Jul 17, 2021 - Health

British health minister tests positive for COVID-19

Gigi Sukin

UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid. Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

The health minister for the United Kingdom tweeted on Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19 following two doses of the vaccine against the virus.

Driving the news: Sajid Javid, who has been in his role for three weeks, has publicly backed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to fully reopen England's economy and lift mask requirements and social distancing rules starting Monday.

On Friday, the U.K. reported more than 50,000 daily cases for the first time since mid-January, BBC reports.

What he's saying: "This morning I tested positive for COVID," he said in a tweet, adding he had taken a rapid lateral flow test, and was awaiting confirmation from a PCR test, which needs processing in a laboratory.

"I'm waiting for my PCR result, but thankfully I have had my jabs and symptoms are mild."
He said he is now self-isolating at home.

Background: Javid tweeted on March 17 that he received his first dose of Oxford/AstraZenedca's COVID-19 vaccine, later posting a picture of his second shot on May 16.

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British health minister tests positive for COVID-19

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