Starmer is accused of being misleading by Johnson

BORIS JOHNSON has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “selectively and misleadingly” quoting from official guidance which said in March that it was “very unlikely” care home residents would become infected with Covid-19.

The Prime Minister and Labour leader clashed over the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons yesterday.

Sir Keir told MPs the Government had been “too slow to protect people in care homes” and referred to official advice in place until March 12, which said it was “very unlikely” that those receiving care in a care home or the community would become infected.

Mr Johnson dismissed the guidance and the Labour leader then sent a letter to the PM asking him to “correct the record” in the Commons.

In his reply, Mr Johnson wrote Sir Keir quoted the guidance “selectively and misleadingly”. The PM added: “I stand by my comments.”

Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, told the daily Downing Street press conference that “we did not recognise there was any sustained community transmission” before March 13.

However, by March 12 there had been 31 coronavirus-related deaths in England, including one in a care home.

On the same day, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, said the number of people infected could be between 5,000 and 10,000.

Public Health England was urging unwell people to stay away from visiting care homes.

On March 5, England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty told MPs it was “highly likely” there is “community transmission” of coronavirus in the UK.

And on March 10, Dr Harries said the start of the UK peak of the coronavirus epidemic was expected within the next fortnight.