Downing Street is Covid secure, Number 10 insists after Boris Johnson and Tory MPs forced to self-isolate

At least eight people were forced to self-isolate following a meeting at Number 10
Election 2019: Boris Johnson in profile
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Downing Street is a “Covid secure workplace”, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman insisted today, after at least eight people were forced to self-isolate following a meeting at Number 10.

The Prime Minister, at least five Tory MPs and two political aides are known to be self-isolating after Lee Anderson MP tested positive for Covid-19 after a meeting on Thursday morning.  

Separately, two further Tory MPs - Jacob Young and Maria Miller - are also understood to be quarantining after coming into contact with Mr Anderson.  

The PM’s spokesman insisted that social distancing was observed at the Number 10 meeting and added: “It’s also the case that Number 10 is a Covid secure workplace.  

“We take every possible step, hand sanitiser is made available to people as soon as they arrive in the building and is available throughout the building as you travel through it.”

He said the PM had been living in the flat above Downing Street full-time since the country moved into the second lockdown and that he would be able to continue his “full duties”. He said the PM’s office is accessible to him without any interaction with Number 10 staff.

The spokesman also revealed that Mr Johnson was notified that he had to self-isolate via email.

He added: “The MP who tested positive for coronavirus provided the full details to NHS Test and Trace and then NHS Test and Trace contacted the Prime Minister with an email.”

The spokesman said those present at the meeting included Tory MPs Lee Anderson, Andy Carter, Katherine Fletcher, Brendan Clarke-Smith, Chris Clarkson and Lia Nici as well as two of the PM’s political aides.

It is not known if Chris Clarkson is self-isolating. The other MPs have revealed they have been contacted by Test and Trace.  

The spokesman continued: “Social distancing was practised at the meeting, it was in the state rooms in No10.  

“But it was the judgment of test and trace – given a number of factors including the fact that the meeting I think was approximately 35 minutes – that the Prime Minister and others should self-isolate.

“He will of course abide by the same rules as every other person in the United Kingdom when it comes to taking the steps that are needed to slow the spread of the virus.”

Quizzed on why Mr Anderson and Mr Johnson did not appear to be two-metres apart in photographs of the meeting, he added: “They are stood side-by-side rather than face-to-face… to repeat the two points: Number 10 is a Covid secure workplace and also social distancing was observed at the meeting.”

The spokesman said Number 10 also had one-way systems to prevent close contact as well as signage throughout the building reminding people to follow the hands, face space advice.  

Asked why the meeting was not held remotely, he replied: “Meetings for work are possible and are taking place.  

“The PM’s been having a mixture of meetings – many of which have been remote - but he has still been having face-to-face meetings with some MPs.”

He said they regularly get advice from public health experts.  

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