[1andrew1]

Interesting write-up of yesterday's press conference on Sky News.

So why was the usually jolly Mr Johnson sounding so downbeat? The reason for his cautious tone was either side of him: the glum faces of Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who have been called "Glum and Glummer" during the pandemic.

This time both looked thoroughly miserable. Are we going to see a boffins' backlash from the scientific and medical communities in the coming days? Almost certainly.

Poor Prof Whitty, in particular, looked as if he wished he was somewhere else. Barely a week after the trauma of being jostled by yobs in St James's Park, he looked here like he was being paraded in a hostage video.

Asked - inevitably - if they would ditch face coverings, the emphatic answer from both top boffins was a firm no. It would be fair to say they couldn't mask their concerns.

Prof Whitty was clearly ready for the question and had a carefully thought out answer. There were three circumstances when he'd wear one, he said.

These were in crowded spaces indoors to protect other people, where it was required, and as a courtesy to people who felt uncomfortable.

That prompted the prime minister to concur, in a mumbling sort of way, before an irritated sounding Sir Patrick said the whole point of wearing a mask was preventing somebody else from catching the virus.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-...amble-12349497