Boris Johnson accused of coronavirus complacency after he & Matt Hancock are diagnosed & Chris Whitty isolates himself
BORIS Johnson has been accused of being complacent over his own social distancing advice after he and Matt Hancock tested positive for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister and Health Secretary announced yesterday they had Covid-19 and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty revealed he is self-isolating after coming down with symptoms.
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Experts have criticised No10’s response to the coronavirus outbreak as “slow”.
On Monday, millions around the UK watched Mr Johnson’s historic address where he ordered everyone to “stay at home” to help curb the spread of the killer bug.
However, Mr Johnson continued to carry out his parliamentary duties this week, including Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Since Monday, the press briefings have been carried out by video link – but critics said this should have happened sooner.
They have also pointed out senior government figures haven’t always kept a two metre distance from each other, in accordance with official advise.
Dr John Ashton, a former regional director of Public Health England, said senior government figures testing positive for coronavirus show why the UK’s lockdown should have come sooner.
He said: “The government has been too slow to act on this, and they’ve been slow as individuals. I was surprised to see Prime Minister questions going ahead this week – it was clearly unnecessary.
“It reinforces the view that lockdown measures taken earlier this week should have been taken sooner, and raises questions about the ability of people in power, including the prime minister, to discipline themselves.”
Professor Susan Michie, director of the centre for behaviour change at University College London, said: “Those in leadership positions should practise what they preach.
“If leaders do not adhere to their own recommendations, this undermines trust in them, which in turn can undermine the population’s adherence to their advice.”
She said it “should not come as a surprise” that the PM and Health Secretary have both tested positive.
Michael Gove, minister for the Cabinet Office, defended the government’s approach yesterday saying ti shows how the killer bug “does not discriminate” and “we are all at risk”.
He said: “The fact that the virus is no respecter of individuals, whoever they are, is one of the reasons why we do need to have strict social distancing measures.”
This morning, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he is in isolation after developing coronavirus symptoms.
He said he developed a cough and mild temperature three days after he was sat alongside the PM in the Commons before PMQs.
The Tory MP for Dumfries and Galloway said: “In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus.
“In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home.”
Downing Street said yesterday that others in contact with the PM did not need to do so unless they develop symptoms – and they were not aware of any other ministers having a test.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, seen with the PM outside No 10 last night, has shown no signs of the bug and is not isolating.
Coronavirus victims are thought to be contagious for between two and 12 days before symptoms start appearing.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, said: “It looks quite likely that there is some degree of asymptomatic transmission.
“There’s definitely quite a lot of transmission very early in the disease when there are very mild symptoms.”
On Monday, Mr Johnson ordered all non-essential business to close and banned travel unless it was for an essential job or reason.
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Brits were also told they could only leave the house for exercise like a walk or a jog, to go work if they are a key worker and to buy essential items such as food or medicine.
Police have been given powers to arrest people flouting the lockdown mandate as well as issue fines.
Mr Johnson said this lockdown is going to be imposed for at least three weeks – but didn’t rule out extending it if necessary.
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