PM and Sunak not isolating despite being pinged over Javid’s positive test

Kieran Galpin

Do the rules apply to Johnson and Sunak?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will not self-isolate despite being alerted to the fact they have come into contact with someone infected with Covid.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid was forced to quarantine after catching the virus, with many other ministers believed to soon follow suit. However, Downing Street has confirmed that both Johnson and Sunak will instead adopt the ‘pilot scheme’ instead, where they get tested every day and do not have to isolate.

The pilot scheme is reportedly random, so presumably the PM and chancellor are just very lucky to have been chosen.

How about the school teachers, transport workers and health workers getting a chance to be part of this test pilot or is it only for the privileged few? People have stuck to the rules and done the right thing, Boris Johnson is taking them for granted.

— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) July 18, 2021

A 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.”

Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid and was forced to isolate until he gets the results of a PCR test. Posting to Twitter, the newly appointed health secretary said he was “grateful” for having two jabs and that the symptoms are “very mild”.

This morning I tested positive for Covid. I’m waiting for my PCR result, but thankfully I have had my jabs and symptoms are mild.

Please make sure you come forward for your vaccine if you haven’t already. pic.twitter.com/NJYMg2VGzT

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 17, 2021

This all comes with Freedom Day just a day away. Despite the government being heavily criticised by the scientific community over a reopening that many consider to be premature, Johnson continues ahead with the plans.

Professor Chris Whitty said: “I don’t think we should underestimate the fact that we could get into trouble again surprisingly fast.

It has also been criticised by figures in the scientific community overseas.

“UK policy affects not only UK citizens, it affects the world. We cannot understand why this [unlocking] is happening,” said Professor Jose M Martin-Moreno from the University of Valencia.

What ‘new pilot’? Where is that for the people of #WestYorkshire?

For those working in restaurants & transport? Nurseries & police?

Yet again public do the right thing while government do what they want.

This isn’t leadership. It’s a con. https://t.co/OmmywjvCMY

— Tracy For Mayor 🌹 (@TracyBrabin) July 18, 2021

Professor Christina Pagel, a member of the Independent UK Sage panel, said: “Because of our position as a global travel hub any variant that becomes dominant in the UK will likely spread to the rest of the world.

“We saw it with Alpha variant. I’m absolutely sure that we have contributed to the rise of the Delta variant in North America and Europe. UK [government] policy doesn’t just affect us – it affects everybody.”

Earlier this summer, Michael Gove faced criticism after he too tested daily as part of a scheme, rather than isolate after being pinged. At the same time, two England players – Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell – were forced to self isolate for 10 days after coming into contact with Billy Gilmour, who had tested positive for Covid.