Good Morning Britain host Sean Fletcher was slammed by viewers on Wednesday over a “thoughtless” comment, during a debate about whether schools should remain open.
He was referencing an article he said he’d read this week which stated “Only six under 19s with no underlying conditions died from Covid-19 in England”.
Amid soaring cases of coronavirus across the UK, with record amounts of daily cases, many have called for schools in England and the UK to delay reopening in January.
There’s been a rise in cases of Covid-19 in young people too, while more places across England are to be plunged into Tier 4 very soon.
Sean and co-host Charlotte Hawkins spoke to guests Jacqui Smith and Inaya Folarin Iman, asking whether children should be kept at home.
(Image: ITV)
Jacqui shared her thoughts that schools should remain open, as the education of the children was important.
Inaya was in agreement, stating the young have been hit hard by lockdown especially with their education.
But it was when Sean referenced an article that perhaps backed keeping schools from closing, that viewers were left outraged.
(Image: ITV)
He said: “I was reading in The Telegraph earlier in the week that only six under 19s who don’t have underlying health issues have died of Covid.
“I mean only six of them. That ties in with what Jacqui [Smith] is saying – schools need to be open, and children shouldn’t be punished for a thing that is actually effecting the older generation a lot more. People like me.”
Taking to Twitter, viewers believed it was “thoughtless” for Sean to make the comment, and said his wording was “awful”.
(Image: ITV)
One viewer wrote: ” #GMB Presenter ‘ONLY 6 under 16s have died.’ Well that’s ok then. Must be a great comfort to the parents of the 1 year old that died last week. How many elderly have died from contact with infected under 16s?”
Another agreed: “What an awful thing for him to say. And no one has considered the many kids in school who do have health conditions.”
A third added: “*Only* six children have died…awful thing to say. And how about children spreading it to others especially with this new strain. Werent they super spreaders not long ago.”
Another said: “Only six children have died from COVID. I really hope the parents of them ONLY SIX aren’t watching you this morning.”
A fifth echoed this by tweeting: “Thought that too. Thoughtless comment.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/gmb-fans-slam-sean-fletcher-23238855