UK failed to plan for economic impact of flu-like pandemic, says watchdog

Cross-party MPs conclude government schemes drawn up ‘on the hoof’ amid Covid-19 crisisCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThere was an “astonishing” failure by government to plan for the economic impact of a possible flu-like pandemic, parliament’s financial watchdog has said.MPs on the cross-party public accounts committee concluded that government schemes were drawn up “on the hoof” in mid-March by Rishi Sunak’s Treasury, weeks after the first case of coronavirus was detected in the UK. The delay risked leaving sectors of the UK economy behind, according to a report published on Thursday. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/uk-failed-to-plan-for-economic-impact-of-flu-like-pandemic-says-watchdog #coronavirus_outbreak #rishi_sunak #budget_2020 #summer_statement_2020 #infectious_diseases #health_policy #business #economics #politics