A brief history of Downing Street’s public announcements on the Covid-19 crisis: a thread.

23 March: “You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.”

26 March: “Stay at home.” The following day, Dominic Cummings drives 264 miles from London to Durham.

26 March: “You should NOT be meeting family members who do not live in your home.” The following day, Dominic Cummings drives 264 miles from London to Durham.

28 March: a few hours after Dominic Cummings drives 264 miles from London to Durham, Boris Johnson writes to every household in the UK, “to urge them to stay at home.”

29 March: “You must stay at home”

30 March: “Stop the spread. Stay at home.” The following day, police are informed that Dominic Cummings is in Durham, 264 miles from his home.

4 April: “Do your bit, don’t go out.” The following day, Dominic Cummings is seen outside the family property in Durham, with ABBA playing at full blast. When asked about this by the Guardian on the same day, a Downing Street official says “It’ll be a ‘no comment’ on that one.”