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Sleaze scandal clearly not hurting him enough, Boris Johnson has decided to further embroil himself in a PR nightmare - this time by cutting about a hospital without a mask.
On a visit to Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland on Monday to promote booster jabs, the prime minister decided the best way to do so was to expose people to his maskless hot air.
In photos, Johnson was seen elbow-bumping and greeting nurses who were - unlike him - wearing disposable face coverings.
Like so:
Boris JohnsonPA
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It didn’t look great so in a statement to the press, Johnson’s official spokesman said: “During a hospital visit, we always make sure we abide by the rules set out.
“He will have been abiding by the rules in place.”
Meanwhile, the NHS trust in question said he followed the rules, which the trust says included wearing a mask in each clinical area he visited:
@LissaKEvans Please be assured that infection prevention and control remains an utmost priority for our Trust. The… https://t.co/mFkknJRluZ— NorthumbriaNHS (@NorthumbriaNHS) 1636386334
And Dominic Raab was wheeled out to the press to defend the PM’s actions:
Sally Nugent - Northumbria NHS Trust say face coverings should be worn at all times to protect patients, visitors &… https://t.co/jKVxtWNQX2— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺) 1636444906
Did any of it help? No. People thought the optics weren’t great - particularly as Johnson had skipped a parliament debate on sleaze to hang out on the wards.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it was “irresponsible”.
So not only is Boris Johnson too cowardly to turn up to Parliament to defend the sleazy corrupt government shenanig… https://t.co/86R2Oi87Tq— Jonathan Ashworth (@Jonathan Ashworth) 1636392002
While palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke said:
There are so many people dying of Covid in my trust right now. It makes the sight of @BorisJohnson - casually strol… https://t.co/nAEhgAQ7WB— Rachel Clarke (@Rachel Clarke) 1636401700
Former Tory MP Anna Soubry said:
Everyone has to wear a mask in a hospital. Everyone. Except #BorisJohnson. But he’s above the rules - he’s arrogant… https://t.co/E3oZnbT8NV— Anna Soubry (@Anna Soubry) 1636391895
And writer Robert Hutton joked:
Remember: Tories can't catch or transmit Covid. And that's science FACT. https://t.co/8ctYCPp3OJ— Robert Hutton (@Robert Hutton) 1636389043
Here’s how other people reacted:
Boris Johnson on a visit to Hexham Hospital has encouraged people to get their booster jabs, he said 'it's the sing… https://t.co/NksIRlUhAl— Dan O'Donoghue (@Dan O'Donoghue) 1636377054
Here's the curious case of Boris Johnson maskless in a Northumbria hospital Hospital's guidelines: please wear a… https://t.co/iZ0dldgz8Z— Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (@Nadine Batchelor-Hunt) 1636394171
He's in a hospital. A hospital. Where your relatives may be ill. The Prime Minister. https://t.co/M9x8NruNPf— Stephen McGann💙 (@Stephen McGann💙) 1636388748
Maybe all the Benny Hill stuff did really well in the focus groups… https://t.co/NeP2NmLcGz— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1636393438
Not content with killing enough people Mr Pile The Bodies High decides to wander around a hospital without a mask l… https://t.co/9rkwQw4MOd— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) 1636396781
Today I have mostly been hiding from a Commons debate while breathing all over healthcare workers. https://t.co/LMjIjMxZjK— Parody Boris Johnson (@Parody Boris Johnson) 1636400269
If you’re staying in hospital there should be a form you can sign that means under no circumstances are they allowe… https://t.co/JnVGOcxrxy— Mollie Goodfellow (@Mollie Goodfellow) 1636383030
A hospital! What an excellent place not to wear a mask in close proximity to others. Now to shake the hands of som… https://t.co/d1xQjrSMXp— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@Dr Mike Galsworthy) 1636389249
Oh dear. When someone’s mask slips, it’s rarely a good look, but this is something else.
Indy100 has contacted Downing Street to comment further on this story. They said: “As the hospital trust has made clear, the Prime Minister followed the Covid measures that are in place during his visit, including wearing a mask in all clinical areas.”
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