Boris Johnson self-isolates after backlash against quarantine rules

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The situation raised further questions about the government’s plan to lift restrictions on Monday, even with cases rising to more than 50,000 per day, largely due to the highly transmissible delta variant. British media called July 19 “Freedom Day”, but for the thousands of people who have been infected or who have been in contact with an infected person, that phrase would be hollow.

Under the health services pilot programme, Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak were to continue to work in Downing Street, which has been equipped with facilities for daily testing. They will also still be required to self-isolate when they are not at work. Mr. Johnson and his wife, Carrie, live in an apartment on the upper floors of 11 Downing Street, next to his office. This building also houses Mr. Sunak’s office.

The news of the test arrangement drew immediate criticism, with some noting that it was only the latest example of senior officials playing by different rules. By 11 a.m. in London, three hours after the original statement, the two men had retreated.

The prime minister was in his hometown of Chequers when he was informed by the NHS and will now remain there to isolate.

On Sunday afternoon, Mr Johnson released a video on Twitter saying that he and Mr Sunak were considering participating in the beta program, but had decided it was “very important that everyone adhere to the same rules, which is why I will be self-isolating until July 26”.

“While beta testing and tracing is somewhat restrictive, and only essential government business is allowed, I realize that even feeling the rules are not the same for everyone is wrong,” Mr.

“To that end,” he wrote, “I will self-isolate as usual and not participate in the pilot.”

In his video, the prime minister reiterated that the country was moving forward with opening up on Monday, and that it was still “the right moment, but we have to do it with caution”.

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