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The dreaded 'sorpasso' of the coronavirus has already occurred. The United Kingdom has been ahead of Italy (29,315 deaths) and is the first European country for the official number of deaths caused by the epidemic ( 29,427 ). The hesitation of 'premier' Boris Johnson (who contracted the virus), the delay of several weeks to impose confinement and the delay in testing the population are three of the factors that have contributed to the tragic rise of the islands British to the European podium of the Covid-19.

Hours before the figure became official, the National Statistics Office even reported that coronavirus is listed as a cause of death in 32,313 death certificates, including deaths in residences and homes. According to estimates by the Financial Times , based on a comparison with last year's deaths, the victims of the coronavirus could exceed even 40,000 in the whole country.

Johnson was again absent from the press and handed the witness over to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab . "It is too early to say that the UK has the worst coronavirus record in Europe," said Raab. "I think we won't be able to have a final verdict until this is over. Each country does the counting in a different way, and some do it better than others." The United Kingdom overtook Spain last week and overtook Italy, until now the most affected European country (29,315 deaths).

However, in the proportion of deaths per million inhabitants, the United Kingdom (400) lags behind Italy (463), Spain (525) and Belgium (665). With 66 million inhabitants, the United Kingdom is the third most populous country in Europe, after Germany and France (and without taking Russia into account).

Management criticism

The symbolic 'sorpasso' has, however, served to reactivate the criticisms, until now quite contained, about the errors of Boris Johnson, permanently distracted by his personal life and by the consummation of Brexit. "There were many red flags that were ignored," says Richard Horton , editor of the medical journal 'The Lancet,' one of the first to lash out at the government's lack of foresight and preparedness.

An editorial published by 'The Lancet' on January 20 warned of the need to activate "human resources, medical protection teams and pharmaceutical supply chains as soon as possible to face the consequences of a global epidemic of this magnitude" .

"The government did not follow the advice of the World Health Organization to test the population, to track infections and to force quarantine," Horton said. "The basic principles of public health and infectious disease control were ignored for reasons that remain opaque , and that created chaos and panic for the National Health Service (NHS)."

Johnson insists that he took "the necessary steps at the right time." A detailed examination of all the actions of his Government before and during the epidemic, however, raise serious doubts.

Crisis timeline

The first meeting of the Group for New Respiratory Emergencies and Virus Threats (Nervtag) occurred on January 13. Scientific advisers to the SAGE group (with epidemiologist Neil Ferguson among them) also met twice that month. Johnson's top priority in January was "to finish Brexit." On January 30, the WHO launches the international emergency. A day later, the 'premier' celebrates leaving the EU and promises to "unlock the potential of this brilliant country."

Throughout the month of February, Johnson is absent from five Coronavirus emergency cabinet meetings. At the beginning of the month, he warns of the risk that "the panic created by new diseases may cause unnecessary economic damage." Between 12 and 24 February, oblivious to the floods in the north of England, the Prime Minister disappeared from public life and confined himself with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds in the Foreign Office mansion in Chevening. Then-Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn calls him "part-time prime minister." Upon his return, he announces the future birth of his son and the most affectionate with his partner.

In early March, Johnson finally decides to pay attention to the epidemic. He participated on March 2 in his first Cobra cabinet dedicated to the subject and gave the first press conference, in which he acknowledged having been in a hospital with coronavirus patients and "having shaken hands with everyone." That same day, he recommends that Britons wash their hands with soap "while singing Happy Birthday twice."

"Many more families will lose their loved ones," warns the 'premier' on March 12, at the time of announcing the end of the "containment" phase of the virus and the start of the "delay" phase. In the face of mounting confusion from the British, scientific adviser Patrick Vallace admits a day later that the plan is to develop "group immunity." The Government delays the ban on public entertainment and consents to the holding of the Chentelham horse carts, which pass more than 200 Britons in four days . Johnson himself celebrated the days before England's victory over Wales in the Six Nations tournament at Twickenham Stadium and in the company of Carrie.

Thousands of Britons in the parks

A devastating Imperial College report warns on March 16 that the virus can cause more than 250,000 deaths if transmission is not "suppressed." The Government recoils and implements the first measures of "social distance" . Even so, it still delays the closing of schools and pubs by a week. Confinement finally arrives on March 23. The UK is not only one of the last countries in Europe to enact the 'bolt lock'; It is also one of the most permissive. Thousands of Britons rush to parks and beaches the first weekend.

Boris Johnson announces on March 26 that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. For ten days he remains confined in an apartment at 11 Downing Street, still holding the reins of the Government and with little medical assistance. His own ministers raise the alarm on his condition on April 5, during a teleconference. The 'premier' is admitted to St Thomas Hospital and spends three days in the ICU with oxygen assistance.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tries to fill the void, but a war breaks out within the government for and against extending confinement, as concerns about Johnson's state spread ( to the point of putting in place a plan to contingency in case of death ). The 'premier' finally leaves the hospital on April 12 and spends two weeks of convalescence at the Checkers' mansion. The epidemic is at its peak and criticism is mounting for the tragedy hitherto hidden in the residences, for the fiasco of the tests (the promise of 100,000 newspapers is not consumed until May) and for the lack of medical protection equipment.

"I am sorry I have been out of my office longer than I would have liked," Johson says when he returns to action on April 27. Ask the British for patience and anticipate that in a few days he will detail the exit plan. His busy personal life interferes again and two days later he gave Parliament a seat for the birth of his sixth son, Wilfred. On Thursday, he finally appears before the press, assures that the peak has been left behind and offers questionable proof of the success of his strategy: "Public health has not been overwhelmed."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • United Kingdom
  • Boris Johnson
  • Europe
  • Jeremy Corbyn
  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19

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