Covid Review to be Published in New Year

Kate Brunner KC’s review into the gov’s handling of the pandemic will be published on January 8.

The review has been held amid scrutiny and criticism, including one key witness, Dr Rosalind Ranson, refusing the take part.

Always intended to be completed by end of this year, the report isn’t a full inquiry into Covid after the gov said that would be too expensive and time consuming.

In an update on the review’s page, Ms Brunner confirmed that the report will be completed by December 31, with it being published on January 8.

She said: ‘The Terms of Reference require that the report is first submitted to Tynwald, which requires processing and uploading to the Tynwald systems, before it is made available to the public.

‘Tynwald is closed for part of the holiday period, until January 2 2024. The report will be published on the Tynwald Register of Business thereafter and  on the review website covidreview.im.

‘Publication of a large report and associated appendices requires some time for processing, both in terms of technology checks and also administrative checks in the clerk’s office. It will require some time for the Covid Review administrative team to run tests on the shadow website before it goes live to ensure that there are no technical glitches and that the report and appendices are accessible and downloadable.

‘The week of January 8 2024 is also preferable as publication can be tied in with a press conference while the Chair is on island, and tied in with all Tynwald members and government officers being back from leave. The report will not be available to Tynwald members or government before it is published on January 8.

‘The Chair will release a short introductory recording at the same time, and will hold a press conference later in the week of January 8.’