Exercise Cygnus

Exercise Cygnus was a pandemic simulation exercise that took place in the United Kingdom in 2016. The exercise was designed to identify the country's preparedness for a potential influenza pandemic, and its findings have been referenced in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Exercise Cygnus was a three-day exercise conducted by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Public Health England (PHE), and the National Health Service (NHS). The exercise was named after the constellation Cygnus, which is Latin for 'swan', a bird often associated with flu pandemics.

Objective

The primary objective of Exercise Cygnus was to test the UK's preparedness for a potential influenza pandemic. The exercise simulated a scenario in which the UK was hit by a new (novel) subtype of influenza virus to which the population had little or no immunity.

Findings

The findings of Exercise Cygnus highlighted several areas where the UK's pandemic preparedness was lacking. These included issues with the capacity of the NHS, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the logistics of mass burials. The findings were not initially made public, but were later released following a Freedom of Information request.

Relevance to COVID-19

The findings of Exercise Cygnus have been referenced in relation to the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics have suggested that the government failed to act on the findings of the exercise, which may have left the country ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

See also

• Pandemic
• Influenza pandemic
• COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

References

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  Dame Sally Davies
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  Official portrait of Matt Hancock