British officials defend Johnson aide’s travel

Bloomberg

UK government officials defended Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who is facing calls to resign after reports that he broke the UK government’s lockdown rules.
Cummings “believes he behaved reasonably and legally,” according to a statement from an unidentified spokesman for 10 Downing Street. He was seen more than 250 miles (400 kilometres) from his London home shortly after a government official said he was self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms.
UK citizens are under orders not to travel, and to stay at home. Cummings’s parents live in Durham, in northern England. It was essential for Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for, and his sister and nieces offered to help, according to the emailed statement. It was issued the morning after reports in the Guardian and Mirror.
The current government advice says “Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.”
The episode calls into question under what circumstances travel is allowed and could
further complicate the government’s attempts to communicate how it will relax the lockdown.