We used to smash plates to disturb the atmosphere, study our astrological alignments and try to balance our humours. This is how physicians in antiquityThe ancient past, especially before the Middle Ages. and the early medievalRelating to the Middle Ages. period advised dealing with pandemics of nasty and highly contagious diseases.

It was not until the 19th Century that preventing pandemics became an art. Fuelled by the incorrigibleIncapable of being corrected or improved. spread of choleraA dangerous infection, still present in some parts of the world that is usually caught from drinking unclean water. and the huge burden on the economy of an unhealthy population, British reformer Edwin Chadwick took it upon himself to undertake an inquiry into the causes of the cholera epidemicA widespread disease or infection..

As it happened, the causes were quite simple. Cemented in the 1848 Public Health Act, some improvements to sanitation, better drainage and regular inspection of towns' environmental health did more to stop the spread than anyone could have imagined. It was the first time the government was made responsible for protecting the health of the public.

Now, the UK's independent inquiry into the government's handling of Covid-19 probably hopes to make the same kind of splash that Edwin Chadwick did.

The study will look at what we can learn from the pandemic and is expected to be critical of the government's response. It will cover four key areas: resilience and preparedness, core UK decision-making and political governance, impact of the pandemic on healthcare and vaccines and therapeutics.

According to government figures, 227,321 people in the UK died with Covid-19 mentioned on their death certificate.

The inquiry will cost hundreds of millions of pounds, but will not deliver a verdict until 2026. It has already been criticised for failing to sufficiently represent families bereaved during Covid, although the panel is seeking stories from the public about their experiences of the pandemic in a listening exercise called "Every Story Matters".

Some people are arguing that it is too little, too late. By 2022, Sweden had already completed a comprehensive Covid report which analysed its own successes and failures. In France and Italy, ministers are even facing criminal proceedings for mishandling pandemicAn outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region. policy.

Others say that the inquiry will be a necessary reminder of the risks of a future pandemic. Experts have warned that the UK is no better prepared now than it was in 2020 to prevent the spread of a new virus or strain.

They cite record A&E waiting times, ambulance delays, waiting lists, insufficient supplies of PPEPersonal protective equipment or politics, philosophy and economics and the sale of a key UK vaccine manufacturing and research centre as potentially catastrophic factors if a new wave of illness hits the UK. Many think that disinvestment in the NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948. will lay the groundwork for a new pandemic to cripple the country's healthcare.

Even more worryingly, scientists think that it is not an issue of if, but of when. Modelling has suggested that there is a 38% chance that we will experience another pandemic within our lifetimes, and the next one could take an even heavier toll.

Yes: We are developing new technologies every day. Countries worldwide are collaboratingWorking together. on pandemic prevention. With every year that passes by we get closer to perfecting the method for warding off pandemics.

No: Many excess deaths were caused during Covid by a failure to fund public healthcare services, and nothing has been done to rectify this since. This is true in many countries around the world.

Or... One thing that the inquiry has highlighted so far is that the UK was too busy planning for an influenzaAlso known as the flu, a common viral infection among humans causing a high temperature. pandemic to have prepared for a coronavirus. Pandemics will always be unpredictable, and some of our response is based on luck.

Antiquity - The ancient past, especially before the Middle Ages.

Medieval - Relating to the Middle Ages.

Incorrigible - Incapable of being corrected or improved.

Cholera - A dangerous infection, still present in some parts of the world that is usually caught from drinking unclean water.

Epidemic - A widespread disease or infection.

Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.

PPE - Personal protective equipment or politics, philosophy and economics

NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.

Collaborating - Working together.

Influenza - Also known as the flu, a common viral infection among humans causing a high temperature.