Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will not have to self-isolate for 10 days despite being contacted by NHS Track and Trace.
It comes after the Health Secretary Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday (July 17) after feeling ‘groggy’ on Friday evening.
Mr Javid says he completed both a lateral flow and PCR test, which both came back positive — despite having had both doses of the vaccine.
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Before his results, Mr Javid held a series of meetings with government ministers — including the Prime Minister and Chancellor — prompting fears scores of Whitehall officials would have to self-isolate on the day coronavirus restrictions are lifted in England, July 19.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson have now been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
However they added that the pair will take part in a ‘daily contact testing pilot’ - instead of staying at home as per self-isolation rules - which will allow them to continue to work from Downing Street.
The No10 spokesman 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 contact testing pilot to allow them to continue to work from Downing Street.
“They will be conducting only essential government business during this period.”
It’s understood that the daily contact testing pilot is still months away from any possible introduction for the wider public.
Both will take daily tests and only go into self-isolation if they come back positive.
Many legal Covid-19 restrictions come to an end on Monday, July 19, dubbed ‘freedom day’ — but existing isolation rules remain in-force until August 16.
After that date, adults in England will not have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who has the virus — but only if they are fully-vaccinated and test negative.
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