Emergency State: How We lost Our Freedoms in the Pandemic and Why it Matters is a book by UK human rights lawyer Adam Wagner. The book explores how the UK government during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated Government response had unprecedented powers to make and change legislation at will without accountability and what safeguards could be created to prevent this in the future. Wagner was appointed to work on the Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers. In this book, Wagner argues that COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom brought the country as close to a police state as in living memory. Wagner makes suggestions in response to events during the pandemic including suggesting a review of the fixed penalty notices and other penalties issues during COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom, for a codified constitution in the United Kingdom, and for opposition members of parliament to be involved in pandemic meetings. The book comprises a preface and nine chapters: States of Emergency, Very Strong Measures, Take It on the Chin, You Must Stay at Home, The Lockdown Bites, Patchwork Summer, The Darkest Winter, Step by Step, and Freedom Regained?.: 1, Table of contents  The second to eighth chapters are ordered chronologically and summarise the number of cases and deaths. The book has notes, a list of relevant legislation, and index of cases.: 177, 219, 221 It provides an infographic showing how covid cases and deaths progressed during the pandemic and which restrictrictions were in place at these times and a timeline of restrictions.: 172,173  Source: Wikipedia (en)