Italy announces inquiry into its handling of Covid-19 pandemic

Relatives of victims say creation of commission is a ‘great victory’ but former ministers say it will be used as a political attack

Italy will undertake an inquiry into its handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a move hailed as “a great victory” by the relatives of people killed by the virus but criticised by those who were in power at the time.

Italy was the first western country to report an outbreak and has the second highest Covid-related death toll to date in Europe, at more than 196,000. Only the UK’s death toll is higher.