AFP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating
after someone he was in contact with tested positive for the
coronavirus, a spokesman said Sunday.
“He will carry on working from Downing Street, including on
leading the Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” the
Downing Street spokesman added.
His confinement comes as negotiations with the European Union
over Brexit enter a decisive final sprint, with critical
announcements being trailed — ahead of Johnson’s isolation — by
Downing Street to tackle the virus.
The prime minister was informed that he should self-isolate
after being contacted by the country’s Test and Trace scheme.
Johnson was hospitalised with the coronavirus in April. This
time around, “the PM is well and does not have any symptoms of
Covid-19”, the spokesman said.
A source added that Johnson, who was severely affected during
the earlier bout, feels “good” and that the PM would continue to
work, “in particular to lead the government’s response to the
coronavirus pandemic”.
Downing Street has not said how long Johnson will be in
isolation for. However, the UK National Health Service rules state
individuals should isolate for 14 days.
The PM intends to address the country during his confinement,
Downing Street said.
The announcement came after Johnson met a small group of MPs at
Downing Street on Thursday for around 35 minutes, including one who
subsequently developed symptoms of Covid-19 and has now tested
positive.
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Johnson’s self-isolation risks upsetting a busy week as the UK
enters its third week of reimposed restrictions and the PM was due
to chair a series of key Covid-19 meetings.
The renewed stay-at-home restrictions and business closures came
into force earlier this month and have been met with scepticism
that they can halt the worst death toll from the virus in
Europe.
The UK is supposed to be returning to a regionalised approach —
lifting the sweeping lockdown currently in place — from December
2.
But the country remains hard hit, recording more than 50,000
deaths linked to the coronavirus from over 1.3 million positive
cases.
Johnson, 56, spent three nights in intensive care when he got
Covid-19, later crediting hospital staff with saving his life.
The British leader has said that his coronavirus case was
seriously worsened by being overweight, but that he had since lost
26 pounds (12 kilograms).
“I am going to continue that diet, because you’ve got to search
for the hero inside of yourself, in the hope that that individual
is considerably slimmer,” he joked last month.
-AFP