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| UK coronavirus: Johnson hails 'breakthrough' of cheap steroid that helps prevent Covid-19 deaths — as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM leads daily briefing; former PMs condemn merger of FCO and DfID; Johnson makes U-turn on free school meals after Rashford campaign | PM leads daily briefing; former PMs condemn merger of FCO and DfID; Johnson makes U-turn on free school meals after Rashford campaign |
| Here are the main points from Boris Johnson’s press conference. | Here are the main points from Boris Johnson’s press conference. |
| Johnson welcomed what he described as “the biggest breakthrough yet” in the search to find an effective treatment for coronavirus. Referring to the results of a trial of dexamethasone, Johnson said he was very proud of the British team involved who had “led the first robust clinical trial anywhere in the world to find a coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death”. Prof Peter Horby from Oxford University, who led the trial, said the results of the trial were remarkable. He explained: | Johnson welcomed what he described as “the biggest breakthrough yet” in the search to find an effective treatment for coronavirus. Referring to the results of a trial of dexamethasone, Johnson said he was very proud of the British team involved who had “led the first robust clinical trial anywhere in the world to find a coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death”. Prof Peter Horby from Oxford University, who led the trial, said the results of the trial were remarkable. He explained: |
| Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also welcomed the findings although he said that the drug, which only helps patients who are already severely ill, did not mean that other measures to reduce the spread of the disease were not needed. | Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also welcomed the findings although he said that the drug, which only helps patients who are already severely ill, did not mean that other measures to reduce the spread of the disease were not needed. |
| Johnson claimed he had only today become aware of Marcus Rashford’s campaign for school meal vouchers to be supplied in England over the summer. Asked about his U-turn on this, Johnson said: | Johnson claimed he had only today become aware of Marcus Rashford’s campaign for school meal vouchers to be supplied in England over the summer. Asked about his U-turn on this, Johnson said: |
| This answer surprised journalists because Rashford’s open letter to MPs on school vouchers was running as a big story yesterday and Johnson’s spokesman told the lobby at lunchtime on Monday that the PM would be responding to it. Perhaps Johnson was not telling the truth at the press conference; that has certainly happened before. But it is also possible that he was genuinely unaware of this media story, despite what his spokesman said yesterday. Prime ministers are often less aware of the news than journalists assume. In an interview at the Tory conference in 2019 Johnson said he had never heard of BBC presenter Naga Munchetty, even though the row about her comment about Donald Trump had been in the headlines for days. | This answer surprised journalists because Rashford’s open letter to MPs on school vouchers was running as a big story yesterday and Johnson’s spokesman told the lobby at lunchtime on Monday that the PM would be responding to it. Perhaps Johnson was not telling the truth at the press conference; that has certainly happened before. But it is also possible that he was genuinely unaware of this media story, despite what his spokesman said yesterday. Prime ministers are often less aware of the news than journalists assume. In an interview at the Tory conference in 2019 Johnson said he had never heard of BBC presenter Naga Munchetty, even though the row about her comment about Donald Trump had been in the headlines for days. |
| Johnson said that as the number of coronavirus infections fell, there would be a “strong case” for relaxing the 2-metre rule. He very much hoped to do that, he said. In response to a question from a member of the public asking for it to be replaced with a 1-metre rule, he said: | |
| Johnson claimed the UK had turned the tide in the fight against coronavirus. Asked about his comment 12 weeks ago that after 12 weeks the UK would have turned the tide, Johnson said: | |
| He also repeated an image he used as the pandemic was just taking hold, describing the need to flatten the curve of the disease as squashing the sombrero. My colleague Heather Stewart questions whether his tone was appropriate. | |
| Johnson said the case for merging DfID with the FCO was so strong he was surprised it had not happened already. He said: | Johnson said the case for merging DfID with the FCO was so strong he was surprised it had not happened already. He said: |
| Chris Deerin, a former comment editor at the Daily Telegraph who now runs the Reform Scotland thinktank, says this move may be only the start of Johnson’s reform of Whitehall institutions. | Chris Deerin, a former comment editor at the Daily Telegraph who now runs the Reform Scotland thinktank, says this move may be only the start of Johnson’s reform of Whitehall institutions. |
| Johnson urged parents in England to send their children back to school if they were able to do so. It was safe, he said. | Johnson urged parents in England to send their children back to school if they were able to do so. It was safe, he said. |
| He said his baby, Wilfred, and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, were doing well. Johnson has said almost nothing in public about his baby. Other prime ministers have been happy to talk about their children but Johnson, whose private life is more complicated than most of his predecessors’, says as little as possible about them. Asked how the baby was doing, he said: | |
| According to the Health Service Journal, the 2 million-plus people who are shielding, and who have been told not to leave home because they are deemed extremely clinically vulnerable, will find the rules for them relaxed from the end of July. | According to the Health Service Journal, the 2 million-plus people who are shielding, and who have been told not to leave home because they are deemed extremely clinically vulnerable, will find the rules for them relaxed from the end of July. |
