Sir Michael McBride testified at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, citing inadequate guidance for clinically vulnerable individuals and insufficient ethnic minority health data.

Sir Michael McBride, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, testified at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, stating that initial shielding guidance for clinically vulnerable individuals could have been more nuanced. He noted communication challenges due to the pandemic's rapid pace, which complicated assurances for those shielding. McBride also highlighted the lack of ethnic minority health data, prompting a cross-departmental effort to improve monitoring for future pandemics.