UK: Boris Johnson aide attended key science meetings on virus

Britain’s government on Saturday defended independence of scientists vising it on coronavirus after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s controversial chief aide h attended meetings of group.

Criticism of Johnson’s Conservative government is mounting as U.K.’s COVID-19 death toll rises and a nationwide lockdown imposed a month ago drags on. confirmed number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths is likely to reach 20,000 this weekend.

After a report in Guardian, government confirmed that Johnson viser Dominic Cummings h attended several meetings of Scientific visory Group for Emergencies, or S, and listened to discussions. But it denied Guardian’s claim that Cummings — who is t a scientist — was a member of group.

Cummings is a contentious figure, a self-styled political disruptor who was appointed to a key role by Johnson after masterminding victorious “leave” campaign during Britain’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership.

government said “S provides independent scientific vice to government. Political visers have role in this.”

S is a usually little-kwn group heed by Chief Scientific viser Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. government has declined to publish its full membership, saying that could leave scientists open to lobbying or or pressure.

David King, a former government chief scientific viser, told Guardian he was “shocked” to learn political visers were involved in S meetings. But or scientists who have vised government said it was usual for political aides to attend, though only as observers.

main opposition Labour Party said Cummings’ attendance raised questions about credibility of government decision-making.

“ best way to clear all of this up is for government to be completely transparent with us and publish minutes of S committee,” said Labour health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth.

government says its response to pandemic has been guided by scientific vice. That vice is under increasing scrutiny by critics who accuse government of being slow to respond to outbreak. Britain imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 23, later than in many or European countries. measures have been extended until at least May 7.

As of Friday, 19,506 people with coronavirus h died in British hospitals. figure does t include

Scientists say U.K. has reached peak of pandemic but is t yet out of danger. number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is declining, and number of daily deaths peaked on April 8.

As fears recede that health system will be overwhelmed, opponents are stepping up ir attacks on Johnson’s Conservative government over shorts of protective equipment for medical workers and a lack of testing for virus.

Meanwhile, health authorities urged Britons t to igre symptoms of conditions or than coronavirus, amid fears that cancer and or illnesses are going untreated.

Public Health England said visits to hospital emergency departments have fallen by almost 50% in April from same month last year. charity Cancer Research UK estimated that 2,250 new cases of disease could be going undetected each week, partly because people are reluctant to go to hospitals for fear of catching virus or overburdening system.

National Health Service encourd people to seek urgent help if needed and to continue to attend services such as cancer screening and maternity appointments.

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said “igring problems can have serious consequences — w or in future.”