Ministers kept apart to minimise risk of government wipeout
MINISTERS and officials have drawn up rotas and are moving scheduled meetings to videocall to prevent the spread of coronavirus at the top of government, after a third Cabinet minister developed symptoms.
Yesterday, Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, said he is self-isolating after developing “mild” symptoms of Covid-19.
Mr Jack told The Sunday Telegraph he has been experiencing a dry cough, mild temperature and a sore throat, but has not been tested.
Some government departments are making sure their ministers are never in the room at the same time to minimise the risk of infection. One Cabinet minister said last night: “We’re making sure all ministers aren’t in together, and making sure there is resilience.”
Senior ministers who had meetings planned in Whitehall next week now aim to hold them remotely. One Cabinet minister said yesterday: “We are all working from home where possible”.
The private office of Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has been split into two groups of “alternates” working in their Whitehall office, with officials switching with one another to minimise contact.
Some departments have gone from thousands of staff working in their Whitehall offices to a handful in recent days, and are conducting meetings by videocall or telephone.
Meanwhile, other ministers are taking on additional responsibilities while
their colleagues self-isolate. Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, will hold today’s press conference in Downing Street. Mr Gove was drafted in to replace Mr Hancock on Friday.
On Wednesday, Mr Jack was on the Commons front bench with Boris Johnson on one side and Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, on the other.
Mr Jack said in a statement: “In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus. In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home.”
Asked yesterday if there were any other ministers with symptoms or getting tested, a Downing Street official replied: “None that we’ve been made aware of, no. “
On Friday, the Prime Minister and Mr Hancock announced they would be self-isolating after testing positive for the virus. Prof Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, is also self-isolating after showing symptoms.
Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, said Mr Johnson is showing only “mild symptoms” of coronavirus.
He said: “He continues to lead the Government’s effort in combating Covid-19. This morning, he held a video conference call and he will continue to lead right from the front on this.”
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, has been working from home since Friday. He was with the Prime Minister on Thursday evening during the applause for the NHS, although his officials said he stayed two metres away from Mr Johnson at all times.
The Treasury has said he is not selfisolating nor being tested because he does not have any symptoms. He will continue to work from home this week
“where possible”, a source said last night, and will aim to hold meetings remotely if possible.
Mr Johnson’s government papers and meals are left outside the door of the Chancellor’s study at No 11 Downing Street, where he continues to work while he is self-isolating.
A number of No 10 staff are also selfisolating. However, David Frost, the Prime Minister’s chief Europe adviser, is now out of self-isolation.
In a video message posted on Twitter, the Mr Johnson said: “I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.”
If Mr Johnson’s condition were to deteriorate and he was no longer able to work, Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, would be next in line to step in.
‘I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to lead the national fightback against coronavirus’