Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson inquired with the country's top scientific advisors during the early days of the pandemic about the possibility of using a "special hairdryer" to combat Covid-19, according to revelations made on November 1. As the virus began its global spread in March 2020, Johnson shared a YouTube video that supposedly demonstrated the dryer's effectiveness in "killing Covid." Dominic Cummings, his former top aide, disclosed this information in a statement submitted to a public inquiry into Covid-19, which is assessing the UK government's performance in handling the pandemic. By mid-July 2021, nearly 130,000 Covid-19 deaths had been recorded in Britain, making it one of the worst official death counts in the world.
Cummings, who left Johnson's government at the end of 2020 after a falling out, has criticized his former boss's handling of the crisis in his 115-page witness statement and in-person testimony. According to Cummings, one low point was when Johnson distributed a video in which an individual used a "special hairdryer" to try and "kill Covid," asking for the opinions of Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, and Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor. However, AFP FactCheck had debunked the claim about hair dryers and saunas killing the coronavirus on March 19, 2020.
Cummings also claimed that Johnson was "extremely distracted" when the virus first hit the UK, due to a range of personal and political issues. These distractions included finalizing a divorce, dealing with financial problems stemming from the divorce, facing accusations made by an ex-girlfriend in the media, and navigating the complexities of a new relationship. Additionally, Johnson expressed a desire to work on a book about Shakespeare during this period.
The inquiry into the government's handling of COVID-19, led by a retired senior judge, is scheduled to interview both Boris Johnson and the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who served as the finance minister during the pandemic, later this year. Johnson was removed from office by Conservative MPs last year amid a series of scandals, including the "Partygate" controversy related to lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street. He resigned as a Member of Parliament (MP) in June after lawmakers determined that he had deliberately misled them regarding the affair.
Cummings has also faced criticism, particularly for his use of abusive language in text messages from that period and his role in fostering a "toxic" culture at the highest levels of the UK government. Helen MacNamara, one of the country's most senior female officials, testified on Wednesday that the dominant culture in the government was "macho and heroic," which hindered thoughtful and reflective decision-making when the country needed it most.
