Jonathan Van-Tam misses knighthood ceremony due to Covid

Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam missed his knighthood ceremony because he caught Covid.

Prof Van-Tam stepped down in March after five years as the deputy chief medical officer to start an academic role at the University of Nottingham.

He was knighted in the New Year Honours for his work in the pandemic and was due to be invested on Tuesday.

He also missed watching his beloved Boston United in the National League North play-offs.

Prof Van-Tam - who was diagnosed with Covid last week - rose to prominence during the early months of the pandemic helping to explain coronavirus with the use of colourful metaphors, often based on football.

Prof Van-Tam was recently given the freedom of Boston, where he grew up

Along with Prof Sir Chris Whitty, he regularly appeared at Downing Street briefings explaining the latest changes in rules. Both were knighted in January.

As well as his investiture ceremony, Prof Van-Tam missed two of Boston United's play-off matches, which he said was "absolutely dreadful".

He hopes to make the final against York City at the weekend and is dreaming of a win.

'Dancing around the living room'

Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Prof Van-Tam said: "The big tragedy is - if you can call it a tragedy - I got Covid, so I wasn't able to get to the Kidderminster game and I wasn't able to get to the Fylde game either.

"My entire family went but I couldn't make it."

Instead he celebrated at home "dancing around the living room with a beer".

He added: "This shows us that much as we'd all like to think this pandemic is over and Covid has gone away, it hasn't gone - it's something we are going to have live with for many years to come.

"We just have to try and be careful and protect each other."

In a statement, the university says he is fully vaccinated and currently working from home and "almost completely recovered".

"He is very disappointed not to have attended his investiture yesterday as was planned, however it will be rescheduled and he is very much looking forward to receiving his knighthood for services to public health," it added.