| The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisons in England and Wales continues to rise, a Ministry of Justice figures shows. | The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisons in England and Wales continues to rise, a Ministry of Justice figures shows. |
| As at 5pm on Monday, 502 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 80 prisons, a rise of 0.4% in 24 hours, while there were 971 infected staff across 105 prisons, a rise of 0.6% in the same period. | As at 5pm on Monday, 502 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 80 prisons, a rise of 0.4% in 24 hours, while there were 971 infected staff across 105 prisons, a rise of 0.6% in the same period. |
| There are around 79,700 prisoners across 117 prisons in England and Wales, and around 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons. | There are around 79,700 prisoners across 117 prisons in England and Wales, and around 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons. |
| At least 23 prisoners and nine staff are known to have died, as well as one prison escort driver and one NHS trust employee working in a secure training centre. | At least 23 prisoners and nine staff are known to have died, as well as one prison escort driver and one NHS trust employee working in a secure training centre. |
| Rory Stewart, the former Conservative international development secretary (who subsequently left the party after opposing Boris Johnson’s Brexit policy), has joined those criticising the plan to merge DfID with the FCO. | Rory Stewart, the former Conservative international development secretary (who subsequently left the party after opposing Boris Johnson’s Brexit policy), has joined those criticising the plan to merge DfID with the FCO. |
| Q: [From the South Wales Argus] Is Wales being sidelined? Mark Drakeford said yesterday that he had gone almost three weeks without speaking to you. | Q: [From the South Wales Argus] Is Wales being sidelined? Mark Drakeford said yesterday that he had gone almost three weeks without speaking to you. |
| Johnson says the UK government consults with the Welsh government regularly. He looks forward to speaking to Drakeford. | Johnson says the UK government consults with the Welsh government regularly. He looks forward to speaking to Drakeford. |
| And, since the question came from the South Wales Argus, he says people from Cardiff contributed greatly to the dexamethasone trial. | And, since the question came from the South Wales Argus, he says people from Cardiff contributed greatly to the dexamethasone trial. |
| (South Wales Argus is based in Newport, not Cardiff. When I worked in Cardiff many years ago, I don’t think the Argus had any readers in the Welsh capital.) | (South Wales Argus is based in Newport, not Cardiff. When I worked in Cardiff many years ago, I don’t think the Argus had any readers in the Welsh capital.) |
| That’s it. The press conference is over. | That’s it. The press conference is over. |
| Q: Will you be talking to President Macron about travel corridors? | Q: Will you be talking to President Macron about travel corridors? |
| Johnson says he will be talking to Macron about all sorts of things, including this, when they meet later this week. And he says they will be talking to Spain too about this. | Johnson says he will be talking to Macron about all sorts of things, including this, when they meet later this week. And he says they will be talking to Spain too about this. |
| Q: You said 12 weeks ago we would be almost through this by now. Yet it does not feel like that. | Q: You said 12 weeks ago we would be almost through this by now. Yet it does not feel like that. |
| Johnson says he said they would turn the tide in 12 weeks. He thinks that has happened. We are coming through it, he says. | Johnson says he said they would turn the tide in 12 weeks. He thinks that has happened. We are coming through it, he says. |
| He says they have flattened the sombrero, or whatever he said they would do. | He says they have flattened the sombrero, or whatever he said they would do. |
| He says they are seeing “the first chink of light” in the fight against the disease with drugs like dexamethasone. | He says they are seeing “the first chink of light” in the fight against the disease with drugs like dexamethasone. |
| But people are resolved to defeat it, he says. | But people are resolved to defeat it, he says. |
| Q: How is baby Wilfred getting on? Has he seen his grandparents? | Q: How is baby Wilfred getting on? Has he seen his grandparents? |
| Johnson says he never normally comments on things like this, but it is all fine so far. | Johnson says he never normally comments on things like this, but it is all fine so far. |
| Q: How quickly will NHS patients be able to get dexamethasone? And, given that you have banned its export, how does that square with global Britain? | Q: How quickly will NHS patients be able to get dexamethasone? And, given that you have banned its export, how does that square with global Britain? |
| Johnson says he is not aware of an export ban. He says this drug is produced around the world. | Johnson says he is not aware of an export ban. He says this drug is produced around the world. |
| Vallance says this drug is inexpensive and very widely available. | Vallance says this drug is inexpensive and very widely available. |
| And he says this study will help people across the world. | And he says this study will help people across the world. |
| The chief medical officer will issue guidance soon saying this should be used for clinical practice, he says. | The chief medical officer will issue guidance soon saying this should be used for clinical practice, he says. |
| Horby says doctors should be able to use the drug this evening. It is in the cupboard, and they know how it works. | Horby says doctors should be able to use the drug this evening. It is in the cupboard, and they know how it works. |
| Q: Are you planning to switch aid money from poorer countries to richer countries? | Q: Are you planning to switch aid money from poorer countries to richer countries? |
