Coronavirus: What did Dominic Cummings do and when? A timeline

Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings is facing more questions after allegations that he made a second trip to Durham during the lockdown.

Some time towards the end of March, he travelled with his wife and child to a family home in Durham after his spouse developed coronavirus symptoms.

He said he went to the North East to be close to relatives so he would have help looking after his four-year-old child if he himself became unwell. On 30 March, Downing Street said Mr Cummings had COVID-19 symptoms.

It was also reported by the Sunday Mirror and The Observer that he was seen on 19 April near the property, days after being photographed in Downing Street, having returned from Durham to London.

Mr Cummings has faced calls to resign following the allegations.

Here is a timeline of the lockdown measures and Mr Cummings’s movements:

18 March

At his Downing Street briefing the PM said: “Everyone – everyone – must follow the advice to protect themselves and their families, but also – more importantly – to protect the wider public. So stay at home for seven days if you think you have the symptoms…

“Whole household to stay at home for 14 days if one member in that household thinks he/she has the symptoms…Children should not be left with older grandparents, or older relatives, who may be particularly vulnerable or fall into some of the vulnerable groups.”

22 March

Government guidance states: “People must remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk…Leaving your home – the place you live – to stay at another home is not allowed.”

23 March

Strict lockdown rules are imposed which mean people can only leave their houses for essential travel.

In a TV address to the nation, Boris Johnson says people must stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus.

27 March

Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus.

Mr Cummings is seen running along Downing Street shortly after the prime minister posts a video saying he has contracted the virus.

Weekend of 28 and 29 March

Over this weekend, Mr Cummings is said to have developed coronavirus symptoms.

30 March

Downing Street confirms Mr Cummings is self-isolating after developing symptoms of the virus.

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31 March

According to a joint investigation by The Guardian and the Daily Mirror, Mr Cummings travelled to his family’s farm in Durham – and it was on this date that Mr Cummings’ family were spoken to by the police.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “On Tuesday, March 31, our officers were made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city.

“Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house.

“In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel.”

Downing Street has denied the police spoke to Mr Cummings or his family – and said the aide had acted “reasonably” and in line with lockdown rules.

“Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for,” Number 10 said in a statement.

“His sister and nieces had volunteered to help so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed. His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside.”

10 April

Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said being too ill to look after a small child was an “exceptional circumstance” and she pointed to accessing family support, among other options.

12 April

Mr Cummings and his family were seen walking by the River Tees in Barnard Castle, 30 miles from Durham, before getting into a car around lunchtime, reports by the Sunday Mirror suggested on 23 May.

14 April

Mr Cummings is pictured in Downing Street after recovering from coronavirus symptoms.

19 April

More than a fortnight after the first sighting of Mr Cummings in Durham, and five days after being photographed back at work in Downing Street, he was reportedly seen in the North East again.

Reports suggest that on the second visit, passers-by saw Mr Cummings at Houghall Woods, near his parents’ home.

25 April

In a Spectator column, Mr Cummings’s wife, Mary Wakefield, detailed his illness.

“I felt breathless, sometimes achy, but Dom couldn’t get out of bed,” she said.

“Day in, day out for 10 days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way.”

13 May

The government lifts the restriction on how far people can drive to reach the countryside and take exercise.

Visits and overnight stays to second homes remain prohibited.

22 May

The Daily Mirror and The Guardian break the news of Mr Cummings’s trip to Durham.

23 May

Downing Street appears to be standing by Mr Cummings, saying in a statement: “Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.”

“At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.

“His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines. Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally.”

Mr Cummings also told journalists outside his home: “I behaved reasonably and legally”.

When a reporter suggested that his actions did not look good, he responded: “Who cares about good looks?

“It’s a question of doing the right thing. It’s not about what you guys think.”

Later at the Downing Street briefing, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Mr Cummings had the prime minister’s “full support”.

He added that Mr Johnson was aware that Mr Cummings was unwell and that he was in lockdown, and that it had always been permissible for families to travel to be closer to their relatives as long as they “go to that location and stay in that location”.

Deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries, clarified that travelling during lockdown was permissible if “there was an extreme risk to life”, with a “safeguarding clause” attached to all advice to prevent vulnerable people being stuck at home with no support.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party and the SNP wrote a letter to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill demanding an inquiry into what happened.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said in a letter: “The British people have made important and painful sacrifices to support the national effort, including being away from family in times of need.

“It is therefore vital that the government can reassure the public that its most senior figures have been adhering to the same rules as everyone else.”

Durham Police released a new statement in the evening, stating it was made aware that Mr Cummings was present at an address in the city.

The force added that an officer spoke with Mr Cummings’s father the following morning at his own request, who confirmed his son had travelled with his family to the North East and was “self-isolating in part of the property”. Officers deemed that no further action was required.

In another evening statement, a Number 10 spokeswoman accused the Mirror and The Guardian of writing “inaccurate” stories about Mr Cummings, including claims he had returned to Durham after going back to work in Downing Street on 14 April.

“We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers,” the spokeswoman said.

24 May

When asked by a journalist outside his home whether he had returned to Durham in April, Mr Cummings replied: “No, I did not.”

A host of Conservative MPs call for him to resign or for Mr Johnson to sack him, including Sir Roger Gale, Simon Hoare and Caroline Noakes.

Eyewitness Robin Lees, a 70-year-old retired chemistry teacher, tells Sky News he saw someone who “looked like” Dominic Cummings on a family walk 25 miles outside of Durham during lockdown and wrote down what he described as a “distinctive” number plate.

Later, Mr Cummings was seen entering Downing Street.

During the coronavirus briefing on Sunday afternoon, the prime minister defended Mr Cummings, saying he “acted responsibly, legally and with integrity”.

Mr Johnson said his top aide “followed the instincts of every father and every parent”, adding, “I do not mark him down for that”.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: What did Dominic Cummings do and when? A timeline