“Be in little question that I can proceed, because of the wizardry of recent know-how, to speak with all my high staff to guide the nationwide struggle again towards coronavirus,” Johnson mentioned.
All three males have been in repeated contact with different senior figures, together with Cupboard ministers and advisers, in current days. On Wednesday, Johnson confronted his weekly query session within the Home of Commons and sat very near many in his Cupboard.
Johnson obtained his optimistic check outcome simply hours after he was seen standing exterior No. 10 Downing Avenue clapping in help of well being employees, alongside — although greater than 2 meters away from — Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Shortly after Johnson’s announcement, Well being Secretary Matt Hancock, who had been anticipated to offer a press convention in Westminster this night, additionally mentioned he had examined optimistic for the virus and could be self-isolating at residence for every week.
“Upon medical recommendation I used to be examined and that check has been optimistic so I’ll be self-isolating right here till subsequent Thursday,” Hancock mentioned. “Luckily for me the signs to this point have been very gentle so I’ve been in a position to stick with it with the work, driving ahead the U.Okay.’s response.”
Later within the afternoon, the U.Okay.’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty tweeted that he could be self-isolating for seven days after experiencing signs.
Johnson’s official spokesperson mentioned the prime minister would self-isolate in No. 11 Downing Avenue. He has his flat above the constructing, which additionally homes the chancellor’s personal workplace. Sunak has moved out of his workplace, which is able to now function the prime minister’s workspace whereas self-isolating.
No. 11 will be successfully sealed off from No. 10 and No. 12 Downing Avenue, and authorities paperwork and meals can be delivered to the door for the prime minister to gather, the spokesperson mentioned. Full videoconferencing gear has been put in within the workplace.
The prime minister’s fiancé, Carrie Symonds, who’s pregnant, posted on social media on Thursday that she was self-isolating, however it isn’t clear if she is presently dwelling with the prime minister. Johnson’s spokesperson declined to touch upon Symonds’ circumstances or situation. Following Public Well being England recommendation for many who get signs, Johnson can be self-isolating for seven days.
Johnson and Hancock would have had contact with quite a few key figures engaged on the U.Okay.’s coronavirus response, resulting in considerations that the virus might now be circulating all through the highest ranges of presidency. The spokesperson mentioned No. 10, as a office, had been observing the official social distancing recommendation for employees to earn a living from home until completely mandatory, and to maintain not less than 2 meters aside from different individuals.
“The recommendation to employees right here and in addition to the prime minister’s colleagues is that they don’t have to do something when it comes to self-isolation until they start to suspect they’ve signs, through which case they need to observe the Public Well being England recommendation,” the spokesperson mentioned. They added that they weren’t conscious of another No. 10 employees testing optimistic for the virus, however confirmed that some had already self-isolated after growing signs.
Johnson, who would additionally sometimes have weekly audiences with Queen Elizabeth II, has not seen the monarch in particular person for “a big time” and has been holding the weekly periods by phone for not less than the previous two weeks, the spokesperson mentioned.