Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly took a four-day break during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK to indulge in leisure activities such as motorbike riding and hosting guests. Documents leaked from the government revealed that Johnson opted for this minibreak at the Chevening estate in Kent over the half-term holidays in February 2020, a time critical for government response. A subsequent COVID inquiry highlighted the possibility of preventing over 20,000 deaths if a lockdown had been initiated a week earlier, labeling February 2020 as a “lost month.”
Instead of focusing on official duties, the then PM spent his time walking his dogs and enjoying motorbike rides during this period. Despite claims of being engaged in work, official records challenge Johnson’s assertions, as per The Guardian report. The documents indicate a lack of official government activities related to COVID-19 precautions during the days in question.
The inquiry further criticized Johnson’s government for delayed actions and highlighted a lack of necessary leadership in responding to the pandemic promptly. It emphasized that starting the lockdown a week earlier could have significantly reduced the loss of lives and potentially shortened the duration of lockdown measures. The inquiry report also shed light on a chaotic environment at Downing Street, attributing a lack of urgency in the response to the pandemic to the leadership’s failure to recognize the emergency.
In conclusion, Baroness Hallett, chairing the inquiry, stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes and implementing essential changes to avoid the futile human and financial costs of the COVID-19 crisis.