“This leaflet is full of malicious lies': Dangerous conspiracy theorists have been pushing leaflets through doors in Harborough claiming Covid-19 is a hoax

A “dangerous” leaflet handed out in Market Harborough peddling “malicious lies” about Covid-19 and the vaccines has been blasted by Leicestershire’s furious top health chief.

Outraged Mike Sandys, the county’s Director of Public Health, said the people behind the lurid flyer pushed through people’s letterboxes in the town risk ending up with “blood on their hands”.

And he called on residents who receive the so-called Public Notice Covid-19 Update headlined ‘Is the cure worse than the cause?’ to throw it in the bin straight away.

Furious Mike told the Harborough Mail: “These people seem to thrive on dangerous conspiracy theories and whipping up hoax stories.

“So the coronavirus is one big hoax is it?

“Well try telling the families and loved ones of the 120,000-plus people who have died of Covid in the UK alone over the last year or so that their deaths were a hoax.

“And try telling them that the heartbreaking funerals of their friends and loved ones were all one big hoax.

“I cannot even imagine what they must be thinking if one of these leaflets drops through their door.”

The vastly-experienced medical expert and community health leader insisted: “The people producing this total rubbish face ending up with blood on their hands if others believe them.

“And there is always a minority of gullible people out there who fall for this rubbish.

“Well I’d say this to everyone – don’t let them pull your strings.

“The strange thing is that there are these conspiracy theorists who don’t mind spouting absolute nonsense to challenge the science.

“But who actually challenges them and the unbelievable stuff that they’re peddling on social media across the world?”

Mike said a tiny percentage of people will believe the wild claims about the coronavirus, the pandemic’s true death toll and life-saving vaccines created to combat the killer illness.

“There are always some who will be taken in – and they will then amplify this twisted message and sow the seeds of doubt in other’s people’s minds.

“This leaflet is full of malicious lies.

“I could immediately demolish every single assertion made.

“It’s simply complete, utter lies,” said Mike.

“But by being pushed through letterboxes in Market Harborough the damage is already being done.

“And this sort of action is drawing vital time and energy from me and my team at this crucial time as we are finally getting on top of the pandemic.

“I am urging people now – don’t even bother reading this stuff.

“Throw it on the fire or stick it in the bin.

“There is nothing in there that adds any value that people can learn from,” insisted the county’s health chief.

“It’s funny because when coronavirus cases and deaths were really high in January we heard nothing from these people.

“But now that we are pushing this Covid threat back they come back out of their little hidey holes and reappear to peddle their dangerous rubbish.

“Do not believe a word that they write about the virus, the vaccines or anything else.

“I will say this to the people of Market Harborough and across Leicestershire - please go and get vaccinated when you are invited to.

“The vaccines are the only way that we are going to combat Covid and finally defeat it.”