Nigel Farage has gone from calling the World Health Organization 'bullies' to suddenly being very concerned about coronavirus, but he will never ignore an opportunity to bang on about Brexit.
After Donald Trump announced that that the United States will be suspending all travel into the country from Europe barring the UK and Ireland, Farage thought it was a good a time as any to remind everyone that the UK is now an 'independent country'.
Drastic but necessary measures. The UK is now treated as an independent country. https://t.co/X8xcuo41Bx— Nigel Farage (@Nigel Farage) 1584001004
Nice one Nigel. It's not like there are more pressing issues facing us right now.
As you can imagine, people aren't too happy with Farage bringing up old news again especially as coronavirus is unlikely to care about borders when it infects people.
Correct me if I'm wrong #NigelFarage, I know you're now an authority on this sort of thing, but #Coronavirus is pro… https://t.co/FFXCrhZiTn— Derek James 💙 #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 (@Derek James 💙 #RejoinEU 🇪🇺) 1584009233
He'll be claiming blue passports keep you immune from #COVID19 next. https://t.co/P0fG7yMkvC— David Head (@David Head) 1584009365
Moron, Ireland is in the EU and shares a land border with the UK! https://t.co/V0gDFZb9lM— Muhammad Ariff (@Muhammad Ariff) 1584011260
Have you been tested yet, Farage? #superspreader https://t.co/r7irAlyqzc— Brexitshambles (@Brexitshambles) 1584002189
While the Brexit Party leader isn't entirely incorrect in his statement, Trump's ban isn't directly aimed at the European Union, despite the president blaming the spread of the virus on them.
Trump's ban applies to the Schengen Area which contains countries that aren't in the EU such as Switzerland and Norway. In fact, only 22 of the 27 EU member states participate in Schengen.
Also, he seems to have ignored that Ireland is also exempt and also still a part of the European Union.
@Nigel_Farage Ireland is also exempt Nige? Or has it left the EU without us noticing.— Richard Griffiths (@Richard Griffiths) 1584001158
I am loath to contradict the BBC's health expert, but he's talking jingoistic nonsense. The ban also exempts a numb… https://t.co/Uj2MKveXfD— Steve Peers (@Steve Peers) 1584002499
What a strange and hollow victory. https://t.co/uFZwAXzJcM— Iain Overton (@Iain Overton) 1584012261
Moron, Ireland is in the EU and shares a land border with the UK! https://t.co/V0gDFZb9lM— Muhammad Ariff (@Muhammad Ariff) 1584011260
yes. Independent. Like Ireland. https://t.co/wpJRemjEYk— Paul McNamara (@Paul McNamara) 1584010020
(Sighs) no, it's because we're not in Schengen. Neither is Ireland. https://t.co/G5dIQSYygq— Iain Martin (@Iain Martin) 1584011646
At the time of writing, there were more than 23,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across Europe with more than 900 deaths as a result.
The first case on the continent was reported in Bordeaux, France on January 21 with Italy being the worst effected and being forced into a nationwide lock down.