Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Coronavirus: Stephen Fry urges people to ‘end feuds’ and ‘bury hatchets’ amid outbreak

Star’s comments come after Boris Johnson’s warning that ‘many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time’

Ellie Harrison
Friday 13 March 2020 06:33 EDT
Comments
Up to 10,000 people in UK infected with coronavirus, officials say

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Stephen Fry has made a plea for people to be kind to each other amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Up to 10,000 people might be infected in the UK, officials said on Thursday night (12 March), as Britain moved into the “delay” phase of its response.

Following the news, Fry wrote on Twitter: “OK. Until this thing is over we’ve all got to be helpful, friendly and kind to each other, understood?

“Hatchets buried. Grievances forgotten. Disputes resolved. Feuds ended. Strangers smiled at. When the final whistle is blown we can go back to be being mean and beastly. Agreed?”

Fry’s tweet comes in the wake of Boris Johnson’s warning that Covid-19 is “the worst public health crisis for a generation”. He said: “It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt voiced his fears about the UK’s response to coronavirus, saying he did not understand why large gatherings had not been cancelled, adding: “I think it is surprising and concerning that we’re not doing any of it at all when we have just four weeks before we get to the stage that Italy is at.”

The death toll from coronavirus in Italy has just passed 1,000, with the entire country remaining paralysed and non-essential shops and businesses closed.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in