Sajid Javid gives positive to COVID-19 as the government prepares to lift most of the pandemic restrictions in England.
The British Minister of Health, Sajid Javid, has said that he tested positive for COVID-19, but that his symptoms were mild and that he had two doses of vaccine against the disease.
Javid, who has been health secretary for three weeks, has backed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to reopen completely England’s economy and eliminates legal restrictions on coronavirus from Monday.
“Last night I felt a little dazed, so I took a side flow test this morning and it turned out positive,” he said in a video message on Twitter on Saturday.
“So now I isolate myself at home with my family until I get the result of a PCR test. I am grateful to have had two shots of the vaccine. And so far, my symptoms are very mild.
Javid tweeted on March 17 that he had received the first shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, posting a photo of him taking a second dose on May 16.
This morning I tested positive for Covid. I’m waiting for my PCR result, but luckily I’ve had the spikes and the symptoms are mild.
Be sure to show up for the vaccine if you haven’t already. pic.twitter.com/NJYMg2VGzT
– Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 17, 2021
According to the rules of his government, Javid is now forced to isolate himself for 10 days, unless the PCR test is negative and he stops having symptoms.
Any of their “close contacts” (possibly including others in government) should also be isolated if they receive instructions from the state’s National Health Service (NHS).
Javid has only been working since June 26, when former Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned after revelations, he had broken coronavirus restrictions during an adventure with a close aide.
Javid said any member of the audience who felt symptoms should also get tested.
“If everyone plays their part, it will not only protect you and your loved ones, but you will also protect the NHS and help preserve our lifestyle,” he said.
However, with coronavirus cases rising again, many scientists say the government is endangering the NHS with its plan on Monday to undo most of the legal requirements for a pandemic in the UK.
For the first time since mid-January, the number of British daily COVID cases exceeded 50,000 on Friday and Javid has warned that the figure could double in the coming weeks.
But the government insists that with two-thirds of the adult population fully vaccinated, the risk can be managed and many British newspapers have dubbed “freedom day” on Monday.