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Kate Plummer
Jul 20, 2021
AFP/Getty
Jonathan Van-Tam has just got sassy and some people love it.
Speaking during yet another coronavirus press conference yesterday, England’s deputy chief medical officer made a facetious comment about standing alone in a meadow forever to show that it is not feasible to completely avoid the risk of contracting coronavirus as the country reduces Covid restrictions once more.
He said:
Jonathan Van-Tam: “Nothing reduces the risks to zero other than standing in a meadow completely on your own ad infi… https://t.co/SFAqKKWS37— Dan Bloom (@Dan Bloom) 1626713117
People thought the idea of being in a meadow, alone and forever, didn’t sound like such a bad idea:
@Snippetcuts @danbloom1 Here you go, Johnno - in this here south London! https://t.co/ZD4gI9vDq1— Charlie Darling (@Charlie Darling) 1626723339
if the meadow has wifi, I’m in https://t.co/8LrvY7ac80— Hannah (@Hannah) 1626717630
Sounds good so far… https://t.co/S38OipXZHN— J Courtenay Grimwood (@J Courtenay Grimwood) 1626716721
@danbloom1 Does it specifically have to be a meadow or would any outdoor grassy space suffice? Do wildflowers offer additional protection?— shadwell (@shadwell) 1626715682
Sounds ideal tbh. https://t.co/wUTAvKUKl3— George (@George) 1626716362
It comes as England marked so-called Freedom Day - the government’s latest relaxation of lockdown in which it is now legal to meet in unlimited groups inside. Nightclubs have reopened, jostling at the bar to get a drink instead of enjoying table service is back and masks will now be compulsory in fewer venues.
Some people thought Van-Tam’s rhetoric was wrong and that he was excusing the government too much. Some added that the public are not demanding that Covid is wiped out completely but still believe some measures , such as face masks, should be used to reduced the spread of the virus:
@danbloom1 JVT can be as facetious as he likes but there is no reason in the world not to at least make mask wearin… https://t.co/opPx5NsgfV— MimiJ (@MimiJ) 1626713708
@danbloom1 No one is expecting to reduce the risk to zero. We'd just rather they weren't complicit in increasing the bloody risk.— The Newport Hilton 💙🏴🇪🇺 🎸🚴♀️ (@The Newport Hilton 💙🏴🇪🇺 🎸🚴♀️) 1626713662
@danbloom1 Surely if in March 2020 this government completed a total proper lockdown for three weeks, no transport,… https://t.co/mKcrgFO69D— Paul (@Paul) 1626716729
Whatever you think, 18 months of continual press conferences with Boris Johnson is probably enough to test the patience of anyone. At least JVT made this one slightly more entertaining.
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