Boris Johnson was criticized today by a World Health Organization Covid Advisor for his inability to wear a face-mask inside a hospital.
After being pictured walking in a Northumberland hospital corridor wearing only a mask, the PM caused a stir on social media.
Jonathan Ashworth (Labour Shadow Health Secretary) slammed Johnson’s ‘irresponsibility’, and claimed that staff at the NHS ‘deserved better.
The WHO special Envoy for Covid, Dr David Nabarro has now criticised the Premier.
He advised all leaders not to wear masks inside public spaces, and suggested that masks have become politicized in the UK.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust insists that Johnson was wearing a mask while he was in wards.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, masks are required in all clinical areas, including waiting rooms, appointment rooms and wards.
When Dr Nabarro was asked about the controversy today, he said to Sky News: “I am not on the fence regarding this one.”
“Where there are large numbers of viruses being transmitted, everyone should take every precaution to prevent getting it or accidentally passing it along.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Northumbria Healthcare was photographed walking alongside Julie Mobberley during Monday’s visit to Hexham General Hospital.
When meeting with the medical staff, he wasn’t wearing any face-coverings
We know that wearing a mask on the face reduces risk.
“We must do everything and should not depend on one single intervention, like vaccines alone.
Dr David Nabarro, WHO special envoy for Covid, said: ‘Perhaps that’s the toughest thing about Covid is that the responses get politicised — in some places if you wear a mask, you’re taught to belong to a particular political party’
“So, please would all leaders wear face masks?” Particularly indoors.
“And would everyone please face-mask if possible when they are up close to other people, especially those in non-ventilated areas.
“This virus is not forgiving. We must do our best to keep it out of our lives and prevent them from getting to us.”
He also told the broadcaster: ‘Perhaps that’s the toughest thing about Covid is that the responses get politicised — in some places if you wear a mask, you’re taught to belong to a particular political party.
“That is the worst thing about our current situation. We all have to be able do the right things, no matter what political views we may adopt.”
Following Freedom Day, which saw almost all Covid restrictions lifted in England and nearly everyone no longer wearing face masks, people weren’t required to do so.
Health chiefs advised that everyone visiting and accessing health care facilities should continue to cover their face with a veil. They also recommended following social distancing rules.
UKHSA replaced Public Health England and issued revised guidance last month. They reduced social distancing requirements but kept face mask rules in clinical settings.
This comes just days after Sajid Javid announced yesterday that all NHS frontline staff would have to be administered Covid jabs starting in April.
Today, the Health Secretary supported this move. Even though official estimates indicate otherwise Only 20,000 out of 120,000 NHS workers would be convinced to receive the Covid vaccine, and 70,000 would leave the sector.
According to the Health Unions, the policy is likely to cause greater harm than good. The current 100,000 NHS vacancies mean that there are more staffing shortages.
Radio 4’s Health Secretary said that it was the duty of NHS staff to administer the vaccine to patients.
‘This is all about patient safety, we know vaccines work, we know that they reduce the risk of you being infected, so it reduces the spread of an infection,’ he said.
No10 has also been urged to delay the same policy for carers — which comes into affect tomorrow — amid warnings the plan could backfire and kill elderly residents.
All care home workers must now have two Covid vaccinations in order to continue working. Up to 60,000.
Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, warned mandating jabs could kill vulnerable residents because homes would be left with ‘unsafe’ staffing levels.
Unions already have claimed many homes and may force them to close tomorrow due to staff shortages. The sector had already lost 100,000 workers prior to the pandemic.
Sajid javid denied that the deadline tomorrow would lead to elderly people dying. According to the Health Secretary, the policy is’manageable’.