This Morning host Holly Willoughby confronted Health Secretary Matt Hancock on today’s episode of the show (Monday, September 21).
The 39-year-old presenter cut to the point and asked Mr Hancock about coronavirus testing.
The star also grilled the Health Secretary about Christmas and asked whether we would be able to “hug our grandparents”.
What did Holly Willoughby say on This Morning?
Mr Hancock’s appearance came before this morning’s press briefing given by Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, and Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
Both warned that the UK could record 50,000 cases a day within weeks if no action on coronavirus is taken.
Read more: This Morning interrupted for live briefing which warns of 50,000 daily coronavirus cases by October
With more restrictions seemingly imminent, Holly wanted to know about this winter.
“Christmas,” Holly began. “What’s it going to look like?”
“Are we finally going to be able to hug our grandparents?” she continued.
I want Christmas to be as normal as possible.
Mr Hancock replied: “I want Christmas to be as normal as possible.
“And the more that we can control the virus now and stop the spread now, the easier it will be to have a Christmas as normal as possible – it’s what I hope for my family and I hope that we can get there.”
He stressed: “But, it means making these decisions now.”
Meanwhile, Holly grilled Mr Hancock on testing and how the government has responded to the pandemic.
She said: “I think we were all really surprised that when we were in serious lockdown at the time, we were really good with the rules.
“People really obeyed them and did what they have to do. We all did our bit.
“I think people get frustrated now because they feel like maybe, as a government, you haven’t done your bit.
'The really sad thing about this virus is that it thrives on the things that make life worth living', Health Secretary Matt Hancock tells @Schofe and @hollywills.
Stream #ThisMorning live on the ITV Hub 🕙👉 https://t.co/Q7IV485mUn pic.twitter.com/DhiInv0tC3
— This Morning (@thismorning) September 21, 2020
“We were all promised this amazing track and trace system, the testing was going to be incredible. So we were like, ‘we’ve done our bit, but you do your bit.’
“And that’s kind of the bit that is failing and here we go, it is now down to us to save the day by not seeing anybody and locking down.”
My Hancock replied: “I want to make sure we avoid the sort of lockdown we saw last time.”
However, Holly quickly hit back: “But it’s going backwards again, isn’t it?”
He replied: “The truth is that it is important for all of us to follow those rules and of course that includes us too.
“On testing, we have got this testing capability now, much bigger than last time.
“And one of the reasons that we know where it is more likely to spread is because we have got so much more testing than last time.
“But I understand the frustration.”
What else did people have to say about Christmas today?
Earlier on today’s instalment of Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan warned that viewers might have to miss Christmas this year.
“This virus has not got any less virulent, it doesn’t understand rule of six or Boris’ idea of having Christmas Day off as if somehow we can all amass on Christmas Day and then go back to the rules,” he said.
Read more: Scientists warn Boris Johnson there is ‘no alternative’ to second lockdown
“If we miss Christmas Day as a country, if that’s what we have to do, we have to do it. This is our war.
“People have to be realistic about that.”
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