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“He will continue to work from Downing Street, including leading the Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” the Downing Street spokesman added.
FILE: An image from a brochure published by 10 Downing Street shows British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivering a television speech after returning to 10 Downing Street after being discharged from St Thomas’ Hospital, in central London on April 12, 2020. Image: AFP.
LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is isolating himself after someone he was in contact with tested positive for the coronavirus, a spokesman said Sunday.
“He will continue to work from Downing Street, including leading the Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” added the Downing Street spokesman.
His lockdown comes as negotiations with the European Union on Brexit enter a decisive final sprint, with critical announcements Downing Street is following, ahead of Johnson’s isolation, to combat the virus.
The prime minister was informed that he should isolate himself after being contacted by the country’s test and trace scheme.
Johnson was hospitalized with the coronavirus in April. This time, “the PM is fine and does not show any symptoms of Covid-19,” the spokesperson said.
One source added that Johnson, who was badly affected during the previous combat, feels “fine” and that the prime minister will continue to work, “in particular to lead the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Downing Street has not said how long Johnson will be isolated. However, UK National Health Service rules state that people must isolate themselves for 14 days.
The prime minister intends to address the country during his lockdown, Downing Street said.
The announcement came after Johnson met with a small group of MPs in Downing Street on Thursday for about 35 minutes, including one who subsequently developed Covid-19 symptoms and has now tested positive.
Johnson’s self-isolation risks disrupting a busy week as the UK enters its third week of reimposed restrictions and the prime minister was due to preside over a series of key Covid-19 meetings.
Renewed stay-at-home restrictions and business closures went into effect earlier this month and have been met with skepticism that they could halt the worst death toll from the virus in Europe.
The UK is supposed to return to a regionalized approach, lifting the widespread lockdown currently in place, effective December 2.
But the country remains hard hit, recording more than 50,000 coronavirus-related deaths out of more than 1.3 million positive cases.
Johnson, 56, spent three nights in intensive care when he received Covid-19, and later credited the hospital staff with saving his life.
The British leader has said his coronavirus case was severely worsened by being overweight, but that he had since lost 26 pounds (12 kilograms).
“I’m going to continue that diet, because you have to look for the hero within yourself, hoping that individual is considerably thinner,” he joked last month.
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