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 infinitum with nobody coming within three metres of you.”
— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) July 19, 2021
People thought the idea of being in a meadow, alone and forever, didn’t sound like such a bad idea:
Here you go, Johnno - in this here south London! pic.twitter.com/ZD4gI9vDq1
— Charlie Darling’s Acoustic Companion (@charliedarling9) July 19, 2021
if the meadow has wifi, I’m in https://t.co/8LrvY7ac80
— Hannah Thompson (@HLThompson93) July 19, 2021
Sounds good so far… https://t.co/S38OipXZHN
— J Courtenay Grimwood (@JonCG) July 19, 2021
That does also sound like bliss. https://t.co/Fqp3JMXz7C
— Joxley (@Mr_John_Oxley) July 19, 2021
Does it specifically have to be a meadow or would any outdoor grassy space suffice? Do wildflowers offer additional protection?
— shadwell (@shadwell_NTT) July 19, 2021
Sounds ideal tbh. https://t.co/wUTAvKUKl3
— George (@CountCarbula) July 19, 2021
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:
JVT can be as facetious as he likes but there is no reason in the world not to at least make mask wearing compulsory. Or at least have come to the decision of vaccine passports before nightclubs opened ?
— MimiJ (@MimiJ9) July 19, 2021
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 💙🏴🇪🇺 🎸🚴♀️ (@oldmanbigkid) July 19, 2021
Surely if in March 2020 this government completed a total proper lockdown for three weeks, no transport, no shops, no work, no ships, no ferry xing, emergency services in bubbles only, and specifically not millions of people flying in, that would have broken the cycle.
— Paul (@Paul78342302) July 19, 2021
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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