icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
2 Apr, 2020 13:03

More than HALF of Britons believe government reacted too slowly to coronavirus – poll

More than HALF of Britons believe government reacted too slowly to coronavirus – poll

In a new survey published on Thursday, over half of those polled think Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government was too slow in implementing social distancing measures to halt the spread of Covid-19.

The UK has seen its largest increase in deaths in a single day, jumping by 563 on April 1 to a total of 2,352. The number of confirmed cases now stands at 29,474, up by 4,324 in a single day.

Amid the worsening situation, the government introduced a lockdown a week ago, with people having to stay at home except for essential journeys, such as buying food and walking pets.

Police are enforcing the measures, and a nationwide campaign to encourage social distancing has also been introduced.

Although the vast majority of Britons have been complying with the government’s new regime, not all approve of the timing of its rollout.

A survey by pollster Ipsos MORI revealed that 56% of respondents believe the UK government’s enforcement of lockdown and social distancing measures has been too slow. In comparison, only 4% of Britons believe the measures were taken too soon.

Also on rt.com UK coronavirus deaths rise by 563, the HIGHEST daily increase so far

The poll comes as the government faces increasing pressure to raise the number of people being tested for coronavirus. The situation has already become a scandal in the UK and has been described by some as a “shambles.”

Prime Minister Johnson, who tested positive for Covid-19 himself, is facing growing anger over his government’s failure to reach even its own target of 10,000 tests per day.

Despite this, the PM has said that testing was “massively increasing,” with a senior minister adding that he expects 25,000 tests a day by the “middle of April.”

Also on rt.com ‘Not being truthful’: UK govt lifts 15% cap in Covid-19 testing of NHS staff amid growing public anger

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0