Prime Minister and chancellor in u-turn over self-isolation

THE prime minister and

chancellor Rishi Sunak had originally planned to take daily tests rather than selfisolate following meetings last week with health secretary Sajid Javid who has tested positive for Covid-19.

But in a dramatic turnaround this morning Downing Street said the two ministers would be self-isolating rather than taking part in a daily contact testing pilot.

‘The prime minister has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace to say he is a contact of someone with Covid,’ a spokesman said.

‘He was at Chequers when contacted by Test and Trace and will remain there to isolate. He will not be taking part in the testing pilot.

‘He will continue to conduct meetings with ministers

remotely. The Chancellor has also been contacted and will

also isolate as required and won’t be taking part in the pilot.’

The disclosure that the PM and chancellor were initially planning to dodge quarantine rules angered thousands of people, who had been forced to miss work after being ‘pinged’ by the NHS Covid app.

Businesses have been pressing for the app to be overhauled and made less sensitive amid concerns that staff shortages mean they cannot operate effectively.

London Underground became the latest to succumb on Saturday when the Metropolitan Line was forced to close because of a lack of control room staff.

While most Covid restrictions lift in England on Monday the rules on selfisolating for contacts of people who test positive are not eased until August 16.

Then people who are double-jabbed will be able to take tests rather than quarantine. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said members of the public who are pinged should still self-isolate.