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Summary
- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under self-isolation after meeting a parliamentarian who tested COVID-19 positive
- The PM met a member of a Conservative Party Lee Anderson, who tested positive, in a 35-minute long meeting
- Johnson was earlier in April admitted to intensive care for three days after testing positive for COVID-19
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson got into self-isolation on Sunday night after he came into contact with a parliamentarian who tested positive for COVID-19 infection. According to a statement issued by the 10 Downing Street, Johnson did not show any symptoms but would adhere to the advice from Britain’s National Health Service, which has suggested self-isolation for at least 10 days. Earlier this year, Johnson was admitted to hospital with the novel coronavirus.
NHS Test and Trace, a government contact tracing service had informed Johnson about the exposure that he had met someone who tested COVID-19 positive and hence was advised to go for a self-isolation.
Sources said on Thursday, Johnson met lawmakers for a 35-minute long meeting, where Lee Anderson, a member of a Conservative Party, was also present. Later, Anderson developed symptoms for coronavirus and tested positive.
In a tweet on Sunday, Johnson said: “Today I was notified by NHS Test and Trace that I must self-isolate as I have been in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. I have no signs of Covid-19 but am abiding by the rules and will be working from 10 Downing Street as I maintain to lead the government's pandemic response.”
This is not the first time Johnson has been advised to self-isolate. Earlier in April, Johnson was hospitalised in London and admitted to intensive care for three days after being tested positive for COVID-19.
Besides Johnson, others who have tested positive for COVID-19 or had shown symptoms included Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill.
This week is crucial for Brexit as the discussions with the European Union (EU) has reached its final phase.
Also read: Second Lockdown in the UK: Which sectors could do well
COVID-19 cases
The coronavirus cases in the UK have been rising, with the country witnessing 24,962 daily COVID-19 cases and recording 168 daily deaths, according to the data by England’s Public Health England (PHE), as of 15 November.
According to the data, there have been nearly 51,934 deaths due to the disease. England has reported the highest number of deaths in Europe during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Given the rising coronavirus cases across Britain, the Boris Johnson government imposed the second lockdown from 5 November to 2 December.
