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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Matt Hancock texts reveal concern at plans to relax Covid isolation | Matt Hancock texts reveal concern at plans to relax Covid isolation |
| (3 months later) | |
| Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds | Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds |
| Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds | Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds |
| Matt Hancock was concerned that relaxing Covid isolation rules would imply ministers had been "getting it wrong", leaked messages suggest. | Matt Hancock was concerned that relaxing Covid isolation rules would imply ministers had been "getting it wrong", leaked messages suggest. |
| It appears the former health secretary was told in late 2020 that scientific advisers wanted to try replacing 14-day quarantine for confirmed contacts with five days of testing. | It appears the former health secretary was told in late 2020 that scientific advisers wanted to try replacing 14-day quarantine for confirmed contacts with five days of testing. |
| He replied that the idea "sounds very risky" and "like a massive loosening". | He replied that the idea "sounds very risky" and "like a massive loosening". |
| Mr Hancock's spokesperson said the story was based on "partial evidence". | Mr Hancock's spokesperson said the story was based on "partial evidence". |
| He said this latest message exchange showed Mr Hancock was "in favour of protecting the public and saving lives" through the pandemic. | He said this latest message exchange showed Mr Hancock was "in favour of protecting the public and saving lives" through the pandemic. |
| The BBC has not been able to independently verify the messages, between Mr Hancock and England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty. | The BBC has not been able to independently verify the messages, between Mr Hancock and England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty. |
| The texts are the latest release from more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages leaked to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott. | The texts are the latest release from more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages leaked to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott. |
| Hancock messages suggest plan to frighten public | Hancock messages suggest plan to frighten public |
| The leaked exchange between the two men took place on 17 November 2020, when confirmed contacts of Covid cases in England had to isolate for 14 days. | The leaked exchange between the two men took place on 17 November 2020, when confirmed contacts of Covid cases in England had to isolate for 14 days. |
| Prof Whitty is shown telling Mr Hancock that the UK's chief medical officers, as well as Sage, the government's group of scientific advisers, were "in favour" of a pilot "with presumption in favour of testing for 5 days in lieu of isolation (alternative 10 days isolation)". | Prof Whitty is shown telling Mr Hancock that the UK's chief medical officers, as well as Sage, the government's group of scientific advisers, were "in favour" of a pilot "with presumption in favour of testing for 5 days in lieu of isolation (alternative 10 days isolation)". |
| He added that the pilot was to "check it works" - whilst the MHRA, the medicines regulator, had "not yet signed off for self use". | He added that the pilot was to "check it works" - whilst the MHRA, the medicines regulator, had "not yet signed off for self use". |
| In the exchange published by the Telegraph, Mr Hancock replies that the idea "sounds like a massive loosening". | In the exchange published by the Telegraph, Mr Hancock replies that the idea "sounds like a massive loosening". |
| Prof Whitty then says that scientific modelling "suggests it's pretty well as good". | Prof Whitty then says that scientific modelling "suggests it's pretty well as good". |
| In a reply, Mr Hancock says he is "amazed" - adding that "this sounds very risky and we can't go backwards". He asks whether allowing people to test for 10 days would be "a safer starting point". | In a reply, Mr Hancock says he is "amazed" - adding that "this sounds very risky and we can't go backwards". He asks whether allowing people to test for 10 days would be "a safer starting point". |
| 'Worry people' | 'Worry people' |
| Prof Whitty replies that "we could push to 7 [days]" but "the benefits really flatten off after 5". | Prof Whitty replies that "we could push to 7 [days]" but "the benefits really flatten off after 5". |
| Mr Hancock is then shown to reply: "So has the 14 day isolation been too long all this time?" | Mr Hancock is then shown to reply: "So has the 14 day isolation been too long all this time?" |
| The chief medical officer then replies that a 14-day isolation period is "marginally safer than 10" - but at the expense of reduced compliance, meaning "it probably balances out". | The chief medical officer then replies that a 14-day isolation period is "marginally safer than 10" - but at the expense of reduced compliance, meaning "it probably balances out". |
| Mr Hancock replies that cutting the isolation period to seven days would be "huge for adherence" but any lower than that would "worry people and imply we'd been getting it wrong". | Mr Hancock replies that cutting the isolation period to seven days would be "huge for adherence" but any lower than that would "worry people and imply we'd been getting it wrong". |
| Prof Whitty then says he will "go back" to the chief medical officers, adding, "I think they will be sympathetic to this". | Prof Whitty then says he will "go back" to the chief medical officers, adding, "I think they will be sympathetic to this". |
| The isolation period for close contacts was reduced to 10 days across the UK the following month. | The isolation period for close contacts was reduced to 10 days across the UK the following month. |
| Some exemptions for double-jabbed critical workers were introduced seven months later, in July 2021, following disruption to businesses and public services. | Some exemptions for double-jabbed critical workers were introduced seven months later, in July 2021, following disruption to businesses and public services. |
| Self-isolation for all fully-vaccinated contacts was dropped the month after that. | Self-isolation for all fully-vaccinated contacts was dropped the month after that. |
| The WhatsApp messages were handed to the Telegraph by Ms Oakeshott, who had been given them by Mr Hancock for the purposes of co-writing his book, Pandemic Diaries. She has argued there is a public interest in publishing the messages. | The WhatsApp messages were handed to the Telegraph by Ms Oakeshott, who had been given them by Mr Hancock for the purposes of co-writing his book, Pandemic Diaries. She has argued there is a public interest in publishing the messages. |
| A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said the latest message exchange showed he was "in favour of protecting the public and saving lives" - and "that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone". | A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said the latest message exchange showed he was "in favour of protecting the public and saving lives" - and "that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone". |
| "Throughout the pandemic Mr Hancock acted to save lives - as the independent inquiry will show," the spokesperson added. | "Throughout the pandemic Mr Hancock acted to save lives - as the independent inquiry will show," the spokesperson added. |
| "We should wait for that to ensure we get a proper understanding of what happened, not be misled by these biased accounts based on an anti-lockdown agenda and partial evidence." | "We should wait for that to ensure we get a proper understanding of what happened, not be misled by these biased accounts based on an anti-lockdown agenda and partial evidence." |
| The WhatsApp leaks | The WhatsApp leaks |
| A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: | A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: |
| Text leak shows people in quarantine hotels mocked | Text leak shows people in quarantine hotels mocked |
| Messages reveal battle over Covid school policy | Messages reveal battle over Covid school policy |
| Rees-Mogg had Covid test couriered during shortage | Rees-Mogg had Covid test couriered during shortage |
| Hancock denies claim he rejected care home advice | Hancock denies claim he rejected care home advice |
| Covid hearings begin in court of public opinion | Covid hearings begin in court of public opinion |
| Who is Isabel Oakeshott? | Who is Isabel Oakeshott? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Chris Whitty | Chris Whitty |
| Matthew Hancock | Matthew Hancock |