Coronavirus cases are rising in the UK because ministers pushed lockdown easing measures ‘to their limits’, England’s chief medical officer warned today. Professor Chris Whitty poured cold water on Boris Johnson’s plan to get the UK back to normal by Christmas, warning that relaxing rules further would ‘absolutely, inevitably’ lead to a resurgence of the … Read more
Ministers decided to reimpose quarantine travel restrictions on Spain after it emerged 10 Britons had returned from the country with coronavirus and Professor Chris Whitty said ‘doing nothing isn’t an option’. The Government’s Covid-O committee met on Saturday afternoon after Health Secretary Matt Hancock raised concerns about a spike in Spanish infections on Friday. The … Read more
The Government’s scientific advisers today butted heads about whether the UK was too slow to enforce lockdown. In an uncharacteristically bad-tempered interview, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty claimed there were ‘operational difficulties’ that made it difficult to shut the country down in a week. During a virtual grilling with MPs, Professor Whitty denied there … Read more
Social distancing may be necessary for a long time, England’s top medic has said, warning that eliminating coronavirus is highly unlikely. Professor Chris Whitty told the Lords Science and Technology Committee that, while certain hygiene measures will be around for the foreseeable future, keeping a safe distance from others will also need to be maintained. … Read more
Senior ministers fear the top scientists advising the Government could quit over plans to ease the two-metre rule. Professor Chris Whitty, the popular Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance have made it clear they believe the current guidance on safe distancing should stay. But Boris Johnson will tomorrow pave the way for … Read more
Will there be a winter lockdown? Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warns stay-at-home rules could return if UK is hit with second wave of coronavirus when summer ends Professor Whitty also stressed the UK was still only in middle of the pandemic Infection rates could rise again as temperatures drop and people migrate inside Professor … Read more
The Government’s two most senior science and health advisers tonight insisted they ‘don’t want to get involved’ in the Dominic Cummings lockdown row as Boris Johnson said he intended to ‘draw a line under it’. Durham Police today said Mr Cummings’ 260-mile trip to the city did not break lockdown rules while a 60-mile jaunt to … Read more
Britain will never truly know the reproduction number of the coronavirus and will have to squash it as they lift lockdown by trial and error, scientists say. The reproduction number, also known as the R0 (R-nought), shows how many people the average patient infects before they recover. Scientists say that as long as the rate … Read more
England’s Chief Medical Officer has become an artist’s muse after people took to sculpting and drawing him and posting their masterpieces online. Professor Chris Whitty has been a household name ever since the coronavirus outbreak took its hold on Britain last month. Appearing almost daily at the Government’s Downing Street press conferences, his ‘calm and … Read more
Professor Chris Whitty has offered a chink of light out of the lockdown after revealing coronavirus infection rates have been wrestled down. England’s chief medical officer said the reproduction number – or R0 – has been brought below 1, marking a critical achievement in the UK’s war on Covid-19. It means coronavirus sufferers are on … Read more