonged exclusion from everyday activities meant risk management became a constant feature of daily life.”
As restrictions lifted, disabled people struggled to return to normal. Prof Nick Watson, chair of disability studies at the University of Glasgow, said, “We found people were very frightened of going out, of non-masked people infecting them, of going to healthcare facilities.” He added that messages implying deaths were acceptable if individuals had underlying conditions made people feel devalued.
Mental health impacts were severe: 46% of disabled people reported worse mental health compared to 29% of non-disabled, with higher rates of loneliness and stress or anxiety. Prof Watson cited an incident where a young woman with a learning disability became so anxious she washed herself daily with bleach, ending up in hospital with scars.
A critical concern is the lack of accountability for these deaths; many remained uninvestigated, with no proper scrutiny of their preventability. Issues like inappropriate “do not attempt CPR” notices and clinical frailty score assessments were highlighted. Furthermore, while Universal Credit received an uplift, legacy benefits did not, leaving many disabled people without sufficient income. Disabled people’s organizations argue governments failed to consult with them despite disproportionate impact, advocating for co-production and accessible communications.
A Costly Inquiry Exposing Deep-Rooted Fault Lines
The inquiry, the most expensive in history with costs exceeding £200 million, has spanned 10 modules from preparedness to societal impact. It has exposed how the pandemic intensified systemic failures, disproportionately affecting racialized communities, people in poverty, disabled people, and those with severe mental illness. As the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK put it, “We may have been in the same storm, but we were not in the same boat.”
The lack of accountability for preventable deaths and failures has been a recurring theme. Bereaved families are urging for the inquiry’s recommendations to be implemented in full, emphasizing the need for brave, decisive, and urgent action to prepare for future crises.
