Health secretary Matt Hancock has urged people not to stockpile essential goods in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, insisting that the government was working with supermarkets to ensure that our access to food will not be affected. However, his claims have been thrown into some doubt.
Speaking on BBC Question Time last night, the health secretary said:
"The Government has supplies of the key things that are needed, and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won't be a problem there.
"And, crucially, we are working to makes sure that if people are self isolating, they will be able to get the food and supplies that they need.
"The very, very strong advice from the scientists, from the medics, is that people should not go buying more than they need.
“We are working with the supermarkets.”
If this account sent viewers on their way to a blissful sleep last night, the testimony of a leading supermarket executive might well give them nightmares this evening.
Speaking to the BBC, the unnamed exec said that “[Mr Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets".
Meanwhile, the prime minister said:
“Keeping the British people safe is my number one priority, and that’s why I’ve set out our four-part plan to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus.
“We are ensuring the country is prepared for the current outbreak, guided by the science at every stage. But we also need to invest now in researching the vaccines that could help prevent future outbreaks."