| Johnson says that is not what’s happening. He says he wants to ensure the UK gets more “bang for its buck” with aid spending. | Johnson says that is not what’s happening. He says he wants to ensure the UK gets more “bang for its buck” with aid spending. |
| He says other countries are doing the same thing. | He says other countries are doing the same thing. |
| Q: Why did it take a 22-year-old footballer to shame you into doing the right thing? | Q: Why did it take a 22-year-old footballer to shame you into doing the right thing? |
| Johnson says this is the right thing to do. He congratulates Marcus Rashford. In normal circumstances you only give out these vouchers in term time. But now there is a need to help people, he says. | Johnson says this is the right thing to do. He congratulates Marcus Rashford. In normal circumstances you only give out these vouchers in term time. But now there is a need to help people, he says. |
| Q: Can you assure David Cameron that merging DfID and the FCO is the right thing to do? | Q: Can you assure David Cameron that merging DfID and the FCO is the right thing to do? |
| Johnson says he is certain this is the right thing to do. He says he is surprised it did not happen earlier. | Johnson says he is certain this is the right thing to do. He says he is surprised it did not happen earlier. |
| He says he is trying to put the idealism of DfID at the heart of foreign policy. It will create a super-department, he says. | He says he is trying to put the idealism of DfID at the heart of foreign policy. It will create a super-department, he says. |
| Q: It took a campaign from a footballer for you to do something about free school meals. Have you lost touch with the need to level up? | Q: It took a campaign from a footballer for you to do something about free school meals. Have you lost touch with the need to level up? |
| Johnson says he spoke to Marcus Rashford today and thanked him for his campaign. He says he only became aware of it recently. | Johnson says he spoke to Marcus Rashford today and thanked him for his campaign. He says he only became aware of it recently. |
| He says he hopes the school vouchers announcement will make a big difference. | He says he hopes the school vouchers announcement will make a big difference. |
| Q: Does the dexamethasone breakthrough change what might happen if there were a second wave? | Q: Does the dexamethasone breakthrough change what might happen if there were a second wave? |
| Vallance says this will not stop people getting the illness. | Vallance says this will not stop people getting the illness. |
| Horby says, if there were a second wave, there would still be a need for social distancing measures. | Horby says, if there were a second wave, there would still be a need for social distancing measures. |
| Johnson says people should be able to attend funerals if they follow social distancing rules. The government will say more on this as it approaches 4 July, he says. | Johnson says people should be able to attend funerals if they follow social distancing rules. The government will say more on this as it approaches 4 July, he says. |
| Trevor from Northamptonshire asks when the government will move from two metres to one. | Trevor from Northamptonshire asks when the government will move from two metres to one. |
| Johnson says two metres are more effective. | Johnson says two metres are more effective. |
| But it is also his view, he says, that as the infection numbers fall, then the statistical likelihood of being next to someone with coronavirus falls. | But it is also his view, he says, that as the infection numbers fall, then the statistical likelihood of being next to someone with coronavirus falls. |
| This is under constant review, he says. | This is under constant review, he says. |
| As the incidence of coronavirus goes down, there will be a “strong case” for changing the rule. | As the incidence of coronavirus goes down, there will be a “strong case” for changing the rule. |
| Vallance says what the PM said was “absolutely right”. He goes on: | Vallance says what the PM said was “absolutely right”. He goes on: |
| According to the ONS, only six out of 10,000 people have the disease. That means it becomes safer to change, he suggests. | According to the ONS, only six out of 10,000 people have the disease. That means it becomes safer to change, he suggests. |
| At the press conference Horby is speaking now. | At the press conference Horby is speaking now. |
| He says dexamethasone is not a drug that you would use on patients who do not have breathing difficulties. But, in patients with breathing difficulties, it has significant benefits, he says. | He says dexamethasone is not a drug that you would use on patients who do not have breathing difficulties. But, in patients with breathing difficulties, it has significant benefits, he says. |
| He says if you were to use it on eight patients in this category, you would save one life. And the drugs for all eight would only cost £40, he says. | He says if you were to use it on eight patients in this category, you would save one life. And the drugs for all eight would only cost £40, he says. |
| He says this is a common drug, which has been around for many years and which is very cheap. | He says this is a common drug, which has been around for many years and which is very cheap. |
| Here is my colleague Sarah Boseley’s report about this trial, involving a drug called dexamethasone. | Here is my colleague Sarah Boseley’s report about this trial, involving a drug called dexamethasone. |
| And this is how it starts. | And this is how it starts. |
| Johnson says today global efforts to find a long-term solution continue. | Johnson says today global efforts to find a long-term solution continue. |
| He claims the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a team of British scientists. | He claims the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a team of British scientists. |
| Backed by UK government funding, they have led the first robust clinical trial in the world proven to have reduced the risk of death, he says. | |
| See 1.37pm for more. | See 1.37pm for more. |