country s pre pandemic preparations before 2020. north korea fires a suspected missile overjapan, in what appears to be a deliberate escalation to get the attention of tokyo and washington. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the first preliminary hearing of the uk covid 19 inquiry is about to begin. there will be an opening statement by the chair of the inquiry, baroness hallett, followed by a minute s silence. the session will focus on how prepared the uk was for a pandemic before 2020. joining us now from the inquiry is our health correspondent, jim reed . hello. just tell us a little more, if you would, about this first phase of the inquiry? of the inquiry? yes, this inquiry was announced of the inquiry? yes, this inquiry was announced by of the inquiry? yes, this inquiry was announced by boris - of the inquiry? yes, this inquiry| was announced by boris johnson of the inquiry? yes, this inquiry - was announced by boris johnson back was
members into several modules and to assign members of the legal team and the secretariat to each module. each moduie secretariat to each module. each module involves a gathering of evidence, module involves a gathering of evidence, a process which has already evidence, a process which has already begun, followed by the public already begun, followed by the public hearings. we cannot hold hearings public hearings. we cannot hold hearings into each module at the same hearings into each module at the same time hearings into each module at the same time and they will therefore be held in same time and they will therefore be held in sequence. but i wish to emphasise that the order of the modules emphasise that the order of the modules does not indicate that i consider modules does not indicate that i consider the issues in later modules to be consider the issues in later modules to be of consider the issues in later modules to be of any consider the issues in later mod