Matt Hancock allegedly rejected COVID-19 testing recommendation for residents going into England’s care properties whereas he was well being secretary through the worst of the pandemic, in keeping with a report primarily based on 1000’s of leaked WhatsApp messages.
The Daily Telegraph claims that chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty had instructed Mr Hancock in April 2020 that there ought to be testing for “all going into care homes and segregation whilst awaiting a result”.
But the leaked messages counsel Mr Hancock rejected that recommendation, telling an aide that the transfer “muddies the waters”, as a substitute introducing obligatory testing only for these coming from hospitals.
According to the investigation, he mentioned: “Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test and isolate ALL going into care from hospital.
“I don’t assume the group dedication provides something and it muddies the waters.”
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He additionally expressed issues that increasing care dwelling testing may “get in the way” of the 100,000 day by day take a look at goal he wished to hit, the investigation mentioned.
The messages had been leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who acquired them whereas engaged on Mr Hancock’s Pandemic Diaries memoir.
She mentioned she was releasing them as a result of it will take “many years” earlier than the official COVID inquiry is accomplished and “we absolutely cannot wait any longer for answers”.
‘I need to hit my goal’
Also included within the messages:
• In September 2020, throughout a take a look at scarcity, one among Mr Hancock’s advisers helped to ship a take a look at to the house of senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg for one among his youngsters.
• As he struggled to satisfy the testing goal, Mr Hancock texted former Tory chancellor George Osborne to ask for assist.
He mentioned the 1000’s of spare testing slots had been “obvs good news about spread of virus” however “hard for my target”.
Mr Osborne, editor of the Evening Standard till July 2020, had responded: “Yes – of course – all you need to do tomorrow is give some exclusive words to the Standard and I’ll tell the team to splash it.”
Mr Hancock had later added: “I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET!”
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A supply near Mr Hancock mentioned: “[Ms Oakeshott] has broken a legal NDA [non-disclosure agreement].
“Her behaviour is outrageous.
“Having not been approached in advance by The Telegraph, we have reviewed the messages overnight.
“The Telegraph deliberately excluded reference to a gathering with the testing workforce from the WhatsApp.”
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“This is important,” the source added, “as a result of Matt was supportive of Chris Whitty’s recommendation, held a gathering on its deliverability, instructed it wasn’t deliverable, and insisted on testing all those that got here from hospitals.
“The Telegraph have been informed that their headline is wrong, and Matt is considering all options available to him.
“This main error by Isabel Oakeshott and The Telegraph exhibits why the right place for evaluation like that is the Inquiry, not a partial, agenda-driven leak of confidential paperwork.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: “It is outrageous that this distorted account of the pandemic is being pushed with partial leaks, spun to suit an anti-lockdown agenda, which might have price a whole bunch of 1000’s of lives if adopted. What the messages do present is lots of people working onerous to save lots of lives.”
Source: information.sky.com”