Boris Johnson, UK finance minister confined to office work after COVID exposure

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Reuters
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his finance minister Rishi Sunak. Photo: Files
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his finance minister Rishi Sunak. Photo: Files 

  • Health minister Sajid Javid on Saturday said he had tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Jonson and Sunak are taking take part in a pilot study that allows them to continue working from offices, and only self-isolate when not working.
  • Typically, anyone identified as a contact by the tracing scheme would be required by law to self isolate for 10 days.


LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Finance Minister Rishi Sunak have been confined to office work and are undergoing daily COVID-19 testing after being in contact with a coronavirus positive person.

Health minister Sajid Javid on Saturday said he had tested positive for COVID-19.

“The Prime Minister and Chancellor have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace as contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID," a statement from Johnsons's Downing Street office said on Sunday.

Typically, anyone identified as a contact by the tracing scheme would be required by law to self isolate for 10 days.

However, the government's two most senior ministers will instead take part in a pilot study that allows them to continue working from their offices, and only self-isolate when not working.

“They will be participating in the daily contact testing pilot to allow them to continue to work from Downing Street," Downing Street said. “They will be conducting only essential government business during this period.”