Covid: Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak pinged by Test and Trace after Javid positive test

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leave 10 Downing Street London, ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leave 10 Downing Street London, ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Jonathan Brady
Charlie Bayliss

By Charlie Bayliss


Published: 18/07/2021

- 08:11

Updated: 18/07/2021

- 11:00

The latest U-turn comes hours after they were set to take part in a daily testing scheme which would have allowed them to avoid isolating

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will now self-isolate after being contacted by NHS Track and Trace, just hours after they were set to take part in a daily testing pilot scheme which would have allowed them to avoid quarantine.

Downing Street confirmed both the prime minister and the Chancellor were deemed to be in close-contact with someone with coronavirus, following the Health Secretary Sajid Javid's positive Covid-19 PCR test.


The Prime Minister is reported to have had a lengthy meeting with Mr Javid at Number 10 on Friday.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restrictive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren’t the same for everyone is wrong.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid leaves following the NHS service of commemoration and thanksgiving to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Picture date: Monday July 5, 2021.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid leaves following the NHS service of commemoration and thanksgiving to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Picture date: Monday July 5, 2021.
Stefan Rousseau

“To that end I’ll be self-isolating as normal and not taking part in the pilot.”

In a message posted on his Twitter feed, Mr Javid said: “My positive result has now been confirmed by PCR test, so I will continue to isolate and work from home.”

It is unclear whether other ministers and senior officials will be confined to their homes when lockdown restrictions in England finally end on Monday.

The timing could hardly have been worse for Government with scientists voicing increasing concern at the idea of ending all statutory legal controls while cases continue to surge.

The Liberal Democrats said that Mr Javid’s positive test underlined the case for Government to rethink its plans.

Health spokeswoman Munira Wilson said: “This shows no-one is safe from this deadly virus.

“By easing all restrictions with cases surging, they are experimenting with people’s lives.

“Right now, they are pursuing a strategy of survival of the fittest, where the young and clinically vulnerable will be left defenceless.”

Mr Johnson has repeatedly said he wants the lifting of lockdown to be “irreversible”, but in recent days ministers have begun to sound more cautious.

While social-distancing rules in England will come to an end, Government guidelines advise face masks should still be worn in enclosed spaces such as in shops and on public transport, while pubs and bars should be table service only.

Meanwhile the Government is facing calls from business to overhaul the NHS Covid app amid growing alarm at the numbers of staff missing work after being “pinged” and told to self-isolate.

The London Underground became the latest to succumb with the Metropolitan line forced to close on Saturday due to a shortage of control room staff.

Earlier Mr Javid said he had taken a lateral flow test on Saturday morning after feeling “a bit groggy” the evening before. He said he had recorded the positive result, despite having had both doses of the vaccine, but was only experiencing “mild” symptoms.

Mr Javid was only appointed to the post last month following the resignation of Matt Hancock after CCTV footage emerged showing him kissing an aide in his office in breach of social distancing rules.

He is seen by Tory MPs impatient with lockdown measures as being noticeably keener than his predecessor on easing restrictions.

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