PM 'did not come into contact with staffer who had Covid'

Downing Street has denied the Prime Minister has come into contact with a staff member who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Guardian reported on Friday that a Number 10 civil servant taking part in Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland had to isolate after testing positive.

The newspaper also said the two were “side-by-side” on several occasions, yet Boris Johnson is not isolating.

Labour criticised the Prime Minister, describing the decision as “another example of one rule for them and another for everyone else”.

A Number 10 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.”

According to The Guardian, the staff member isolated in Scotland after testing positive and “all those identified as close contacts were told to do the same”.

Everyone who is fully vaccinated must currently take part in quarantine if contacted by NHS test and trace.

The rules regarding quarantine change on August 16, allowing those who are fully vaccinated to avoid isolation.

In July, Johnson and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak both had to isolate for ten days, after coming into close contact with Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who became infected with Covid.

Initially, the PM and Sunak had tried to avoid isolation by claiming they would take part in a daily testing pilot scheme instead.

However, they both U-turned and decided to spend the ten day isolation period at home after public pressure.

Johnson spent his period of self-isolation at Chequers, taking part in Prime Minister’s Questions in the final week before parliamentary summer recess via a live video link.

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said: “It’s clear the Prime Minister hasn’t learned anything from what happened last time he tried to cook up a reason to be above the rules everyone else has to follow.

“Senior Conservatives are really taking the public for fools. This is yet another example of one rule for them and another for everyone else.”