MATT Hancock is self-isolating again – days after being spotted in a London park with his family.
The Health Secretary had coronavirus last year – around the same time as the PM fell ill.
But he’s now back in isolation again after being pinged by track and trace.
He has to stay inside until at least Sunday after being in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
In a tweet Mr Hancock said he would be working from home, adding “we all have a part to play in getting this virus under control” and vowed that together Britain could beat the virus.
He said: “So you must follow these rules like I’m going to.
“I’ve got to work from home for the next six days, and together, by doing this, by following this, and all the other panoply of rules that we’ve had to put in place, we can get through this and beat this virus.”
He said self-isolating was possibly even more important than social distancing – because he’d been in contact with a case.
The news comes less than 24 hours after he appeared at the No10 press conference alongside Susan Hopkins of PHE and NHS boss Steven Powis – where he told Brits “don’t blow it now” as the end was so near.
And he was also snapped playing with his kids in a London park over the weekend.
It comes as:
- An estimated one in eight people in England had had Covid-19 by December last year, up from one in 11 in November, new figures show
- A minister said it was too early to start thinking about Covid
Even though he’s already had coronavirus, people are still told to isolate again due to the small risk of catching Covid twice.
The Health Sec tested positive last March, but didn’t get it as bad as the PM did – who had to go into intensive care.
Today ex-Chancellor George Osborne risked fury by suggesting that as a minister he should skip the queue.
He said on Twitter: “It’s a peculiarly British trait that we rightly make vaccinating millions of health workers a priority, but we can’t spare a single dose for the Health Secretary leading the response to the pandemic.”
But No10 slapped down his calls – and said ministers would get their jabs in due course.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The PM and the rest of the Cabinet will take the vaccine when it’s their turn to do so based on the priority lists that have been published.
“We don’t think it’s right that the PM or other members of Cabinet take the vaccine in place of somebody who is at higher clinical risk.”
The news comes just days after Mr Hancock was snapped in a London park covered in mud – after playing rugby with his family.
The Prime Minister had begged Brits to stay at home last weekend, and urged everyone to “think twice” before going out.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s safest to assume you have Covid, so please, really think twice before leaving the house this weekend.”
But in a clip published by MailOnline Mr Hancock was seen enjoying his permitted daily outdoor exercise.
‘MUDDY SATURDAY’
The video shows Mr Hancock strolling through Queen’s Park in London wearing jeans and a shirt covered in mud.
A member of the public made Mr Hancock smile after he pointed out the state of his clothes
He said “You’re a bit dirty mate?” to which the Health Secretary replied: “Bit of a muddy Saturday.”
A source close to the Health Secretary said: “As you can see, Matt was outside for exercise.”
The current lockdown rules allow everyone to leave the house for exercise once a day.
