Corbyn says response to coronavirus crisis ‘well behind the curve’
The government is “well behind the curve” in its handling of the coronavirus crisis, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
The Labour leader said it should be “at the very least giving a daily briefing” about what is going on.
Mr Corbyn said: “There has to be much clearer guidance but also much better support.”
He added: “When football authorities and others take responsible decisions to cancel matches because they were worried about the crowd, they did that themselves – it was not the government.”
He said the government should have done more and acted quicker in response to the virus.
The Labour leader said: “There are many problems which are growing all the time. Our NHS has very few spare beds at the best of times.
“Those beds are rapidly going to be taken up. There is a shortage of ventilators. There is a shortage of staff.
“I think we do have to requisition the private health sector in order that their staff and theirequipmentismadeavailable for everybody.”
Both staff and residents in the care sector may be vulnerable and could spread the virus, he noted.
Mr Corbyn added: “It seems to me that at every stage, the government just isn’t on it and isn’t fast enough.”
Mr Corbyn also condemned panic buying of goods as “a very bad thing and a very unnecessary thing”.
He said: “It will lead to shortages. It will actually be counterproductive and it will mean that those that can afford it will be able to buy in large stocks of things and those that can’t won’t.”
Some supermarkets have acted “sensibly” to restrict the amount of goods that people can buy, Mr Corbyn said.
He added: “There is absolutely no indication that there is going to be shortages. There is no indication there is going to be supply problems yet, but clearly this crisis could go on a long time.
“We are only going to solve it as a community and if people look after each other.”
This means the government has to provide “a clear lead” and local authorities have to respond by “supporting people”, Mr Corbyn said.
When Mr Corbyn, who is 70, was asked if he would selfisolate, as it is thought that vulnerable pensioners may be asked to do, he said: “I am doing what everybody is being asked to do, which is washing my hands frequently and also makingsurethatthemeetings I attend have people who are separated by some distance.”