Top scientist quits after flouting lockdown to see his married lover
A SCIENTIST who advised the Government on Britain’s coronavirus strategy has resigned, after he broke social distancing rules to meet his married lover.
Professor Neil Ferguson was visited by Antonia Staats on at least two occasions during the lockdown, despite lecturing the public to follow strict social distancing advice.
The epidemiologist at Imperial College London heads a team which created the computermodelled research that spurred Britain’s policy.
But last night he stepped back from SAGE, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
Ms Staats, 38, and her husband live together with their two children in a £1.9million south London home, but are believed to be in an open marriage.
The first of her visits, on March 30, took place on the day Ferguson warned that the lockdown could remain in place until June.
She made a second visit on April 8 despite reportedly telling friends she suspected her husband, an academic in his 30s, had symptoms of Covid-19. Professor Ferguson, 51, later tested positive for the virus and self-isolated for two weeks.
He said: “I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in SAGE.
Immune
“I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus and isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms.
“I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic.”
Ms Staats reportedly told friends about her relationship with Ferguson but did not believe their actions to be hypocritical because she considered their households to be one.
The news will infuriate many couples who have lived apart for seven weeks.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “Scientists like him have told us we should not be doing it, so surely in his case it is a case of we have been doing as he says and he has been doing as he wants to. He has breached his own guidelines and for an intelligent man I find that very hard to believe.
“It risks undermining the Government’s lockdown message.”