Downing Street says Boris Johnson will not isolate after staff member aboard his flight to Scotland tests positive for Covid because he has NOT been deemed a ‘close contact’
- Mr Johnson flew to Scotland on Wednesday for two-day visit with team
- White there an aide reportedly tested positive and was forced to isolate
- But No 10 said the the PM was not among their closes contacts
- Those contacted by test and trace must isolate under rules ending on August 16
Boris Johnson is not planning to go into self-isolation despite a case of Covid among staff who flew with him to Scotland this week, Downing Street said tonight.
Mr Johnson flew to Scotland on Wednesday and a member of his team reportedly tested positive while there, forcing them to isolate along with their close contacts.
But No10 tonight said that the PM – who is spending the weekend at his Chequers retreat in Buckinghamshire – had not been deemed a close contact of the individual concerned.
This is despite a source claiming to the Guardian that the person with Covid shared a small aircraft with the PM between Glasgow and Aberdeen.
A No 10 spokesman told the paper: ‘The Prime Minister regularly visits communities across the UK and all aspects of visits are carried out in line with Covid guidance.
‘The Prime Minister has not come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive.’
It comes just weeks after he was forced to U-turn and isolate for 10 days after trying to use a pilot testing scheme to avoid quarantine after Sajid Javid caught Covid amid public fury.
Mr Johnson arriving at Glasgow airport on Wednesday to start his two day visit to the country
But No10 tonight said that the PM – who is spending the weekend at his Chequers retreat in Buckinghamshire – had not been deemed a close contact of the individual concerned.
Under the rules in place for another 10 days any close contacts of Covid cases have to self-isolate, even if – like the PM- they have been fully vaccinated.
The rules expire on August 16, after which there is no requirement for the double-jabbed to isolate at all.
Mr Johnson today today took part in the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the Queen’s representative to watch 243 cadets commissioned as army officers.
He paid tribute to those passing out and acknowledged the army’s role constructing vaccine centres during the pandemic.
It comes after Downing Street today backed the climate change tsar for flying to 30 countries – including six on the red list – during lockdown, saying some face-to-face meetings were ‘essential’ and he was allowed to skip quarantine.
Alok Sharma was accused of hypocrisy last night for travelling around the globe to meet world leaders – and not isolating afterwards.
The former business secretary has covered tens of thousands of miles over the past seven months to prepare the ground for the COP26 global environment summit this autumn.
But despite visiting at least six countries on the travel ‘red list’, he has been given a ministerial exemption from hotel quarantine each time. He is currently in red list Brazil.
He has also been able to avoid having to isolate at home following ‘amber list’ trips.
Ordinary travellers face fines of up to £10,000 for breaking travel quarantine rules.
And days after returning from red-list Bangladesh, he met the Prince of Wales indoors without a mask – then visited a primary school.
Mr Johnson today today took part in the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the Queen’s representative to watch 243 cadets commissioned as army officers.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman today backed his travel, telling reporters: ‘The majority of this work is done remotely but some travel to key countries for face-to-face talks is essential.
‘He has secured ambitious action as a result of the discussions he has had. For example, immediately following his visit to Japan and South Korea the governments there committed to ambitious net zero targets, which was a key ask from the UK.’
He confirmed that ‘ministers conducting essential travel such as this are exempted from quarantine, as set out in the rules’ and this would also apply to his return from Brazil.
Asked if he would quarantine on his return from Brazil, the spokesman said: ‘He will continue to comply with the rules as set out.’
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the ‘optics’ were of ‘one rule for them and another rule for us’.
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