Boris Johnson 'Shook Hands With Everybody' At Hospital; Now Tests Positive
Credit: screenshot
March 27, 2020

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus, he announced Friday, just weeks after cavalierly declaring that he was still "shaking hands with everybody" and downplaying warnings about the deadly virus coming from public health officials and scientists.

"I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus," said Johnson.

Johnson, 55, is the first major world leader and the second high-ranking British official after Prince Charles to test positive for the disease. The Daily Beast reported Friday that it was not yet known if Johnson had been in contact with the prince or Queen Elizabeth.

Just weeks ago, Johnson told reporters at a press briefing that he was continuing to shake hands with everyone he meets, including during a recent visit to a hospital where some patients were known to have the virus.

Watch:

Critics of Johnson noted the prime minister's previous dismissal of the need for social distancing.

"Boris Johnson has it," tweeted Intercept journalist Mehdi Hasan. "A few weeks ago he was boasting about shaking the hands of coronavirus victims in a U.K. hospital."

According to Bloomberg, Johnson's announcement Friday of his infection added to economic instability in European markets and continuing mistrust of U.K. efforts to handle the disease:

The disclosure adds to the uncertainty over the British government's response to the coronavirus, which had already been criticized for being too slow. The pound erased its gains against the dollar after Johnson's announcement, while European stocks extended their losses.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Friday also announced he had contracted the disease, adding to confusion and instability around the government's response.

The prime minister's infection proves that the disease does not discriminate, said outgoing Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn in a tweet wishing Johnson well.

"Coronavirus can and does affect anyone," Corbyn said. "Everyone be safe. Our own health depends on everybody else."

Crossposted from Common Dreams (Eoin Higgins, staff writer) under a Creative Commons License.

Can you help us out?

For nearly 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon