UK vaccinated health secretary tests positive for COVID-19: Coronavirus update: NPR

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British Health Minister Sajid Javid, pictured in 2015, tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. The nation is preparing to lift blanket restrictions, despite the sudden rise in cases driven by the delta variant. Leon Neal/AP Hide Caption

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British Health Minister Sajid Javid, pictured in 2015, tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. The nation is preparing to lift blanket restrictions, despite the sudden rise in cases driven by the delta variant.

Leon Neal/AFP

Sajid Javid, the top government official charged with leading the UK’s response to the coronavirus, announced on Saturday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 following vaccination.

In a video posted on Twitter, the health minister said he learned his results from the rapid lateral flow test, which is generally used for people without symptoms of coronavirus, and was waiting for a more accurate PCR test while isolated at home.

Javid said he took the test on Saturday after “feeling a little groggy” the night before. He has received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and says his symptoms so far are “very mild”.

This morning I tested positive for Covid. I’m waiting for my PCR result, but luckily I’ve had mild strokes and symptoms.

Please be sure to apply for your vaccination if you have not already done so. pic.twitter.com/NJYMg2VGzT

– Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) Jul 17, 2021

It comes as England prepares to roll back restrictions after one of the world’s strictest lockdowns.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this month that by Monday, face masking and social distancing requirements would be lifted, along with crowd restrictions at private gatherings, concerts and sporting events. In bars, patrons will again be allowed to order pints from the bar.

At the same time, injuries rose sharply. Last week, 300,000 people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK – a 40% increase compared to the previous week.

The delta variant, which was found to spread about 225% faster than the original version of the virus, now accounts for more than 90% of infections in the country and is behind the spike in COVID-19 in some areas.

Two-thirds of British adults have been fully vaccinated; Children are not yet eligible.

Javid supports national reopening. Days before his positive test result, he said vaccinations would build a “protective wall” to help “withstand the summer wave”.

On Saturday, Javid encouraged non-vaccinated people to take their shots. He also recommended getting tested for COVID-19, regardless of vaccine status, if exposure to the disease is suspected or if symptoms are felt.

AstraZeneca says its vaccine completely protects against death and is 92% effective against hospitalization of the Delta type.

Javid has been health minister for less than three weeks. Matt Hancock abruptly resigned last month after breaching coronavirus distancing rules. Hancock was caught on videoconference kissing one of his aides.

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