British health minister announces he tested positive for COVID-19

Britain’s health minister, Sajid Javid, announced on Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a lateral flow test that morning.

“I was feeling a bit groggy last night, so I took a lateral flow test this morning, and it’s come out positive. So I’m now self-isolating at home with my family until I get the results of a PCR test,” Javid said in a video posted on Saturday. “I’m grateful that I’ve had two jabs of the vaccine and so far my symptoms are very mild.”

Javid said anyone who has similar symptoms or thinks they have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should get tested. He also urged those who have not already been immunized to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon. 

“If everyone plays their part, you’re not only protecting yourself and your loved ones, but you’re also safeguarding the NHS [National Health Service] and working to preserve our way of life,” Javid said.

The announcement comes after the United Kingdom reported 51,870 coronavirus cases on Friday, the highest daily number of cases in six months, according to The Associated Press.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed that the remaining COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted on July 19, including those pertaining to social distancing and social gatherings. However, he stressed that people should “proceed with caution.”

“This pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday, July 19 to life as it was before COVID,” Johnson said, according to the AP.

Javid noted last week that officials expect cases to rise in the summer, saying, “As we ease and go into the summer, we expect them to rise significantly, and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers.”

According to a poll by Kantar Public published on Thursday, 66 percent of Britons polled would like at least some of the coronavirus measures to remain in place after July 19, Reuters reported.