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A government minister accused BBC News of treating the interviews as a “quiz show” after Boris Johnson got it wrong on local restrictions on the coronavirus.
Commerce Secretary Alok Sharma criticized the “line of questioning” when asked about the prime minister’s mistake on the rules in the Northeast.
But an area police chief said Johnson’s mistake had “fueled more confusion” in people.
Reports say the ban on homes to mix indoors could be extended to Merseyside.
‘Check the rules online’
On BBC Radio 4’s Today show, Sharma was pressed on why, when questioned by Channel 5 on Tuesday, the prime minister was unable to clarify restrictions on social gatherings in north-east England.
Johnson’s confusion came hours after Minister Gillian Keegan also failed to clarify parts of the new rules.
Mr. Sharma said there was “an element of slight ‘catch’ about this in terms of this line of questions,” recalling Today’s Martha Kearney who was on “a flagship show” and “not a question show.”
“If people want to understand the precise restrictions that they have in the areas that are more restricted, then they should go to [local authority] websites, “he added.
Government web pages on coronavirus have links to information from local authorities.
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Sharma said the “general message” from the government was that people should respect the rule of six, wash their hands, cover their faces and ensure social distancing.
In the affected areas of North East England, people will no longer be able to mingle with anyone outside their own home in any indoor setting, although support bubbles are exempt.
In total, at least 16.6 million people are locked up premises in the UK, about one in four people.
The Times reports that officials will decide on Wednesday whether Merseyside will be the latest area to face a ban on homes to mix indoors.
And some 500,000 people in four council areas in North Wales will face local lockdown restrictions starting Thursday night.
Shadow occupational health minister Alex Norris criticized Sharma’s comments.
“The prime minister must understand the rules that he is asking a large number of people to follow. That is not a trap, it is just a basic competence of the government,” he said.
‘Sensitive and practical’
Meanwhile, Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police Criminal and Labor Police Commissioner, told Today that Johnson “caused a lot of confusion” when he “got it wrong” Tuesday.
He said that following the restrictions was a “big question” for the people and that the government should “be better to communicate before these local restrictions.”
A health psychologist and member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said confusion has become a problem for people trying to follow the coronavirus rules.
Professor Lucy Yardley told the BBC: “I think it’s a real problem that people are trying to follow top-down rules that change all the time and are different in different places and in different organizations.”
“We need less following of the rules and more work together to figure out, in your individual situation, what is the best way to minimize the risk to the people around you.”
Professor Yardley said that people are following the rules “to the extent that they think it is sensible and practical for them” and “they are probably doing well” by viewing the rules this way.
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Sharma urged people, particularly college students, to follow the coronavirus rules.
When asked by BBC Breakfast about a video that appears to show a large group of students at a party at Coventry University, he said: “This has been a very, very difficult time for young people and they actually want to get back to true. sense of normalcy, we can’t just lock people up forever.
“The universities are open, the students have returned, and of course we ask them, as well as the rest of the population, to follow the rules, follow the guidance and act responsibly, and ultimately this is for their own. okay, and I hope people do that. “
Mr. Sharma added that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was investigating how to make his pledge that students can go home for Christmas “possible.”
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The prime minister is expected to join UK government chief medical adviser Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance in a press conference in Downing Street at 5pm.
The UK recorded 7,143 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a new record since mass testing began. Deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test also rose to 71, the highest total since July 1.
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