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| Coronavirus: Van Morrison lockdown protest songs 'dangerous' | Coronavirus: Van Morrison lockdown protest songs 'dangerous' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's health minister has described three new songs by Sir Van Morrison that protest against coronavirus lockdowns as "dangerous". | Northern Ireland's health minister has described three new songs by Sir Van Morrison that protest against coronavirus lockdowns as "dangerous". |
| In the lyrics, Sir Van claims scientists are "making up crooked facts" to justify measures that "enslave" the population. | In the lyrics, Sir Van claims scientists are "making up crooked facts" to justify measures that "enslave" the population. |
| "The new normal, is not normal," he sings. "We were born to be free". | "The new normal, is not normal," he sings. "We were born to be free". |
| Health Minister Robin Swann said if Sir Van had scientific facts he should present them. | Health Minister Robin Swann said if Sir Van had scientific facts he should present them. |
| Mr Swann said: "I don't know where he gets his facts. I know where the emotions are on this, but I will say that sort of messaging is dangerous. | Mr Swann said: "I don't know where he gets his facts. I know where the emotions are on this, but I will say that sort of messaging is dangerous. |
| "Our messaging is about saving lives. | "Our messaging is about saving lives. |
| "If Van wanted to sing a song about saving lives, then that would be more in keeping with where we are at the minute." | "If Van wanted to sing a song about saving lives, then that would be more in keeping with where we are at the minute." |
| He added: "If Van Morrison has counter-scientific facts that he's prepared to stand over, and have that debate with the chief scientific adviser, then I think that's how he should do it." | He added: "If Van Morrison has counter-scientific facts that he's prepared to stand over, and have that debate with the chief scientific adviser, then I think that's how he should do it." |
| Van Morrison song alludes to debunked conspiracy theory | |
| By Olga Robinson, BBC Monitoring disinformation team | |
| Sir Van Morrison refers to a debunked Covid-19 conspiracy theory in one of his new anti-lockdown songs. | |
| The track As I Walked Out includes the lyrics: "Well on the government website from the 21 March 2020 / It said COVID-19 was no longer high risk". | |
| It's a reference to a UK government page that stated "Covid-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK". | |
| That much is true - but that doesn't mean that coronavirus is harmless. | |
| The HCID designation is given for very fatal diseases: for example Ebola, which kills more than 50% of infected people. | |
| Covid-19 was initially classified as HCID in January - when little was known about it. | |
| By March, more information and testing prompted authorities to revise the classification. | |
| It's now thought the Covid-19 fatality rate is closer to 1%. The danger, scientists say, is that it is also highly infectious, and there is no proven vaccine or treatment. | |
| The government message was widely shared on social media, largely by coronavirus denialists and opponents of restrictions, who have cited it as "evidence" that the lockdown was based on a "hoax". | |
| Mr Swann has warned that Northern Ireland could again face tighter restrictions if new cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. | Mr Swann has warned that Northern Ireland could again face tighter restrictions if new cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. |
| Sir Van recorded the three songs recently in Belfast and England. | Sir Van recorded the three songs recently in Belfast and England. |
| No More Lockdown is the most strident of the three tracks. "No more lockdown / No more government overreach," the musician sings in the chorus. "No more fascist bullies / Disturbing our peace. | No More Lockdown is the most strident of the three tracks. "No more lockdown / No more government overreach," the musician sings in the chorus. "No more fascist bullies / Disturbing our peace. |
| "No more taking of our freedom / And our God given rights / Pretending it's for our safety / When it's really to enslave." | "No more taking of our freedom / And our God given rights / Pretending it's for our safety / When it's really to enslave." |
| Sir Van has previously caused controversy by denouncing what he called the "pseudoscience" around coronavirus. | Sir Van has previously caused controversy by denouncing what he called the "pseudoscience" around coronavirus. |
| Launching a campaign to "save live music" on his website last month, the 75-year-old said socially-distanced gigs were not economically viable. | Launching a campaign to "save live music" on his website last month, the 75-year-old said socially-distanced gigs were not economically viable. |
| "I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up." | "I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up." |
| Sir Van said his new songs would be released at two-week intervals with the first, Born To Be Free, arriving on 25 September. | Sir Van said his new songs would be released at two-week intervals with the first, Born To Be Free, arriving on 25 September. |
| In a statement announcing the songs, the musician said: "I'm not telling people what to do or think, the government is doing a great job of that already. | In a statement announcing the songs, the musician said: "I'm not telling people what to do or think, the government is doing a great job of that already. |
| "It's about freedom of choice, I believe people should have the right to think for themselves." | "It's about freedom of choice, I believe people should have the right to think for themselves." |
| However, Mr Swann urged people to "listen to the health advice coming from the professionals - the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser. | However, Mr Swann urged people to "listen to the health advice coming from the professionals - the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser. |
| "They are the people who see the dangers. | "They are the people who see the dangers. |
| "I know whose message I would rather listen to, that's the message of the professional, Dr Michael McBride and Professor Ian Young." | "I know whose message I would rather listen to, that's the message of the professional, Dr Michael McBride and Professor Ian Young." |
| Queen's University Belfast professor of molecular virology Ultan Power invited Sir Van "to come visit my laboratory to see our research on fighting Covid-19". | Queen's University Belfast professor of molecular virology Ultan Power invited Sir Van "to come visit my laboratory to see our research on fighting Covid-19". |
| He tweeted: "Happy to address all his questions. | He tweeted: "Happy to address all his questions. |
| "Perhaps he might even consider contributing to our research efforts to help accelerate our Covid-19 drug discovery research." | "Perhaps he might even consider contributing to our research efforts to help accelerate our Covid-19 drug discovery research." |
| Belfast city councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown of the Alliance Party said he had asked the council to consider revoking Sir Van's freedom of Belfast over the songs. | Belfast city councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown of the Alliance Party said he had asked the council to consider revoking Sir Van's freedom of Belfast over the songs. |