In a poignant session of the Covid Inquiry, Hazel Gray shared her devastating experience of losing both parents to Covid-19, a tragedy she believes stemmed from inadequate testing of their caregivers.

Advocating for the Northern Ireland Bereaved Families for Justice, Hazel recounted the tragic losses of her parents, Violet and George Little, who both passed away within just 32 days of each other during the winter of 2020-2021.

The inquiry aims to scrutinize how the UK government and its devolved administrations managed testing, contact tracing, and isolation throughout the pandemic.

"It seems beyond comprehension that, nine months into the pandemic, the carers attending to my mother were still not regularly tested," Hazel lamented. "It was a glaring oversight that these individuals, who were unwittingly spreading the virus, were left unchecked."

Hazel’s mother required a care package four times a day due to her long-term wheelchair use, while her father had taken on the role of primary caregiver before the pandemic escalated.

After learning of her father's positive Covid test, Hazel expressed her conviction that she couldn’t have possibly transmitted the virus to her parents as her own test came back negative.

Her worries mounted when her mother also tested positive, highlighting the alarming situation: "The shocking realization that carers weren’t being tested drove me to reach out to then-Health Minister Robin Swann," she explained.

Hazel recalled sending a text on December 7, 2020, seeking clarity on the testing protocols for her mother's caregivers. Her investigation revealed a disheartening truth: "I was told it's not policy for community carers to undergo regular testing. How could those entrusted with the welfare of the most vulnerable not be screened?"

Sophie Cartwright, counsel for the inquiry, outlined serious concerns echoed by Northern Ireland bereaved families, including flawed contact tracing, discharges from hospitals to care homes without proper testing, and insufficient isolation protocols for vulnerable individuals.

Cartwright also touched on the emotional toll isolation took on families. She lamented the lack of support for loved ones during their final moments, stating, "If an animal were in a similar situation, a vet would encourage the owner to stay until the end. I wasn’t afforded that dignity, and countless others struggled with this same heartache."

Concluding her testimony, Hazel described watching her parents leave this world far too soon as a "horrendous" ordeal, not just for her, but for the nation at large.

"We must ensure that these experiences never repeat; it's vital that preventative measures are enacted now, as we remain at risk of facing similar challenges in the future," she urged.