Focus on catharsis rather than blame

Inquiries can fulfil many functions, from the entirely operational to approaches that are more restorative or cathartic. There are, of course, lessons to be learned from how the responses to Covid worked (or didn't) but it also seems important that ordinary people should have their say - an opportunity to put on the record their sense of loss and tragedy from these events.

An inquiry closeted behind closed doors that seeks to identify operational changes can't do that and one that seeks a scapegoat would be worse than useless. Crises like Covid are moments of shared suffering and fear. we are not good as a society at recognising that and seeking to redress them. If we really are serious about 'building back better' then there needs to be a moment to pause, recognise what has been lost and to reflect on that. Only from there can we begin to move forward together.