Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips accused Sajid Javid of “choosing the evidence” and deliberately refusing to consider all the facts when it comes to judging the seriousness of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant. Mr Phillips has criticized the Health Secretary for his bias when it comes to assessing the seriousness of Omicron and believes it is making the problem worse in the public eye. The Sky host pointed out that there is real evidence from South Africa suggesting the virus is milder than it claims in the UK.
Mr Phillips begged Mr Javid to look at the big picture offered by qualified scientists who never offered such a suggestion.
The Health Secretary said he did not know how risky Omicron was because “there is a lot of uncertainty” around the issue, despite the fact that he had previously pointed out that it was as serious as Delta. , which has claimed millions of lives around the world.
Mr. Phillips said to him: What your detractors would say is that your science advisers are properly presenting you with a series of scenarios.
“What I think a lot of your detractors would say is you choose which scenario you answer and it invariably turns out to be the most pessimistic.
JUSTIN: Christmas Day in danger as Javid sounds the alarm – fears of a lockdown before it’s ‘too late’
“You actually choose evidence that you answer rather than looking at the range of evidence that scientists present to you.
“As you said yourself, the emerging evidence in South Africa is that this Omicron could be less serious.
“But you chose to add that it’s at least as bad as Delta, so you’re actually choosing which evidence you answer rather than looking at the range of evidence the scientists give you.”
But Mr Javid, looking visibly embarrassed, refuted the claims, pointing out that the irregularities in the data were a stumbling block in the government’s assessment of the virus.
READ MORE: Strictly speaking fans claim Motsi Mabuse was ‘smoking’ over Rose Ayling-Ellis win
Omicron infection rates have climbed at an alarming rate in the UK, with more than 10,000 people testing positive yesterday.
Sadiq Khan announced yesterday that Omicron’s restrictions are “inevitable” for London given the dramatic spike in infections.
And now there is talk of a two-week breaker in the fight against Omicron, as cafes, pubs and restaurants will likely be limited to field service only.
