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Boris Johnson continued to shake hands at public events after his own scientific advisers warned that doing so would risk spreading the coronavirus.
Papers released on Tuesday by the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies reveal that the UK Prime Minister's advisers agreed that the government "should advise against greetings such as shaking hands."
At a meeting on March 3 the papers reveal that "there was agreement that Government should advise against greetings such as shaking hands and hugging, given existing evidence about the importance of hand hygiene."
However, Johnson continued to shake hands at multiple public events and media appearances, in the days that followed.
On the day of the meeting Johnson told a press conference in Downing Street that "I'm shaking hands continuously. I was at a hospital the other night where there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody."
Two days after the advice on hand-shaking, Johnson appeared on ITV's This Morning Programme during which he shook host Philip Schofield's hand, despite the presenter's apparent reluctance.
"You came straight in here and I kept my hands by my side to see what would happen and you shook my hand," Schofield told him.
Johnson replied that "I've been going around hospitals as you can imagine and always shake hands.
He added: "People make their own decisions. Washing them is the most effective thing [to do] rather than barring all forms [of greeting]."
He was subsequently photographed shaking hands in the crowd of the England vs Wales Six Nations rugby union international at Twickenham Stadium on March 7 alongside his fiancée Carrie Symonds.
The prime minister was then photographed doing the same with the boxer Anthony Joshua at an event on March 9.
Both Johnson and Symonds subsequently went on to fall ill with COVID-19, with Johnson requiring treatment in intensive care.
A spokesman for the prime minister was unable on Tuesday to say whether Johnson had seen the advice not to shake hands.
"In general, on relation to the SAGE papers, they were being considered by SAGE and informed the advice provided to ministers," he said, adding "In terms of the PM I'm not able to say if he would ever have seen that document."
The spokesman added: "The PM was very clear at the time that he was taking a number of precautionary steps, including frequently washing his hands, and once the social distancing advice changed the Prime Minister's approach changed."
Johnson and his ministers have repeatedly insisted that they have been "led by the science" in their approach to tackling the coronavirus.
However, the UK's Chief Scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance contradicted this on Tuesday, telling a parliamentary committee that "The correct way of saying it is that the decisions are informed by science, they are not led by science."
The newly released documents, come as the latest figures show the UK now has the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe.
The UK has overtaken Italy and is now second only to the United States in terms of the number of deaths of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-shook-hands-despite-advice-would-spread-coronavirus-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
Looks like the under cover Guardian journalists have managed to infiltrate Business Insider
Papers released on Tuesday by the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies reveal that the UK Prime Minister's advisers agreed that the government "should advise against greetings such as shaking hands."
At a meeting on March 3 the papers reveal that "there was agreement that Government should advise against greetings such as shaking hands and hugging, given existing evidence about the importance of hand hygiene."
However, Johnson continued to shake hands at multiple public events and media appearances, in the days that followed.
On the day of the meeting Johnson told a press conference in Downing Street that "I'm shaking hands continuously. I was at a hospital the other night where there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody."
Two days after the advice on hand-shaking, Johnson appeared on ITV's This Morning Programme during which he shook host Philip Schofield's hand, despite the presenter's apparent reluctance.
"You came straight in here and I kept my hands by my side to see what would happen and you shook my hand," Schofield told him.
Johnson replied that "I've been going around hospitals as you can imagine and always shake hands.
He added: "People make their own decisions. Washing them is the most effective thing [to do] rather than barring all forms [of greeting]."
He was subsequently photographed shaking hands in the crowd of the England vs Wales Six Nations rugby union international at Twickenham Stadium on March 7 alongside his fiancée Carrie Symonds.
The prime minister was then photographed doing the same with the boxer Anthony Joshua at an event on March 9.
Both Johnson and Symonds subsequently went on to fall ill with COVID-19, with Johnson requiring treatment in intensive care.
A spokesman for the prime minister was unable on Tuesday to say whether Johnson had seen the advice not to shake hands.
"In general, on relation to the SAGE papers, they were being considered by SAGE and informed the advice provided to ministers," he said, adding "In terms of the PM I'm not able to say if he would ever have seen that document."
