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Number 10 denies PM was ‘side-by-side’ with staff member who tested positive for Covid-19 – despite travelling together

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reportedly not self-isolate, despite spending time on his recent trip to Scotland “side-by-side” with a staff member who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Guardian reported on Friday (6 August) that a Number 10 civil servant taking part in Johnson’s headline-grabbing visit to Scotland had to isolate after testing positive, yet the PM is not isolating.

The PM reportedly continued with his tour of Scotland even after the team member tested positive for Covid-19 during the trip.

Boris Johnson holds a face mask before boarding the vessel Alba at Fraserburgh Harbour, Aberdeenshire on his way to the Moray Offshore Windfarm East on the second day of his two-day visit to Scotland (Photo: JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Downing Street has denied the Prime Minister came into contact with the staff member, despite the newspaper reporting the pair “even travelled together on an RAF Voyager between Glasgow and Aberdeen.”

A 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”.

The spokesperson reportedly also refused to say if the Prime Minister had been tested since the positive case was discovered.

Do you have to self isolate? NHS Test and Trace self isolation explained – plus ...

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

But until then, everyone who is fully vaccinated must currently take part in quarantine if contacted by NHS test and trace.

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

In July, Johnson and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak both had to isolate for 10 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 10-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.”

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Boris Johnson ‘refuses’ to self-isolate after staff member tests positive for Covid-19 during Scotland trip