My interpretation of Boris Johnson this evening: the pandemic of COVID-19 in the UK is much more serious than we have been led to believe. Johnson was unusually serious, fists clenched, no jokes about squashing sombreros.

The switch to “stay alert” is an act of appeasement to those in his party who don’t understand how serious this disease is (remember, Boris Johnson does). Be clear about what he said: we are Level 4 in his new alert system, and that’s after 7 weeks of lockdown. Not good at all.

He was clear that we are only just R<1. That gives us no headroom for error. The epidemic in care homes is definitely not under control and we are nowhere near ready for test, trace, isolate.

The most telling clue that the UK is in serious trouble was his statement that bars/restaurants will remain closed until July. That’s 7 weeks. In other words, we are only half way through lockdown. That is well beyond predictions in other countries for the lockdown time needed.

Finally, you saw our Prime Minister preparing his defence for the public inquiry: “We didn’t fully understand its effects.” I’m afraid that argument won’t succeed. A PHEIC was called on January 30. And then you dropped the ball Prime Minister. That was criminal. And you know it.