London — Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall) and the future Queen consort of the U.K. has been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. She is now self-isolating according to the royal family on Monday. This news comes four days after Camilla, the British heir to Prince Charles, was confirmed positive. She then went into self-isolation.
Clarence House, Charles and Camilla’s official residence did not provide any further information Monday on the couple’s symptoms. However, their COVID status was certain to fuel concern for the 95-year old monarch, as Queen Elizabeth II spent two days with her son just before his positive test.
Buckingham Palace has not provided any further information about the queen’s health, except Thursday when it stated that she was free from symptoms related to coronavirus infection. Because of privacy concerns, the palace has not provided much information about the queen’s health. It has also not confirmed that she has been tested for COVID.
Camilla stated last week that she continued to make public appearances, while her husband was home alone, and that she was still negative from the test, despite having taken it “so many” times.
The UK’s COVID-19 infection rate is still high. However, British health authorities have stopped recommending confirmatory PCR tests following a positive rapid test result.
Charles, 73, was first to get COVID in March 2020, shortly before the outbreak. He had only mild symptoms at that point. Camilla was not infected previously.
Recently, the U.K. government removed most of its COVID-19 restrictions. This included the requirement to wear masks indoors. Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced last week that he would likely lift one remaining restriction — which applies to anyone who has tested positive for self-isolation for at least five consecutive days — prior to the planned date in March.
He stated that England could be free from all COVID restrictions by February 31, assuming there is no change in the trajectory for hospitalizations and case rates.
Scientists and critics have argued that this move could signal to the public that the pandemic has ended, even though cases are still rising across the country.
Johnson stated, “Obviously in much the same way as for someone with flu, they wouldn’t recommend that they go to work.” Johnson stated, “We wouldn’t recommend anyone going to work if they have an infectious illness.”
