Analysis: A short list of Boris Johnson's U-turns on the pandemic


What Johnson mentioned: “We do not wish to ban Christmas, to cancel it, and I believe that may be frankly inhuman and towards the instincts of many individuals on this nation.”

What occurred subsequent: 4 days later, Boris Johnson introduced that London, the southeast and the east of England could be put below Tier four restrictions — basically a lockdown — scrapping or severely limiting Christmas journey plans for thousands and thousands of individuals.

The lockdowns have been spurred the invention of a brand new pressure of coronavirus.

July 17, 2020 — A ‘return to normality’ by Christmas

What Johnson mentioned: “It’s my sturdy and honest hope that we can assessment the excellent restrictions and permit a extra vital return to normality from November on the earliest, presumably in time for Christmas.”

What occurred subsequent: An easing of restrictions had been introduced on July 17 for the start of August. The plan included permitting indoor performances with dwell audiences and pilot schemes of bigger gatherings in locations like sports activities stadiums to be held “with a view to a wider reopening within the autumn,” and the withdrawal of a blanket recommendation to work at home.

Talking at a press convention, Boris Johnson had mentioned: “It’s my sturdy and honest hope that we can assessment the excellent restrictions and permit a extra vital return to normality from November on the earliest, presumably in time for Christmas.”

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned that as authorities knew extra concerning the virus, focused and native responses would permit for a management of the virus: “In the beginning of the pandemic, after we knew far much less concerning the nature and unfold of the virus, we needed to take blanket, nationwide measures. Nationwide lockdown was undoubtedly the precise factor to do and has saved many 1000’s of lives. Now nevertheless, we all know extra concerning the virus — we perceive the epidemiology higher and our intelligence on the place it’s spreading is vastly improved. Meaning we will management it by way of focused, native motion as a substitute.”

By October 14, with instances rising dramatically throughout the nation, Johnson mocked Labour Celebration chief Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions for suggesting a brand new lockdown was wanted, saying: “Let’s attempt to keep away from the distress of one other nationwide lockdown which he would wish to impose, as I mentioned, in a headlong method.”

Two weeks later, on October 31, Johnson introduced a second nationwide lockdown efficient November 5 for a four-week interval.

Could 20, 2020 — ‘World-beating’ check and hint system up and working by June 1

What Johnson mentioned: “We have now rising confidence that we are going to have a check, observe and hint operation that can be world-beating and sure, it will likely be in place by June 1.”

What occurred subsequent: On Could 27, UK Well being Secretary Matt Hancock introduced the launch of a “check and hint” system in England: “Till an efficient remedy or vaccine comes by way of, how can we get again to doing extra of the issues that make life price residing with out risking security or placing lives in danger, NHS check and hint is a giant half — not the one half — however a giant a part of the reply to that query.”

“NHS check and hint means we will begin to exchange the nationwide lockdown with particular person isolation for these involved with the virus,” Hancock mentioned at a each day authorities briefing.

When pressed by Labour chief Keir Starmer on whether or not the system could be up and working by the beginning of June, Mr Johnson mentioned: “We have now rising confidence that we are going to have a check, observe and hint operation that can be world-beating and sure, it will likely be in place by June 1.”

For the check and hint system to be efficient, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) mentioned in Could that a minimum of 80% of contacts have to be reached. Nonetheless, in keeping with Authorities figures, within the week ending 14 October, solely 59.6% of shut contacts have been reached, the bottom because the test-and-trace operation was launched. By October, ready instances for check outcomes have been additionally longer than they have been on the finish of June.

By October 22, the Authorities admitted there was “room for enchancment” on check and hint, with Boris Johnson saying: “I share folks’s frustrations and I perceive completely why we do must see sooner turnaround instances and we have to enhance it.”

March 19, 2020 – We will ‘flip the tide’ in 12 weeks

What Johnson mentioned: “We will flip the tide inside the subsequent 12 weeks and I am completely assured that we will ship coronavirus packing on this nation however provided that we take the steps — all of us take the steps — that now we have outlined.” He additionally added that he could not say whether or not the nation could be on a downward slope by the tip of June: “However what I can say is that that is going to be finite, we are going to flip the tide, and I can see easy methods to do it inside the subsequent 12 weeks.”

What occurred subsequent: 4 days later, on March 23, Boris Johnson informed the nation that individuals “should” keep at house and sure companies should shut as he imposed probably the most stringent restrictions seen in Britain because the finish of World Conflict II. By that point, 335 folks had died from Covid-19 within the UK.

In accordance with knowledge compiled by Johns Hopkins College, by mid-June, 12 weeks after Mr Johnson’s feedback on turning the tide, the UK recorded roughly the identical variety of confirmed instances it did in March, though these had diminished by 20-25% from peaks seen in April.

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