‘We have to look out for each other’: President Obama explains why public gatherings should be cancelled over coronavirus

Former US leader’s stance on mass events contradicts that of prime minister Boris Johnson

Barack Obama has said he believes large gatherings and public events should be cancelled to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The former US president shared a graph on Twitter illustrating how measures including cancelling large events and self-isolation can delay the rate at which people catch the disease.

He wrote: “If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other.”

However his stance contradicts that of Boris Johnson, who has not introduced restrictions on mass gatherings in the UK despite Scotland announcing it will do so from Monday.

Britain moved to the “delay” phase of battling the disease on Thursday, as the number of confirmed cases leapt by 134 to 590 and the death toll to 10.

The prime minister defended the UK’s approach to the pandemic, which has so far been less dramatic than other countries such as the US, by saying the government is being guided by the best science and trying to get the timing right for people to take the situation seriously.

Mr Johnson said the government is keeping measures such as cancelling large events “up our sleeves” — but Jeremy Hunt MP has criticised its approach to tackling the outbreak.

The former health secretary said he found it “surprising and concerning” that more was not being done in terms of cancelling large events and restricting visits to care homes when the UK is “just four weeks” away from the stage Italy, the second worst affected country in the world, is currently at.

The chart shared by Mr Obama shows what public health experts describe as “flattening the curve” — slowing the steep rise in cases to a more manageable plateau — by using protective measures such as cancelling large gatherings.

This gives the healthcare system more time to prepare and adapt, and stops hospitals from being inundated with more patients than they can handle.

However Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, has insisted there is only a slim chance of contracting the disease by attending mass gatherings and sporting events.

He told the BBC on Friday: “Mass gatherings do have some impact — it is not that they don’t do anything if you stop them — but they are very much more minor than the other ones.

“I think it is more likely that there will be transmission in pubs and other areas where people are aggregating watching it than in the actual stadium itself.”

Despite his comments, Sir Patrick did not urge people to stay out of pubs or social situations, and only repeated the advice that those with symptoms should remain home.

He also urged people to continue to wash their hands after being in close proximity with others.

The latest government guidance instructs anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, such as a continuous cough or high temperature, must stay at home for seven days.

Additional reporting by Press Association.