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As U.K. Deaths Mount, Political Terrain Gets Trickier for Boris Johnson As U.K. Deaths Mount, Political Terrain Gets Trickier for Boris Johnson
(30 days later)
LONDON — For Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, the political risks of running up the worst death toll in Europe from the coronavirus became starkly clear on Wednesday in a near-empty House of Commons, where he faced off for the first time against the new leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer.LONDON — For Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, the political risks of running up the worst death toll in Europe from the coronavirus became starkly clear on Wednesday in a near-empty House of Commons, where he faced off for the first time against the new leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer.
Citing new statistics that suggest Britain, with more than 30,000 deaths, may have overtaken even hard-hit Italy, Mr. Starmer asked Mr. Johnson how he could claim “apparent success” in the response to the outbreak, as he did last week after he returned from his own serious bout with the virus.Citing new statistics that suggest Britain, with more than 30,000 deaths, may have overtaken even hard-hit Italy, Mr. Starmer asked Mr. Johnson how he could claim “apparent success” in the response to the outbreak, as he did last week after he returned from his own serious bout with the virus.
“That is not success — or apparent success,” Mr. Starmer said, his words hanging in the silence of a normally boisterous chamber. “Can the prime minister tell us, how on earth did it come to this?”“That is not success — or apparent success,” Mr. Starmer said, his words hanging in the silence of a normally boisterous chamber. “Can the prime minister tell us, how on earth did it come to this?”
Mr. Johnson replied that direct country-to-country comparisons were difficult and that the true human cost of the pandemic would only be clear after it was over. While statisticians generally agree with that assessment, Mr. Johnson implicitly acknowledged its weakness as a political argument.Mr. Johnson replied that direct country-to-country comparisons were difficult and that the true human cost of the pandemic would only be clear after it was over. While statisticians generally agree with that assessment, Mr. Johnson implicitly acknowledged its weakness as a political argument.
“He’s right to draw attention to the appalling statistics, not just in this country but of course around the world,” Mr. Johnson said.“He’s right to draw attention to the appalling statistics, not just in this country but of course around the world,” Mr. Johnson said.
He tried to deflect attention from the death statistics by throwing out another number: 200,000 virus tests a day by the end of May. That is double the target the government set for April, which it reached on the last day of the month but has since fallen to below 70,000 — a failure that Mr. Starmer also pointed out.He tried to deflect attention from the death statistics by throwing out another number: 200,000 virus tests a day by the end of May. That is double the target the government set for April, which it reached on the last day of the month but has since fallen to below 70,000 — a failure that Mr. Starmer also pointed out.
For Mr. Starmer, a human-rights lawyer who was elected leader of the Labour Party last month, it was a sure-footed debut against Mr. Johnson in Prime Minister’s Questions, a weekly ritual that usually unfolds in a rowdy din, as backbenchers whoop for their leader and rain catcalls on the other side.For Mr. Starmer, a human-rights lawyer who was elected leader of the Labour Party last month, it was a sure-footed debut against Mr. Johnson in Prime Minister’s Questions, a weekly ritual that usually unfolds in a rowdy din, as backbenchers whoop for their leader and rain catcalls on the other side.
The pandemic has forced Parliament to allow lawmakers to attend remotely for the first time in its history, leaving Mr. Johnson and Mr. Starmer to face each other as if in a legal deposition rather than a freewheeling political arena.The pandemic has forced Parliament to allow lawmakers to attend remotely for the first time in its history, leaving Mr. Johnson and Mr. Starmer to face each other as if in a legal deposition rather than a freewheeling political arena.
The quiet setting worked to the opposition leader’s advantage: With a subdued, forensic style, he pressed Mr. Johnson on lethal conditions in nursing homes; shortages of masks and gloves for health workers; and Britain’s decision to abandon testing and contact tracing in the early days of the contagion.The quiet setting worked to the opposition leader’s advantage: With a subdued, forensic style, he pressed Mr. Johnson on lethal conditions in nursing homes; shortages of masks and gloves for health workers; and Britain’s decision to abandon testing and contact tracing in the early days of the contagion.
Mr. Johnson was on the defensive partly because his government had presented comparative death statistics at daily briefings since the start of the pandemic. For weeks, as Italy and Spain struggled to contain their outbreaks, the numbers reflected well on Britain. But as the daily number of deaths in those countries has slowed, Britain has quickly caught up.Mr. Johnson was on the defensive partly because his government had presented comparative death statistics at daily briefings since the start of the pandemic. For weeks, as Italy and Spain struggled to contain their outbreaks, the numbers reflected well on Britain. But as the daily number of deaths in those countries has slowed, Britain has quickly caught up.
Measured by the number of officially reported deaths, Britain surpassed Italy on Tuesday by slightly more than 100 people. On Wednesday, with 649 new deaths, Britain reported a total of 30,076 to Italy’s 29,684.Measured by the number of officially reported deaths, Britain surpassed Italy on Tuesday by slightly more than 100 people. On Wednesday, with 649 new deaths, Britain reported a total of 30,076 to Italy’s 29,684.
