Gove skips self-isolation

This week, the government yet again threw the country’s holiday plans into chaos, after it announced that Portugal would be moved to the ‘amber list’ on Tuesday, meaning those returning from the country will have to quarantine at home for ten days. Little did the government know though that the Portuguese travel chaos would affect its own inner workings.

The Daily Mail reports today that Michael Gove had to leave a meeting with Boris Johnson and devolved leaders after being pinged by the NHS app. It is thought that he came into contact with a Covid sufferer after traveling to the Champions League final in Porto last week with his son, a Chelsea supporter. It is thought that 12,000 English fans travelled to Portugal for the game, between two English clubs. All eyes are now on George Osborne, who also travelled to Portugal for the match, to see if the former Chancellor is forced into self-isolation.

Those pinged by the NHS app are usually asked to isolate at home for ten full days after they were last in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. Happily though, No. 10 seem to have found a loophole. According to reports, under a PHE pilot scheme for workplaces, Gove will be tested every day for a week so he does not have to quarantine. Mr S wonders if holidaymakers returning from Portugal later this week who are forced to self-isolate will appreciate there being one rule for No. 10, and one rule for everyone else…