The spokesman added: "The PM was very clear at the time that he was taking a number of precautionary steps, including frequently washing his hands, and once the social distancing advice changed the Prime Minister's approach changed."
Johnson and his ministers have repeatedly insisted that they have been "led by the science" in their approach to tackling the coronavirus.
However, the UK's Chief Scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance contradicted this on Tuesday, telling a parliamentary committee that "The correct way of saying it is that the decisions are informed by science, they are not led by science."
The newly released documents, come as the latest figures show the UK now has the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe.
The UK has overtaken Italy and is now second only to the United States in terms of the number of deaths of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-shook-hands-despite-advice-would-spread-coronavirus-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
Looks like the under cover Guardian journalists have managed to infiltrate Business Insider
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Replies: 23
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Utter bellendary from the PM, i hope he has learned his lesson.
Interesting to hear Valance gently nudging his responsibility into the outfield, i still think the stand-out piece of stupidity in all this was him and Whitty in a small stuffy room packed with journalists and a host with a coughing fit, telling everyone that social distancing ‘wont work if we dont all do it’. What is wrong with these people. |
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Whilst we shall never know he must have infected a fair few of the population on his own ... well done for possibly being chief Covid19 carrier in the UK and very likely having blood on his hands
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We've seen a few recent examples of the scientists realising that they need to start building their defences.
They made very public comments regarding naming SAGE members and releasing SAGE papers. And now Valance reminds the public of an oft quoted, but currently forgotten, government mantra that "advisers advise, ministers decide". |
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I wouldnt go as far as blood on his hands but i forgot Johnson also had a 2nd stand-out stupid moment.
Before the daily briefings went virtual, Boris held one such briefing with a packed crowd of journalists and warned ‘most of the country are following the rules but weve seen that some parts of London are not’ Yes Boris, your ****g briefings arent |
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Pleasegivemeanaildontip,I mightn't be correct but i think that meeting with Whitty is where he could well havre caught it,the height of stupidity and worse saying one thing and doing another like that meeting, they were jammed packed.
I bumped the thread up there. |
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Nothing new in the article.
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She certainly had questionable symptoms and was near enough to Whitty for long enough. He might argue hes always around high risk people but ffs even more reason not to set up that room.
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There was something new but no on that article Insider Trader, Patrick Vallance also said masks are beneficial in helping to stop the spread, hasn't the official goverment advice been masks are of negligible use up to now?
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They haven't got enough masks
Only had 2 months Ssssssh |
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That might have been because they didnt want the nhs to run out if everyone wanted them.
Dont usually criticise our government much but while im on one - i wish they would have just been honest about that too. As soon as we heard the term ‘behavioural fatigue’ it was apparent that we werent going to be treated like grown ups in all this, which ironically has led to more second-guessing of their motives and more misinformation. I hope they learn that fking lesson too |
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Make more masks
Cant be that difficult 500,000 volunteers Numerous clothing factories on furlough Come on its bad government We know fine well these masks will be part of our lives in short term at least |
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Churchill stepped up production of what was required
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Not good enough,surely misinformation,that could have cost some peoples lives if they were wearing masks from last March.
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for all those who think doris gives 2 foooks about them,after shaking hands nhe goes home to his heavily pregnant lady,nowt but a selfish koont ,but the whole world no,s that anyway
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My mother in law has been banging out masks for her friends and family
She lives on an old folks estate has some material and a sewing machinr Plenty patterns kicking around |
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boffins running for cover but on the way out of the room; funding?
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I slipped her a few quid bap
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See if you can mention masks again, go on, you know you want to
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I do so much Saddo, without that blonde bollux trying to keep them all for the NHS and feck the rest of the population.
I'm grand now,i got it off my chest. |
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Where is he?
He's hardly leading from the front, I can't see him lasting the 5 years either He might be gone by years end |
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Johnson, Hancock, Valance, Whitty and now Ferguson.
Cant any of these fckwits follow their own advice |
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They know its bs
You can't follow something you know doesn't exist, its in the mind Most of them are now wanting out and will be replaced with other liars to keep the lie going for as long as they can get away with it Its truly insane what is going off right now |