A true comparison is harder to make because of differences in how the countries collect data — Britain recently began including nursing home deaths in its numbers; Italy does not — as well as lag times in reporting deaths outside hospitals. Analysts estimate that the actual numbers in both countries are much higher.A true comparison is harder to make because of differences in how the countries collect data — Britain recently began including nursing home deaths in its numbers; Italy does not — as well as lag times in reporting deaths outside hospitals. Analysts estimate that the actual numbers in both countries are much higher.
British officials point out that on a per-capita basis, the country still lags behind Belgium, Spain and Italy. But the trajectory is clear: Britain could end up second only to the United States in total fatalities.British officials point out that on a per-capita basis, the country still lags behind Belgium, Spain and Italy. But the trajectory is clear: Britain could end up second only to the United States in total fatalities.
So far, the public has been quite supportive of the government. But political analysts said the death toll poses a long-term threat to Mr. Johnson because it is an obvious symbol of what critics call his government’s mishandling of the crisis.So far, the public has been quite supportive of the government. But political analysts said the death toll poses a long-term threat to Mr. Johnson because it is an obvious symbol of what critics call his government’s mishandling of the crisis.
“There is a fairly settled view that we were slow off the mark, and I think that is linked to the fact that our outcomes seem to be worse than those of some others in Europe,” said Stephen Dorrell, a former health secretary who until last year chaired the NHS Confederation, an umbrella group of organizations tied to the National Health Service.“There is a fairly settled view that we were slow off the mark, and I think that is linked to the fact that our outcomes seem to be worse than those of some others in Europe,” said Stephen Dorrell, a former health secretary who until last year chaired the NHS Confederation, an umbrella group of organizations tied to the National Health Service.
If anything, the prime minister was spared even harsher scrutiny of the death toll this week by a messy personal incident involving one of the government’s most prominent scientific advisers. The adviser — Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London — resigned after having admitted he violated a lockdown that he had recommended by illicitly meeting his lover at his home.If anything, the prime minister was spared even harsher scrutiny of the death toll this week by a messy personal incident involving one of the government’s most prominent scientific advisers. The adviser — Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London — resigned after having admitted he violated a lockdown that he had recommended by illicitly meeting his lover at his home.
The disclosure of Dr. Ferguson’s indiscretion by the Daily Telegraph set off a storm of critical coverage in the right-wing news media, which has vehemently opposed the lockdown. He was nicknamed “Naughty Neil” and criticized as a hypocrite for having failed to abide by the standards he sought to impose on others.The disclosure of Dr. Ferguson’s indiscretion by the Daily Telegraph set off a storm of critical coverage in the right-wing news media, which has vehemently opposed the lockdown. He was nicknamed “Naughty Neil” and criticized as a hypocrite for having failed to abide by the standards he sought to impose on others.
Critics said they were alarmed by the exposure of Dr. Ferguson, which some said bodes ill for other scientists who have delivered difficult advice to the government on the virus and could be penalized for it.Critics said they were alarmed by the exposure of Dr. Ferguson, which some said bodes ill for other scientists who have delivered difficult advice to the government on the virus and could be penalized for it.
“That was a deliberate act to follow him around and see if you can get any dirt on him,” said David King, a former chief scientific adviser to the government now at Cambridge University. “It’s a way of pulling down the people who have been in favor, through scientific advice, of taking us into lockdown.”“That was a deliberate act to follow him around and see if you can get any dirt on him,” said David King, a former chief scientific adviser to the government now at Cambridge University. “It’s a way of pulling down the people who have been in favor, through scientific advice, of taking us into lockdown.”
Updated June 5, 2020
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Dr. Ferguson’s resignation follows that of Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, after she made two visits to her second home in defiance of social distancing rules.Dr. Ferguson’s resignation follows that of Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, after she made two visits to her second home in defiance of social distancing rules.
Last month, the Johnson government’s housing, communities and local government secretary, Robert Jenrick, drew criticism for having traveled from London to a property he owns in rural Herefordshire during the lockdown.Last month, the Johnson government’s housing, communities and local government secretary, Robert Jenrick, drew criticism for having traveled from London to a property he owns in rural Herefordshire during the lockdown.
Journalists have also asked whether Mr. Johnson should have left London to recover at his official country residence, Chequers, and whether his partner, Carrie Symonds, should have joined him there.Journalists have also asked whether Mr. Johnson should have left London to recover at his official country residence, Chequers, and whether his partner, Carrie Symonds, should have joined him there.
With the volume of political criticism growing, Mr. Johnson has sought to change the subject yet again, hinting that there will be some easing of the social distancing measures, starting on Monday.With the volume of political criticism growing, Mr. Johnson has sought to change the subject yet again, hinting that there will be some easing of the social distancing measures, starting on Monday.