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Joanna Taylor
Jun 18, 2020
We might still be in the middle of a deadly pandemic, but culture secretary Oliver Dowden wants you to be very excited that the premiere league is back.
His announcement at a daily government briefing came just moments after he told viewers that the country "has sadly had an increase of 184 fatalities since yesterday".
The daily average number of deaths from coronavirus in the UK is 146.
Dowden described these figures as "important progress" as the daily average has decreased since coronavirus's peak in late April. He then cheerily added:
And today actually marks another important milestone. In just under one hour's time the best league in the world will be back up and running after a hundred day pause.
People were stunned by his sudden change in tone.
Oliver Dowden - Sadly there has been a 184 fatalities since yesterday, but today marks another important milestone… https://t.co/EcWMIWfVzz— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺) 1592410864
Dowden's announcement was also criticised as a "distraction" from the number of coronavirus deaths the UK continues to experience.
Oliver Dowden - Sadly there has been a 184 fatalities since yesterday, but today marks another important milestone… https://t.co/oUvrXr1ufS— David Caffrey (@David Caffrey) 1592412342
"Oliver Dowden says return of Premier League is an 'important milestone'" I cannot support this statement because… https://t.co/UVpn634drl— Craig Butcher (@Craig Butcher) 1592412443
As pleased as I am that footy is back, Oliver Dowden is making this more of a focus than what he is actually there… https://t.co/jPs6or8b4p— Julie Ann Mulvey (@Julie Ann Mulvey) 1592410256
People also noted that no scientific advisors were present when Dowden made the announcement.
Oliver Dowden: '184 people have sadly died and the total number of deaths is 42,153 but, hey, in under an hour's ti… https://t.co/CDP4z0Dh6c— John P. 🇪🇺🇬🇧🔶 #FBPE #FBPPR #Rejoin #3.5% (@John P. 🇪🇺🇬🇧🔶 #FBPE #FBPPR #Rejoin #3.5%) 1592410248
Oliver Dowden pays tribute to Jonathan Van Tam even though he hasn’t been allowed back on the podium for 17 days af… https://t.co/IX3eVAYWsT— Justin Madders MP (@Justin Madders MP) 1592410700
And that he used the daily briefing to criticise Labour.
Oliver Dowden should not be making party political statements criticising the Labour Party at Government press conf… https://t.co/kmPMEWZ1Ga— Justin Madders MP (@Justin Madders MP) 1592412999
@justinmadders It the Coronavirus update, not party political broadcast, it should be delivered by scientists not the government!— SpookyKitty 🎃 (@SpookyKitty 🎃) 1592414125
This Oliver Dowden solo press conference is oddly compelling. Asked about schools, he trots out an attack line abou… https://t.co/z0DjBJIyuk— Jon Jones (@Jon Jones) 1592413621
Oliver Dowden might want to play politics and watch football, but the rest of the country hasn't forgotten that we're still in the midst of a crisis that is claiming the lives of almost two hundred people every day.
There's nothing wrong with a bit of good news at a government briefing, but perhaps Dowden should have at least paused for breath after announcing the latest heartbreaking coronavirus figures.
Besides, not everyone even has Sky Sport.