UK PM Johnson's anti-epidemic U-turn

By Sun Wei in London Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/3/31 6:47:58

People wear protective face masks as they walk down Whitehall in the Spring sunshine in central London. Photo:AFP


British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to UK households that things will get worse before they get better amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The letter, expected to arrive in 30 million mailboxes across the UK this week, will include details on social distancing, symptoms, and handwashing while urging people to stay  home, protect the NHS, and save lives. 

The death toll in Britain hit 1,408 on Monday, with 22,448 confirmed cases.

Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are both following official UK advice and are self-isolating for seven days after testing positive for COVID-19 last Friday.

Johnson revealed his diagnosis on Twitter in a video explaining he was experiencing "mild symptoms" but would "continue to lead the government's response" to fight COVID-19 via video conference technology. 

Within two weeks, the British government's policy in fighting COVID-19 has reversed from advocating "herd immunity" to continuous urgent calls for nationwide efforts in prevention and self-isolation, creating a comprehensive lockdown beginning March 23. The curb on everyday life remains an unprecedented peacetime move.

While Johnson warned additional lockdown measures could be enforced if necessary, England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said that it could be six months before life in the UK returns to "normal." 

Harries explained that this wouldn't mean a complete lockdown for six months, but rather a reduction in social distancing measures "gradually." 

Earlier this month, Britain's COVID-19 response  was   different compared to other nations. 

Whereas schools have been closed and troops deployed on  the streets to enforce strict quarantine rules in continental Europe, in Britain, schools, restaurants, theaters, clubs, and sports venues remained open. Only people over the age of 70 and those with flu-like symptoms were advised to stay home.

Sir Patrick Vallance, England's chief scientific adviser, said the government is looking to control the spread of coronavirus rather than suppress it entirely, while still keeping vulnerable groups safe to allow the population to develop "herd immunity" with 60 percent of the British population infected. 

The idea immediately aroused public outcry in Britain and worldwide as hundreds of scientists expressed doubts and worries in an open letter. 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted the so-called "herd immunity" was not part of the government's plan but a scientific concept. 

As the outbreak continued, the British government added stringent policies on social distancing each day throughout the following week. The change of course, followed a report by Professor Neil Ferguson with Imperial College London. The bombshell report inspired both Downing Street and the White House to advocate tougher lockdown measures to avoid a steep increase in COVID-19 cases. 

Christine Corner, a 72-year-old retired nurse, told the Global Times that she and her family have been following the government's policy by isolating themselves. 

"We told our daughters and sons not to come and visit us, but e-meeting with each other," Corner said, adding that she was doing excises in her backyard to boost her immunity level.

"People in our communities are caring about each other, and volunteers are helping us with deliveries," Corner said. 

Over 500,000 volunteers signed up in 24 hours to help the NHS cope with the outbreak, following Health Secretary Matt Hancock's call for 250,000 volunteers to help the 1.5 million people isolating for 12 weeks. 

"It's a touching moment when I heard people clapping for the NHS on the Thursday evening," Rebecca Xue, a Chinese mother of two living in London, told the Global Times. 

People across the UK joined in a mass round of applause from front doors, open windows, in gardens, and on balconies, to thank NHS staff battling COVID-19.

Xue said that she worried her parents in China in February, now she was concerned about the health and safety of her family in London amid the rapid spread. "We have donated some face masks to the local NHS, because helping them is helping ourselves," Xue added.

A joint mission team comprised of 15 experts from Shandong Province, China, arrived in the UK over the weekend to help fight the outbreak. The team brought some 17.5 tons of medical materials with plans to provide disease control and prevention information to Britons as well as to Chinese students, businesses, and institutions.



Posted in: EUROPE

blog comments powered by Disqus