Communicate with the public

Daily briefings needed on virus

HEALTH SECRETARY Matt Hancock was not over-exaggerating when he compared the test the nation faces over the coronavirus pandemic to the Second World War.

Those alive in the 1940s dealt with rationing, bombs and the tragic loss of life of loved ones. The country and the world at large is now dealing with an invisible and deadly enemy which is spreading through the population at a terrifying pace and has no current cure.

It is the wartime generation, those now in their 80s and 90s, who are at greatest risk from this new threat which we still do not fully understand.

It seems clear that extremely painful days lie ahead; with the measures deemed necessary to reduce the spread of the virus – including the prospect of people over 70 being asked to self-isolate for up to four months away from friends, families and neighbours.

Yet the nature of the way news of this potentially sweeping change to ordinary life was made public, through a briefing by an anonymous Government source to political journalist Robert Peston on Saturday before subsequently being confirmed by Mr Hancock the following morning, was inexcusable.

At a time of such an unprecedented crisis, the Government needs to be explaining such life-anddeath decisions directly to the public – not operating as though this is an ordinary political story to be passed through its normal channels.

As such, it is right that it has now been announced that for the foreseeable future there will be a daily press briefing broadcast live on television and radio channels from Boris Johnson or one of his senior ministers.

Now more than ever we need to be able to understand the rationale behind the decisions our Government is making, particularly when the UK’s response to date differs so greatly from the rest of the world.