Mid Bedfordshire MP and junior health minister, Nadine Dorries has been criticised for tweets that contradict statements made by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ms Dorries, who was the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, took to social media to defend the government over the rate of coronavirus testing.
Read: BREAKING NEWS: Mid Beds MP, Nadine Dorries tests positive for coronavirus
Her claim that testing for coronavirus “won’t cut the number of deaths” or “stop them catching coronavirus” contradicts statements made by WHO and England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
On Wednesday (1 April) evening, Ms Dorries wrote a number tweets saying, “Journalists and media need to be more balanced. Testing, is not a cure, it won’t cut the number of deaths, it won’t make people feel better or stop them catching #coronavirus it will only tell you if you have or have had it .There is no cure.
“Tests will allow us to know who has antibodies and is immune/non contagious, but we don’t yet know how long those anti bodies will last for. The best we can hope for is that it will allow #NHS workers to get back to work if they know they have had it and have antibodies to protect them.
“I’m already hearing from constituents who are alarmed at the situation re tests, believing media hype and that testing with a positive diagnosis = a miracle cure. There is as yet, no treatment, no cure, no vaccine and no amount of tests will alter that fact..#InThisTogether”
However, on 16 March, the director general of WHO said, “the most effective way to prevent infections and save lives is breaking the chains of transmission. And to do that you must test and isolate.
“We have a simple message for all countries Test, test, test. Test every suspected case”.
This was confirmed by England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, who said: “Of course we completely agree with the secretary general that testing is absolutely critical”.
Asked by Channel 4’s FactCheck about the contradiction between her comments and those of the WHO chief, Ms Dorries said, “What would cut deaths right now, today, is hand washing and self-isolating, people staying at home as confirmed by Jonathan Van Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England on Peston last night.
“My tweets refer to where we are in the immediate future with access to the tests we have and public perception.
“Of course, once the supply chain is flowing and we have access to mass testing, we can ensure those who have antibodies can move back into the workplace and those who don’t, can isolate, reducing risk.”
