Chris Whitty reflects on understanding of European transmission

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.

The UK’s vaccine rollout is making steady progress in the fight against coronavirus, but chief medical officer Chris Whitty has clashed with Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the country’s roadmap out of lockdown. This is according to one senior Government minister, who claims Professor Whitty and Mr Johnson have had tense talks over how to ease restrictions. One key area is the debate over social distancing, as the medical expert wants to keep these measures in place for a year while Mr Johnson is against the move.

The insider told Sky News: “He (Johnson) wants to get life back to normal. So he’s prepared to go for the certification and do it for livelihoods.

“If you allow pubs and restaurants to reopen at 40 percent capacity, they’ll go bust anyway, so part of the debate behind closed doors is whether to drop social distancing in return for passports. That’s part of the battle now.”

Professor Whitty warned last month that five-week gaps are needed between each step to loosen lockdown, adding: “All the modelling suggests there is going to be a further surge and that will find the people who either have not been vaccinated or where the vaccine has not worked.

“Some of them will end up in hospital and sadly some of them will go on to die.”

This came as SAGE modelling suggested that even under the most optimistic set of assumptions, at least a further 30,000 COVID-19 deaths could occur.

It is not the first time Professor Whitty has been at odds with his colleagues, though, as he was reportedly less than impressed when Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former advisor, was accused of breaking lockdown rules.

He and his colleague Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser, “refused” to do a press conference with the Prime Minister minutes after Mr Cummings’ statement on the accusations.

This was according to a Downing Street insider who told the Sunday Times: “Whitty and Vallance refused to do the presser [press conference].”

They reportedly made it clear to Mr Johnson they would not back his then aide publicly, despite being lined up to appear alongside the Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson went on to do the press conference alongside Public Health England medical director Yvonne Doyle.

DON’T MISS
Chris Whitty takes veiled swipe at Boris as he attacks Covid response [INSIGHT]
Chris Whitty warns lockdown roadmap could be delayed [ANALYSIS]
BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg crushes hope of early lockdown end [INSIGHT]

Mr Cummings came under fire last year for a 52-mile round trip to the beauty spot of Barnard Castle on April 12 from his family’s Durham farm.

He said he made the journey with his wife and son to test his eyesight ahead of his drive back to London the following day.

Mr Cummings did not resign, but eventually left Downing Street in November amid claims of a confrontation with a “livid” Mr Johnson.

The Sun reported there was a “shouty” confrontation between Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings over the ousting of Lee Cain, a Vote Leave ally of Mr Cummings.

Source: Read Full Article