Coronavirus: UK scientist Neil Ferguson quits for conducting affair during lockdown

The scientist whose doomsday advice prompted Boris Johnson to close Britain resigns after he broke social distancing rules for sex.

British epidemiologist, Professor Neil Ferguson.

The scientist whose doomsday coronavirus advice prompted Boris Johnson to lock down Britain has been forced to resign after he broke social distancing rules to maintain a romantic tryst with a married woman.

Imperial College epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson met the woman, Antonia Staats, 38, on at least two occasions at his home in London, the first after he had recovered from coronavirus, all the while preaching to the British public that they had to maintain strict and, in the cases of dying relatives, very cruel social distancing measures.

Antonia Staats. Picture: Facebook

For the past seven weeks, as the daily death toll has risen, the public has been terrified by government slogans into not leaving their homes except to buy food or to exercise once a day. But Prof Ferguson, who is one of the most influential scientists leading the government’s coronavirus strategy, didn’t follow his own advice.

Prof Ferguson told the UK’s Telegraph: “I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in SAGE [the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies].

“I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus, and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms.

“I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic. The government guidance is unequivocal, and is there to protect all of us.”

1/4 - I think it would be helpful if I cleared up some confusion that has emerged in recent days. Some have interpreted my evidence to a UK parliamentary committee as indicating we have substantially revised our assessments of the potential mortality impact of COVID-19.

— neil_ferguson (@neil_ferguson) March 26, 2020

Prof Ferguson, 51, had been insistent on the tough measures to try and bring down the infection rate of the coronavirus after his Imperial College team had made a miscalculation in early March, misrepresenting by half the number of people who might require intensive care.

As a result of the changing advice, Mr Johnson did an about face and reversed the early herd immunity approach into one of trying to suppress the virus.

But other scientists, especially from Oxford University, have questioned why the government followed Prof Ferguson’s alarmist Imperial College assessments - warning of 500,000 deaths - especially as he had a history of over representing deaths in previous animal diseases.

In the situation with foot and mouth disease, government inquiries subsequently found Prof Ferguson’s wrong advice had led to the unnecessary slaughter of six million animals.

British media reported Ms Staat visited Prof Ferguson on Monday March 30, shortly after the coronavirus lockdown began and at a time when Prof Ferguson was telling the public that lockdown would have to remain until at least June.

Then the same woman - who is married with two children - made a second visit on April 8. It was also reported that Ms Staats has also told friends her husband has symptoms of coronavirus.

While Prof Ferguson and Ms Staats continued their relationship, government ministers repeatedly warned the public to stay at home to save lives.

Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned last month when she was discovered making two trips to her second home during the lockdown.