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Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak Now Will Isolate After Being Contacted By Test And Trace In Government U-Turn

Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak Now Will Isolate After Being Contacted By Test And Trace In Government U-Turn

The pair had announced earlier today that they were taking part in a pilot daily testing scheme

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have now said they will be isolating after being contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had previously stated they would not be isolating, as they were taking part in a pilot daily testing scheme.

However, following a backlash over the announcement, the decision has been reversed.

In a statement to his Twitter account, Mr Sunak said: "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.

"To that end I'll be self isolating as normal and not taking part in the pilot."

The pilot testing scheme is only available to certain institutions and requires those participating to have asymptomatic testing set up in the workplace.

While eligible individuals - assessed on a case-by-case basis - may continue going to their workplace, they must self-isolate when not working.

The daily contact testing workplace pilot currently covers 20 organisations from private and public sectors, including Downing Street, Network Rail, TfL (Transport for London), Heathrow Airport and Border Force.

Rishi Sunak will no longer be participating in the daily testing pilot scheme.
PA

Earlier this morning, Number 10 had stated that this would allow the pair to continue to go about their ministerial business.

A No. 10 spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister and Chancellor have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace as contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid.

"They will be participating in the daily contact testing pilot to allow them to continue to work from Downing Street.

"They will be conducting only essential government business during this period."

This comes after the Heath Secretary Sajid Javid announced yesterday (17 July) that he had tested positive for the virus and would be self-isolating.

He said: "My positive result has now been confirmed by PCR test, so I will continue to isolate and work from home."

Javid is reported to have had a lengthy meeting with the Prime Minister at No. 10 on Friday (16 July).

While many coronavirus restrictions will lift in England tomorrow (19 July), the rules on self-isolating for contacts of people who test positive are not eased until 16 August - when those who are double-jabbed will be able to take tests rather than quarantine at home.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said members of the public who are pinged by the NHS app should still self-isolate in the meantime.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "It is correct that the Cabinet Office and Downing Street are part of the pilot. I am not aware that other (government) departments are."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Prime Minister, UK politics, NHS, Boris Johnson, rishi sunak, Politics