Boris Johnson's dad says he would flout coronavirus advice and go to the pub
Stanley Johnson, 79, also said people should take a "measured approach" to the outbreak
2 min read
Boris Johnson's father has said he would still “go to a pub” despite Government advice to avoid going out amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Stanley Johnson told presenter Philip Schofield: “I’ll go to a pub if I need to go to a pub.”
His comments come just hours after his son, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, announced social distancing measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Johnson said Britons should avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants, and work from home where possible.
When asked what his son would think of his comments, the 79-year-old said: "I think we’ve just got to take a measured approach to this.
"We are going to keep this thing under control and we will come out on the other side.
"In the end there will be a vaccine and there will be some autoimmune system in place."
The former MEP also downplayed advice that over-70s will be worse affected by the disease.
He added: "Let's differentiate here, I’m over 70 and I’m fine I’d go and climb a mountain if I could. I've climbed Mount Kilimanjaro once.
“People like me who are not going to suffer very much… maybe we should say ‘well I’ll have it now and get it over with.’”
Mr Schofield quickly clarified: "I don't think that's the advice we were given yesterday."
Speaking on Monday evening, the Prime Minister said people end all "non-essential contact" with others, cancel unnecessary travel and consider working from home in an attempt to tackle the coronavirus.
Those with symptoms of the illness - a persistent cough and temperature above 37 degrees - must self-isolate at home with their families for 14 days, he added.
It was also advised that people over 70, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions should try to avoid "social contact" with others for the next 12 weeks.
On Monday, it was confirmed that the number of people in the UK testing positive for the virus had risen to 1,543, up from 1,372 on Sunday.
And the number of those who have died from the disease has also risen from 35 to 55.
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