Boris Johnson, the prime minister, will not isolate after one of his staffers tested positive for Covid, it has been announced – despite the government’s own guidance stating that those who have been in contact with a positive case need to stay at home for 10 full days.
The Guardian reported that the civil servant and Mr Johnson were, according to a senior government source, “side-by-side” on several occasions during a two-day trip around Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday.
On the first day of the tour, the staffer went with Mr Johnson to a police college, before flying together as part of the PM’s journey. They were tested afterwards, and that’s when the official’s result came back positive.
Speaking to The Guardian, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “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.”
As for the plane trip, it’s reported that the two were “sat at opposite ends of a large cabin”.
Mr Johnson’s lack of isolation comes almost a month after both he and chancellor Rishi Sunak were contacted by NHS Test and Trace over health secretary Sajid Javid’s positive test.
The pair first got out of having to isolate, as part of a “daily contact testing” pilot scheme – before a public outcry forced them to make a u-turn and confirm they would self-isolate.
Now, the prime minister’s lack of isolation has once again infuriated members of the public, with #OneRuleForThem trending on Twitter:
The second time in a few weeks he’s tried to avoid his own rules. #oneruleforthem https://t.co/YILz9bUpva
— Marcus Carslaw (@marcuscarslaw1) August 6, 2021
Boris Johnson’s refusal to self isolate after an aide on his trip to Scotland tested positive seems to have caught the national mood. This is the Mail this morning. #oneruleforthem pic.twitter.com/OL7ZTABrcy
— KoH (@pinguforest) August 7, 2021
Johnson not self isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid. Second time he’s tried to dodge the guidance on self isolation. #oneruleforthem
— Bill Esterson (@Bill_Esterson) August 6, 2021
Isolating for 10 days, with all the inconvenience that causes for ourselves and our colleagues, is only for us, the plebs.#OneRuleForUs#OneRuleForThem
— Helen Morgan 🔶 (@helenhalcrow) August 6, 2021
Anger as Boris Johnson does not isolate after staffer’s positive Covid test https://t.co/ZNS79MCkZR
Remember when people used to be fined for stuff like this?
— Gemma (@thatgemmah) August 7, 2021
Yup, Lockdown for christmas again.
— The Stoned Grey (@StonedGreyUK) August 7, 2021
So @BorisJohnson ignored the government's public health advice and got Covid, then dined out on the experience to buy 'credibility' while PRETENDING to give a shit about the clinicians who saved his sorry arse.
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) August 6, 2021
Now he's floughting the rules yet againhttps://t.co/MqvalG4w4Z
There are people in this country who weren't able to attend the funeral of their loved ones...
— Edward Turvey (@EdwardTurvey) August 6, 2021
Anger as Boris Johnson does not isolate after staffer’s positive Covid test https://t.co/8PdAjVJzx9
Now we wait to see whether another u-turn is due…
