Yahoo News Coronavirus: Doctor MP says Boris Johnson should double his self-isolation time
A Labour MP and doctor has told Boris Johnson to double the time he is self-isolating for after he announced he had caught coronavirus last week.
The prime minister chaired a meeting of his Cabinet by videolink on Tuesday after he announced last week he would be self-isolating in Downing Street for seven days.
But Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour deputy leadership candidate and a senior A&E registrar, said Mr Johnson should be self isolating for double that period of time.
Rosena Allin-Khan told Sky News: “I would like the prime minister to self-isolate for 14 days.
“I’m deeply concerned the advice we’re giving is not in keeping with what the WHO [World Health Organization] are saying – they’re saying you can continue to spread the virus long after the symptoms are gone.”
Current NHS advice states that those who come down with symptoms should self-isolate for seven days.
Those who live in close proximity to people with symptoms, meanwhile, are urged to self-isolate for 14 days.
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Dr Allin-Khan has previously Johnson’s “relaxed” approach to the disease and said his “mixed messaging” could cost lives.
The Tooting MP, who has been doing shifts in St George’s Hospital in south London, said she has been surprised at how young some of the patients are with coronavirus.
In a diary recorded for BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Dr Allin-Khan said earlier this month: “We have patients who are in their 30s and early 40s who are previously fit and well who are now in the intensive care and fighting for their lives.
“This is a virus which is very, very difficult to predict. We just don’t know how the course of the next few weeks is going to pan out.”
In the diary, she said there is a “very real sense that the number of cases are growing and they are growing very, very quickly”.
Dr Allin-Khan added: “If we look at the fact that we are two weeks behind Italy, we are headed for a disaster if people do not heed the social-distancing measures.
“The prime minister simply said yesterday he wants people to enjoy themselves outside while also saying that people should stay two metres apart outdoors.
“This relaxed style, mixed messaging will cost lives and I believe people are struggling to follow guidelines because they are just not clear.”
The emergency department doctor confirmed she would support a “full lockdown” if that was proven to be the way to save lives.
