UK Minister Apologises for Urging People Not to ‘Cower From’ COVID

UK Minister Apologises for Urging People Not to ‘Cower From’ COVID
Britain's new Health Secretary Sajid Javid holds a face mask, as he leaves the Downing Street in London, Britain, on June 30, 2021. Henry Nicholls/Reuters
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LONDON—British health minister Sajid Javid apologised for and deleted a tweet urging people to take a COVID-19 vaccine and not to “cower” from the virus, saying on Sunday he had made “a poor choice of word.”

Javid, who replaced Matt Hancock as health minister last month after his predecessor stepped down for breaking COVID rules by kissing an aide in his office, had been criticised for using the word “cower” when tens of thousands in Britain have died from the virus and many are trying to keep safe.