‘Rules are for little people:’ Javid tests positive for Covid but Sunak and Johnson will not self isolate

Sajid Javid was self-isolating on Saturday after testing positive for Covid, as senior public health leaders from across the UK accused Boris Johnson of “letting Covid rip” by relaxing legal restrictions.

The health secretary, who is fully vaccinated, said he had mild symptoms and confirmed the result of a lateral flow test with a positive PCR test. “I will continue to isolate and work from home,” he tweeted.

However there is anger as it has been reported that the PM and Sunak will not have to self isolate.

Johnson and Sunak have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace after working with Javid. But they will be participating in a daily contact testing pilot to allow them to continue to work from Downing Street No 10 said.

530,126 other people were pinged last week and legally had to isolate.

Rate of infection

The UK has reported a further 41 deaths on Saturday from coronavirus, dropping from 49 the day before.

Overall cases, however, have risen to 54,674 from 51,870 on Friday and are up more than 40% over the past week.

Since last Sunday, 284 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test – an increase over the previous week of 47.9%.

There has been widespread dismay from public health officials at the prime minister’s claim that people must “learn to live” with Covid and “exercise their personal responsibility”.

In a letter to the Observer, all four of the UK’s independent public health bodies warn: “Living with Covid-19 is not the same thing as letting it rip. We should proceed carefully, not recklessly … The government must promote effective public health measures because personal responsibility will not be enough.”

Reactions

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? Breaking:

Johnson and Sunak will use the “daily testing pilot” to avoid self-isolation and keep working in Number 10 – despite being pinged pic.twitter.com/zHSbjE4JmX

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) July 18, 2021