The UK’s coronavirus death toll currently stands at 7,978.
The entire country is in lockdown.
Hundreds of thousands have been forced into unemployment.
The NHS is so overwhelmed it’s trying to raise £5 million via the public.
But according to Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley, the seriousness of coronavirus only became apparent to the nation when his son was admitted to the ICU, on 7 April.
Boris Johnson’s father Stanley tells @BBCr4today that the PM now needs to rest & that becoming ill has "served an… https://t.co/cp5brPrWtT— Nick Robinson (@Nick Robinson) 1586500820
I'm pretty sure the country was already aware this was a serious event. https://t.co/FwyCt2B89e— Adam Bienkov (@Adam Bienkov) 1586501719
I had no idea how serious this ‘event’ was until Boris Johnson went into hospital. Despite 95,000 having died and… https://t.co/Y3pCeyGOEZ— Damon (@Damon) 1586502381
The vast majority of people not stuck in ivory towers knew it was serious well before the PM fell sick unlike Stan… https://t.co/l6OdCEbjNj— Chris Doyle (@Chris Doyle) 1586504029
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Stanley spoke of his relief at his son’s improved conditions (while obviously quoting Hamlet for no apparent reason), and thanked the NHS workers charged with his care.
He also held forth on the impact Boris’ hospitalisation had apparently had on the country.
I do think this whole event of Boris going into intensive care and now happily coming out, it has actually served an amazing purpose in the sense it’s got the whole country to realise this is a serious event. If it can hit the prime minister for heaven’s sake!
“It does come close to home, it certainly made me feel very, very cautious,” he continued.
“[Boris] almost took one for the team and we’ve got to make sure we play the game properly now”.
In March, Stanley ignited outrage when he said he would ignore government health advice to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and social venues.
“Of course, I’ll go to a pub if I need to go to a pub,” he told presenters on ITV’s This Morning.
And his latest comments have stirred equal ire by those who don’t take kindly to the idea that it took the PM getting sick to drive home the enormity of Covid-19.
Thousands dead, several countries in lockdown, virus spreading around the world, half the country demanding lockdow… https://t.co/b5oMgSgdgF— James Felton (@James Felton) 1586504989
Some pointed out that Johnson appeared to have flouted government advice again by travelling to his second home in Somerset.
The ultimate hypocrite Stanley Johnson is on @BBCr4today quoting Hamlet and saying that now Boris had been in inten… https://t.co/Bcs24KXmzS— Dr Lindsay Maxwell 🏴 (@Dr Lindsay Maxwell 🏴) 1586499338
Others questioned why the father of the UK’s prime minister makes regular appearances in the media.
Why do we have to have bloody Stanley Johnson on @BBCr4today again? It’s not normal. Do any other countries regula… https://t.co/47vEQU6vxe— James McNaught (@James McNaught) 1586499384
And some asked why the Todaypresenters hadn’t taken the opportunity to quiz Stanley about his previous stance on the coronavirus crisis.
@bbcnickrobinson @BBCr4today A good journalist would have played back the words of Stanley Johnson saying he was go… https://t.co/pSYF3JfTCI— Rabble Cat (@Rabble Cat) 1586502611
Perhaps Stanley should use this period to practice the age-old art of keeping schtum if you don't know any better.