THE Tory Health Secretary has been rebuked by grieving families after suggesting people should not "cower" from coronavirus.

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice joined opposition MPs and a public health expert in branding the Sajid Javid’s remark insulting to people who have shielded and those who stayed at home to protect society.

The Cabinet minister said on Saturday he had made a "full recovery" and that his "symptoms were very mild, thanks to amazing vaccines", of which he had received two doses.

UPDATE: Tory Health Secretary forced to apologise for 'insensitive' Covid comment

"Please, if you haven't yet, get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus," he wrote on Twitter.

Co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Jo Goodman said Javid's comments "are deeply insensitive on a number of levels".

"Not only are they hurtful to bereaved families, implying our loved ones were too cowardly to fight the virus, but they insult all those still doing their best to protect others from the devastation this horrific virus can bring," she added.

"Words matter and the flippancy and carelessness of this comment has caused deep hurt and further muddied the waters of the Government's dangerously mixed messaging."

Public health expert Devi Sridhar said his remarks would be "painful to read for those who were severely ill" and those who lost loved ones to Covid-19.

The professor at the University of Edinburgh, wrote: "It wasn't because they were weak, just unnecessarily exposed to a virus.

"And wanting to avoid getting Covid isn't 'cowering' – it's being sensible & looking out for others."

Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy questioned his use of the word cower, in words echoed by Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.

"129,000 Brits have died from Covid under your Government's watch," Lammy wrote.

"Don't denigrate people for trying to keep themselves and their families safe."

LibDem health spokeswoman Munira Wilson said Javid's tweet was "outrageous" while thousands remain in hospital with Covid-19.

"His careless words have insulted every man, woman and child who has followed the rules and stayed at home to protect others," she said in a statement.

"He owes them all, especially the millions who are shielding, an apology."

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford added: "Cower from this virus. Really. The job of Govt is to keep people safe. To show empathy with folk. To seek to protect people when necessary. This is not acceptable. You might want to reflect and think about your role as health secretary in England."

Javid received a positive test result on July 17 for a coronavirus infection that ultimately sent Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak into isolation as contacts.

Johnson's quarantine in his Chequers country residence is expected to finish at the end of the day on Monday, as is Sunak's.

The pair initially tried to avoid isolation by saying they were taking part in a testing pilot, but backed down in the face of widespread public criticism.

Javid replaced Matt Hancock as Health Secretary last month when the scandal-hit predecessor stood down amid public outrage after leaked CCTV footage showed him kissing an aide in breach of coronavirus rules.

The successor has been seen as more strongly in favour of lifting coronavirus restrictions and most remaining legal rules in England were ended on Monday.