Health Secretary Sajid Javid has "sincerely apologized" after being heavily criticized over his comments about people "cowering" from the novel coronavirus.

Days before COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in England last week, Javid revealed he had tested positive, and it was then confirmed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak had come into contact with him.

Initially, they said they would not self-isolate as they were taking part in an alternative self-testing program, before reversing that decision after an angry public response.

On Saturday, Javid tweeted that he had made a "full recovery" and added "Please - if you haven't yet - get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus".

Webster's dictionary defines cower as meaning "to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays", and both his choice of words and their message were attacked for their insensitivity.

"I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society," said Javid on Sunday, adding that "it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologize".

Jo Goodman, co-founder of support group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said his "flippant and careless" comments "further muddied the waters of the government's dangerously mixed messaging".

"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.

Devi Sridhar, chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, tweeted that the comments would be "painful to read" for the bereaved and those still struggling with the virus.

"Wanting to avoid getting COVID-19 isn't 'cowering' - it's being sensible and looking out for others," she added.

Liberal Democrats health spokeswoman Munira Wilson said Javid's "careless words have insulted every man, woman and child who has followed the rules and stayed at home to protect others". Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted " (National Health Service) and social care heroes and all of our key workers did not 'cower'. They risked their lives to keep us all safe. Many lost their lives because the government failed to keep them safe and instead 'let the virus rip'."

Ian Blackford, the leader of the Scottish National Party parliamentary group, said Javid "might want to reflect and think" about his position, having only taken over from Matt Hancock as health secretary at the end of June.

"The job of government is to keep people safe. To show empathy with folk. To seek to protect people when necessary. This is not acceptable," he added.

The anger at Javid's remarks comes just days after Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings released what he alleged to be WhatsApp messages from the prime minister, showing that Johnson had resisted imposing another lockdown in the fall of 2020 because COVID-19 was mainly affecting the elderly, and also that he "did not buy all this stuff" about the National Health Service being overwhelmed by the pandemic.