Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to avoid self-isolation despite Covid contact

The Prime Minister and Chancellor were contacted by NHS Test and Trace overnight. But instead of going into self-isolation, the Downing Street chiefs will instead participate in a daily testing pilot scheme which will allow them to keep working in Number 10.

It comes after Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced he had tested positive for coronavirus. He is self-isolating as per standard health guidance.

*UPDATE: Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak U-turn on plan to skip self-isolation*

The result was the signal for NHS Test and Trace to begin tracking down his recent close contacts and instructing them to quarantine.

It was thought it could lead to a swathe of ministers and senior officials being confined to their homes when lockdown restrictions in England end on Monday.

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

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

Here’s a handy reminder of which test you may need and when: pic.twitter.com/cX7Ypye3X6

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 17, 2021

READ MORE: England should copy Scotland and keep some virus restrictions, expert urges

It raised the prospect that "freedom day" would descend into chaos with ministers reduced to welcoming the changes remotely from their living rooms.

But No 10 has now confirmed Johnson and Sunak will continue their duties thanks to the pilot testing scheme.

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 contacting tracing pilot to allow them to continue to work for Downing Street.

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

The pilot testing scheme has been running on Downing Street for several weeks.

READ MORE: 'Dangerous and stupid': Quarantine exemption for Johnson and Sunak sparks fury

Last month, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove sparked anger by using the testing programme instead of going into isolation.

He was notified he may have come into contact with someone who had coronavirus on a trip to Portugal.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had gone to Porto with his son to watch the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the test-and-release pilot being used by Johnson and Sunak was being trialled by about 20 public sector organisations including Border Force and Transport for London.

The two minsters will be tested at a special testing centre which has been set up in Downing Street.

"It is correct that the Cabinet Office and Downing Street are part of the pilot. I am not aware that other [government] departments are," Jenrick told Sky News.

"It means that you can be tested every day in specialist asymptomatic testing centres such at the one that has been set up in Downing Street.

"It means that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will be able to conduct the most essential Government meetings but the rest of their time will have to be spent isolating and not meeting up with family or friends or socialising. So it is relatively restrictive.

"I entirely appreciate that this isn't available yet to wider members of the public and the frustration that they might feel listening to this.

"Other members of the public who are pinged will have to self-isolate in the usual way and that is a really important part of our plan to keep Covid under control."