Boris Johnson is to host a 5pm press conference on Monday from his self-isolation in Chequers.
The Prime Minister will attempt to brazen out his own attempt to dodge the covid rules by facing down questions from journalists at a covid conference.
Johnson is expected to announce measures to allow NHS staff in England who are double-jabbed to avoid isolation if they are alerted to a covid contact.
But the focus is likely be on renewed questions over how the Prime Minister attempted to exempt himself from self-isolation after being identified as a close contact of UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid who has tested covid positive.
On Sunday Downing Street caused fury by announcing that the PM and chancellor Rishi Sunak would not self-isolate as the pair were part of a pilot programme of daily testing.
But such was the anger from thousands of members of the public are being forced into self-isolation that Johnson performed a spectacular U-turn and concded within two hours that he would be self-isolating at Chequers, the PM's country retreat in rural Buckinghamshire.
On Monday Downing Street was unclear about when and how the Prime Minister was alerted to Javid’s condition.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the PM had travelled to Chequers at 3pm on Friday after a lunchtime meeting with the Health Secretary. Initially, the spokesman said the PM had left Downing Street on Friday morning.
Javid confirmed his positive status on Saturday evening and, according to Downing Street, the PM was contacted by test and trace at the spacious Buckinghamshire estate.
The official said: “The Prime Minister followed the correct process” and added that the PM and chancellor had “reviewed the decision” not to self-isolate on Sunday morning.
The spokesman said: “He recognised that self-isolation is something a number of people are experiencing and the PM and chancellor wanted to make clear they are following the wider rules that the public are currently subject to.”
Johnson also plans to take Prime Minister’s Questions from Chequers, the government’s country retreat, on Wednesday.
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