Carrie Symonds today revealed she has signed a petition calling for an end to wet markets across the world.
The Prime Minister’s pregnant fiancée, who was forced to self-isolate after contracting coronavirus, took to social media to share the ‘End the Trade’ petition.
The 32-year-old wrote: ‘Have signed this petition calling for an end to the global wildlife trade once and for all. Please do consider doing the same.
‘This crisis gives us the chance to start doing things better. Let this be one of those things.’
The Prime Minister’s pregnant fiancee, who was forced to self-isolate after contracting coronavirus, took to social media to share the ‘End the Trade’ petition
The 32-year-old wrote: ‘Have signed this petition calling for an end to the global wildlife trade once and for all. Please do consider doing the same’
Miss Symonds joins more than 22,000 people who have put their signatures to the petition.
Earlier this month, Miss Symonds, who is expecting their baby in early summer, revealed she had to separate from Boris Johnson after they both caught the virus
She later admitted there had been ‘very dark’ times as Boris battled coronavirus in hospital.
On April 12, the couple were pictured together in the back of a car heading for Chequers with their dog Dilyn.
Earlier this month, more than 200 wildlife groups worldwide issued a call in an open letter, urging countries to shut down wild animal markets such as the one in China where coronavirus is believed to have started.
In their letter to the World Health Organisation, they argued the move would stop future pandemics.
Miss Symonds joins more than 22,000 people who have put their signatures to the petition
Earlier this month, more than 200 wildlife groups worldwide issued a call in an open letter, urging countries to shut down wild animal markets such as the one in China where coronavirus is believed to have started
On another day in coronavirus news:
- Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves accused the Government of ignoring offers from British manufacturers to fill the gap.
- Dentists and anaesthetists became the latest groups to warn that they are working without adequate PPE.
- Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England, warned that the NHS’s supply of face masks could be jeopardised if the Government begins advising the public to wear them, saying ‘clear evidence’ would be needed before advice was changed.
- The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Sage, which advises the Government, will reportedly consider the evidence at a meeting today.
- Manjeet Riyat, the first Sikh to work as an A&E consultant in the UK, was named among the latest healthcare workers to die after contracting Covid-19.
The evidence suggests Covid-19 has animal origins, most likely from bats, and may have come from a ‘wet market’ – where live and dead creatures are sold for eating – in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Other pandemics, including Sars and Ebola, have also been linked to viruses spreading from animals to people.
Dr Mark Jones, head of policy at Born Free, one of the charities involved, said: ‘Once Covid-19 is behind us, returning to business as usual cannot be an option.
‘We need to dig deep and reset our fundamental relationship with the natural world, rethink our place in it and treat our planet and all its inhabitants with a great deal more respect, for its sake and for ours.’
The letter also wants the WHO to raise the alarm about the risks posed to human health by the wildlife trade.
The charities back initiatives to find alternative sources of protein for people who survive by eating wild animals.
Dr Jones said markets selling live wild animals were found in many countries and had rapidly expanded.
The trade in wild animals is also a major factor in global declines in wildlife, he added. The letter was co-ordinated by Born Free and its Lion Coalition partners.
It has been backed by other groups including the Bat Conservation Trust and Zoological Society of London.
Last month, a survey by wildlife charity WWF in Hong Kong, Japan, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam found 93 per cent backed official action to eliminate illegal markets.
Miss Symonds, who is expecting their baby in early summer, felt ‘incredibly lucky’ as Mr Johnson was discharged from hospital.
The 32-year-old posted on Twitter: ‘I cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough. The staff at St Thomas’ Hospital have been incredible. I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you.’
She added: ‘There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones.’
Miss Symonds is understood to have written to Mr Johnson to boost his spirits, and sent a scan of their unborn baby.
Chinese food market at the epicentre of deadly virus outbreak was selling KOALAS along with snakes, rats and wolf pups for locals to eat
The Chinese food market at the centre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak claimed they were selling live koalas, snakes, rats and wolf pups for locals to cook and eat.
The Wuhan market came under scrutiny after Chinese officials said they believed the virus originated in a wild animal sold at the food emporium.
The market was closed and was labelled ‘ground zero’ by local authorities.
A list of prices for one of the businesses operating at the market showed a menagerie of animals available for sale including live foxes, crocodiles, wolf puppies, giant salamanders, snakes, rats, peacocks, porcupines, koalas and game meats, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Wuhan market came under scrutiny after Chinese officials said they believed the virus originated in a wild animal sold at the food emporium
The food menu showed a price of 70 RMB for koala meat.
Even Chinese social media users were surprised at at the wildlife being sold at the market.
‘Just took a closer look at the viral wild animal menu – they even eat Koalas’, one wrote on Chinese language site, Weibo.
‘There’s nothing Chinese people won’t eat’.
There are 112 live animals and animal products on the list.
‘Freshly slaughtered, frozen and delivered to your door,’ said the price list for the vendor called Wild Game Animal Husbandry for the Masses.
Gao Fu, director of the Chinese centre for disease control and prevention, said authorities believe the virus likely came from ‘wild animals at the seafood market’, though the exact source remained undetermined.
A list of prices for one of the businesses operating at the market showed ‘live tree bears’ which is the Chinese for ‘koala’ (circled above)