Fern Britton asks fans if COVID-19 is a ‘con to control the population’ in conspiracy theory debate and declares ‘I had to ask to make sure I know it’s real!’
- The presenter, 64, said she believes that ‘COVID is a real and dangerous virus’ as she encouraged her followers to share conspiracy theories around coronavirus
- The majority of Fern’s followers were quick to slam speculation the pandemic was a ‘con’ and took aim at ‘COVID-deniers’
- The presenter also told one fan that she ‘wasn’t coping’ days before England went into a third national lockdown
- Another fan wrote: ‘I think we’ve been locked up so long even the sane are developing conspiracy theories
- Fern responded: ‘Yes! That’s why I had to ask to make sure that I know it’s real!’
- Fern was quick to call out followers who questioned whether COVID had been ‘man-made in China’
- Boris Johnson announced a dramatic new national lockdown for England as the mutant Covid strain spreads
- People will only be allowed to leave home for five specific reasons as in the previous lockdown in March
- The scale of the problem was underlined as the latest grim daily tally was released on Monday, with 58,784 new cases – a 42 per cent rise on last Monday
Fern Britton asked her fans if COVID-19 was a ‘con to control the population’ in a Twitter debate on Sunday.
The presenter, 64, said she believes that ‘COVID is a real and dangerous virus’ as she encouraged her followers to share pandemic conspiracy theories, days before England went into a third national lockdown amid spiralling infection rates.
She wrote: ‘I believe Covid is a real and dangerous virus running amok amongst the world’s population and ruining the world’s economy.
‘However, if this is all a con to control us, what is the end game? This is an authentic question.’
Twitter wrangle: Fern Britton asked her fans if COVID-19 was a ‘con to control the population’ in a Twitter debate on Sunday
The majority of Fern’s followers were quick to slam speculation the pandemic was a ‘con’ with one fan writing: ‘This is exactly what I keep saying! What is the benefit to the whole world pretending there’s a virus, people losing their livelihoods, etc.
‘Funny they can never answer that when I ask. Its totally bonkers!’
However, one fan wrote: ‘Oh god don’t say that. I’m not coping as it is’ to which Fern replied: ‘Oh Grant. Me neither x’
Another follower joked: ‘I think we’ve been locked up so long even the sane are developing conspiracy theories’ with Fern playfully responding: ‘Yes! That’s why I had to ask to make sure that I know it’s real!’
One fan praised Fern’s Twitter tactic for showcasing opinions and conspiracy theories. around the pandemic in an ‘intelligent’ manner.
Debate: The presenter, 64, believes that ‘COVID is a dangerous virus’ as she encouraged her followers to share conspiracy theories around coronavirus, days before England went into a third national lockdown a
Tweet: The star ignited a wave of social media reaction where she admitted she ‘wasn’t coping’ amid the ongoing pandemic
They wrote: ‘There isn’t is there, this is a virus not a global conspiracy. We both know that and as painful as it is we have to keep chasing down anyone says otherwise, your question there is an intelligent way of doing it, thanks! (Shamelessly steals idea)
Fern retorted: ‘You made me feel sane again tho xx.’
Fern was also quick to call out followers who questioned whether COVID had been ‘man-made in China’ or declared that the country would ‘never know’ if the virus was a con, replying: ‘So why do people believe it’s fake?’ and ‘But what would be the purpose?’
China — where the coronavirus first emerged late in 2019 — has broadly stamped out the virus inside its borders, introducing swift local lockdowns and mass testing when cases emerge.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson plunged England into a national lockdown in some ways even more brutal than last March in a desperate bid to keep the mutant coronavirus at bay while vaccines are rolled out.
Comment: The majority of Fern’s followers were quick to slam speculation the pandemic was a ‘con’ with one fan writing: ‘This is exactly what I keep saying!’
Why? Fern was quick to call out followers who questioned whether COVID had been ‘man-made in China’ or declared that the country would ‘never know’ if the virus was a con
Just a day after he urged parents to send their children back, the PM declared in a sombre address from No10 that primary and secondary schools will be shut from today until at least February half-term, with only the vulnerable and offspring of key workers allowed to go in.
University students are being told to stay at home and study remotely, while exams will not go ahead as planned. Nurseries can stay open.
Under the the new guidance, published overnight, non-essential retail, all hospitality, gyms and swimming pools will be ordered to close across the country.
Cafes, bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve takeaway – but in a tightening from the draconian measures last spring, they will not be allowed to serve any alcohol. Vulnerable people are being told to shield where possible. Communal worship can continue with social distancing in place.
Twitter: Another follower joked: ‘I think we’ve been locked up so long even the sane are developing conspiracy theories’
Reactions: Fans were quick to share their experiences of the virus and comment on the debate
The public will once again only be allowed to leave home for one of five reasons: to go to work if essential, shop for necessities, exercise – allowed with one other person from another household, care for someone, or to seek medical help.
Those who break the rules face a £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.
The extraordinary third national squeeze will come into effect in the early hours of Wednesday after the regulations are laid today, but Mr Johnson urged the public to adopt the new rules now. MPs will get a vote on them on Wednesday when Parliament is recalled, although there is no prospect of them being defeated.
Mr Johnson made clear there is no chance of them being lifted for at least seven weeks – and possibly longer if the vaccine rollout does not go well.
‘Our hospitals are under more pressure than at any time since the start of the pandemic. It’s clear we need to do more.. while our vaccines are rolled out,’ he said.
Mr Johnson said he was left with no option after being confronted with catastrophic figures about the burden on the NHS by science chiefs today.
Hospital patients with coronavirus had risen by 40 per cent over a week, and are now higher than at the peak of the first wave.
The scale of the problem was underlined as the latest grim daily tally was released, with 58,784 new cases – a 42 per cent rise on last Monday.
It means the UK has passed the milestone of 50,000 infections every day for a week, suggesting that the easing of restrictions at Christmas helped fuel the outbreak.
Department of Health chiefs also posted 407 more deaths, up just 14 per cent on the figure recorded last week. But it can take infected patients several weeks to fall severely ill and succumb to the illness, meaning fatalities have yet to reach their peak and will continue to rise.
The UK recorded almost 1,000 deaths twice last week, in grisly tolls not seen since the darkest days of the spring.
Rising rates: On Tuesday, Boris Johnson plunged England into a national lockdown in some ways even more brutal than last March in a desperate bid to keep the mutant coronavirus at bay while vaccines are rolled out
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