Boris Johnson, as he has longed to be all his life, was first. The news the prime minister had tested positive for COVID-19 was greeted not with surprise, but with weary expectation. A few short weeks before, Johnson had boasted about going to a hospital and shaking hands with everyone he met, including those with symptoms. The government had sought to downplay the dangers of the virus for as long as possible, suggesting publicly and privately they might allow it to spread among the public to yield “herd immunity.” They have only been forced to adopt the stringent measures seen in other countries because of public pressure and a rising death toll tracking Italy’s trajectory.

Several short hours later, both the health secretary, Matt Hancock, and the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, confirmed they had tested positive. Shortly after the announcement of Johnson’s positive test, his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, was seen literally fleeing Downing Street, likely to avoid being caught flouting self-isolation rules (rather than in an attempt to flee the prime minister’s plague pit in fear). Cummings is now self-isolating after also developing symptoms over the weekend.

The top ranks of government have fallen to the virus, and now the National Health Service (NHS) looks set to face increasing and far-reaching pressures and partial collapse due to the Conservatives’ long- and short-term decision-making. Over the weekend, three doctors were confirmed to have died of the virus after treating patients. Doctors and health care workers have been constantly raising the alarm, risking their jobs in speaking out about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to adequately safeguard their own health while attempting to save lives.