Who did you do during the Covid-19 pandemic dad?
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 6:26 am
Can't say I blame the lad....The scientist whose advice led to Boris Johnson imposing coronavirus lockdown measures resigned from his government role last night after it emerged that he had breached the restrictions he recommended to meet his married lover.
Professor Neil Ferguson, 51, allowed his mistress Antonia Staats, 38, to travel across London to visit him at least twice at his home despite the lockdown, which he has continually stressed is vital in stopping the spread of the killer virus.
Ms Staats lives with her husband, who is in his 30s, and their two children in a £1.9 million house in south London. She travelled across the capital to visit the scientist on at least two occasions after the lockdown was announced on March 23.
Admitting he had 'made an error of judgement', Prof Ferguson claimed last night that he thought he was 'immune' to the illness, with Ms Staats only visiting him after he had recovered from Covid-19.
Prof Ferguson, an Imperial College epidemiologist and a member of the SAGE committee that advises the government on tackling the pandemic, leads a team which produced the research that led to lockdown, with their findings suggesting 500,000 Britons could die without strict restrictions being put in place.
However, despite his repeated demands that the public follow measures, he met with his lover on at least two occasions after March 23, according to the Telegraph, despite the government telling couples who live separately to stay apart during lockdown.
The scientist, who is married with a son but is believed to be separated from his wife, has now resigned from his SAGE position. A government spokesman confirmed Prof Ferguson had stepped back from his role.
The epidemiologist said last night: 'I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage [the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies].
'I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus, and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms.
'I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic. The Government guidance is unequivocal, and is there to protect all of us.'
Prof Ferguson has come under fierce criticism for breaching lockdown with Piers Morgan tweeting: 'Unbelievable and shocking. So, the government is ''following the science'' of scientists who don't even follow their own science. What a shameful shambles.
'Professor Ferguson's excuse is he thought he was immune from COVID-19 after having it - despite there being zero scientific proof people who've had it actually get immunity. And this guy's the No1 'expert' on whom the government is basing its entire coronavirus strategy?'
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith added that the affair risked 'undermining the government's lockdown message'.
