Government scientists considered coronavirus a ‘moderate’ risk just weeks ago

Experts met as cases were already soaring in China and Italy

Boris Johnson with Chris Whitty, left, the UK’s chief medical officer, and Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser
(L to R) England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance
(Image credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)

Government scientists judged coronavirus to be a “moderate risk” to Britain just five weeks ago, despite rising infection rates in China and Italy,

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up