Boris Johnson in isolation after new brush with coronavirus

British PM Boris Johnson is to self-isolate for two weeks after coming into recent close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

British PM Boris Johnson. Picture: AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to self-isolate for two weeks — despite previously having had the novel coronavirus — after coming into recent close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

10 Downing Street said although Mr Johnson was well and was not showing any symptoms, he would now isolate for the next fortnight after being alerted by the government’s Test and Trace system.

Mr Johnson had been in a meeting with MP Lee Anderson, who has since tested positive to the virus.

But the decision to have the leader of the country self-isolate has raised questions about whether people who have had confirmed cases of coronavirus are susceptible to be re-infected a second time, and whether they pose any risk of transmitting the infection onto others.

US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci said last week that there were some very small numbers of re-infection, and he said this was to be expected if people came in contact with one or more of the different ­mutated strains of COVID-19.

A Number 10 spokesman said on Sunday night, London time: “The Prime Minister has today been notified by NHS Test and Trace that he is required to self-isolate as a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The PM is well and does not have any symptoms.”

Mr Johnson was in intensive care for three days in April after contracting the coronavirus on March 26 during the first peak of infections across Britain.

This latest self-quarantine comes after a week of internal Downing Street turmoil following the abrupt departures of his chief adviser Dominic Cummings and communications head Lee Cain, in what has been attributed to a coup by the Prime Minister’s partner Carrie Symonds.

Mr Johnson will now have to reset the tone of his reconfigured behind-the-scenes-team from afar. It also spells yet another interruption in Mr Johnson’s term, as this year he has had a lengthy holiday break, a month off sick recovering from coronavirus and two weeks parental leave following the birth of his child with Ms Symonds.