Newspaper headlines: Virus ‘strikes at heart of government’
Most of the front pages lead with the news that the prime minister has tested positive for coronavirus. Boris Johnson is one of the “big three” to be hit by the virus, the Daily Mail says – with Health Secretary Matt Hancock also testing positive and Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty showing symptoms. The paper describes the development as “a triple blow to the heart of government” – although Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock are only experiencing mild symptoms and are both working from home while self-isolating.
The Sun says the prime minister will be “running the country by video link” from his Downing Street flat, while his pregnant fiancée, Carrie Symonds, has moved out. It comes as the death toll in the UK rose by 181 to 759, the paper adds.
“No 10 virus bombshell”, is the headline for the Daily Express, which says the prime minister has “vowed to keep leading the fight against coronavirus”. Meanwhile, the government announced NHS staff would begin being tested to see if they have the virus “in days”, the paper reports.
“Nobody’s safe”, declares the Daily Mirror in reaction to the news. The paper echoes Michael Gove’s message at Friday’s news conference that the prime minister testing positive for the virus is a reminder that it “does not discriminate”.
The Guardian says Mr Johnson has been accused of failing to heed his own advice to the public over how to contain the virus, after the three key public figures showed symptoms. The prime minister has previously been accused of failing to keep an appropriate distance from other senior figures and has continued with his parliamentary duties this week, prompting criticism from some public health experts, the paper reports.
Given Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Prof Whitty have had so much contact with other ministers, there are now fears the virus could spread through cabinet, according to the Daily Telegraph. However, other ministers will not be tested unless they develop symptoms because the government is no longer tracing contacts of people who have the virus, the paper adds.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times says the government is under fire for missing opportunities to acquire more medical ventilators to save people with respiratory difficulties caused by Covid-19. Ministers say 8,000 ventilators under order should be available over the next few weeks, on top of the more than 8,000 the NHS already has access to – but a total of 30,000 are required, according to the paper. However, several companies have said offers were not taken up to provide some of the additional machines needed, the paper reports.
Finally, the Daily Star is urging its readers to wipe clean their letterboxes and doorbells “to protect our brave posties”. The paper says postal workers are “delivering a mountain of stuff” people have ordered to ease their “lockdown boredom”.
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