Self-Isolating Boris Johnson Declares Himself 'Fit as a Butcher's Dog'

The British PM already contracted coronavirus earlier this year but has had to go into self-isolation again, after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tweeted out a video, saying that he is fine and urging people to follow self-isolation rules.

"It doesn't matter that we were all doing social distancing, it doesn't matter that I'm fit as a butcher's dog, feel great - so many people do in my circumstances - and actually it doesn't matter that I've had the disease and I'm bursting with antibodies", the PM said. "We've got to interrupt the spread of the disease and one of the ways we can do that now is by self-isolating for 14 days when you get contacted by NHS Test and Trace".

Hi folks, I’ve been instructed by our NHS Test & Trace scheme to self-isolate for two weeks, after being in contact with someone with Covid-19.

I’m in good health and have no symptoms, and will continue to lead on our response to the virus & our plans to #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/yNgIme8lOz

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 16, 2020

He also noted that a coronavirus vaccine is expected to be distributed before Christmas.

​Earlier in the day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock also commented on the PM's condition, saying that Johnson is well and "full of beans".

"He's well, he's absolutely full of beans", Hancock told Sky News. "He'll be, I've got no doubt, driving things forward this week by Zoom", he said, commenting on the head of the cabinet's condition.

A bus stop ad for COVID-19 testing is shown outside Pfizer world headquarters in New York on Monday Nov. 9, 2020. Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19, but it doesn't mean a vaccine is imminent.

© AP Photo / Bebeto Matthews

The Health Secretary also addressed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, saying it will be rolled out soon.

"We're working very closely with the company. We'll be ready to roll it out as soon as it comes, we'll be ready from the first of December..., but more likely is that we may be able to start rolling it out before Christmas", Matt Hancock told BBC TV.

The PM had to self-isolate after meeting a person, who later tested positive for COVID-19. According to the newspaper The Sun, the person diagnosed with coronavirus may be MP Lee Anderson.

The United Kingdom remains one of the most affected European countries amid the pandemic, with a death toll of over 52,000 (the highest in Europe, and the fifth in the world) and 1.3 million infected.

The cabinet introduced a three-tier system to stipulate different sets of rules for the most and the least affected areas but later introduced a lockdown in November amid the spiking numbers of infected.