British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in coronavirus scare, crucial Brexit talks under a cloud

After nearly dying of COVID-19 earlier this year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been forced to isolate again.

Boris Johnson says he’s “bursting with antibodies” but he will still follow the two-week isolation rules after coming into close contact with a coronavirus case.

Crucial Brexit talks are under a cloud after the British Prime Minister was forced to stay inside.

He will have to run the country remotely despite talks with the European Union heading into their final stages and key decisions needed to be made on England’s month-long lockdown.

It comes after Mr Johnson lost his two key lieutenants, Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, in a messy week at Westminster that has threatened to undermine his authority.

An hour-long meeting with MPs, including one who later tested positive, at No. 10 Downing Street last week was the exposure point for Mr Johnson, who almost died of the illness in March.

He was expected, however, to address the nation from within his isolation rooms in No. 10 Downing Street, which is his home as well as the country’s top political office.

Mr Johnson said in a text message to colleagues: “Evening folks – the good news is that NHS test and trace continues to improve. The bad news is that I have been pinged!

Boris Johnson at Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day in London last week. Picture: AFP

“I must now self isolate for 14 days, and I will! It doesn’t matter that we were all following the guidance and socially distancing.

“It doesn’t matter that I feel fine – better than ever – or that my body is bursting with antibodies because I have already had the damn thing. The rules are the rules and they are there to stop the spread of the disease.”

The timing could not have been worse for Mr Johnson, who was hoping to reset his government this week by getting a Brexit deal done.

That may be more difficult given he cannot meet people face-to-face.

Mr Johnson was also planning to outline some major post-Brexit plans, including how the UK would deliver on its promise to become carbon neutral by 2050.

It was expected he would outline new green power plants, including nuclear, to reduce Britain’s carbon footprint.

He may also appear in parliament via videolink, with plans being drawn up for him to attend Prime Minister’s question time remotely.

However, the pandemic remains a significant problem, with another 168 people announced as dying on Sunday.

The prime minister during a visit to a tesco.com distribution centre in London last week. Picture: AFP

There were also 24,962 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, a jump on figures last week mainly blamed on people partying before the start of a month-long lockdown.

Britain has already ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, some of which may be delivered by the end of the year.

The scientist who made the vaccine breakthrough said that it was “absolutely essential” that people take the jab as soon as possible to allow life to return to normal.

Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech: “If everything continues to go well, we will start to deliver the vaccine end of this year, beginning next year.”

Mr Sahin told the BBC that the goal was to deliver more than 300 million doses before April next year, which could “already start to make an impact.”

“What is absolutely essential is that we get a high vaccination rate before autumn/winter next year, so that means all the immunisation, vaccination approaches must be accomplished,” he said.

“I’m confident that this will happen, because a number of vaccine companies have been asked to increase the supply, and so that we could have a normal (European) winter next year.”

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