LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Finance Minister Rich Sunak will both self-isolate under state guidance, abandon severely criticized plans, and participate in a pilot plan that allows them to continue working.

A big turn took place the day after Health Minister Sajid Javid said he tested positive for COVID-19, while the government’s coronavirus response is under scrutiny.

Despite the surge in the number of infections, almost all remaining restrictions in England will be lifted on Monday because the ministers are confident in the advanced vaccine plan.

There are more than 50,000 new cases every day, and hundreds of thousands of Britons are required to self-isolate for 10 days. This has caused serious damage to employers and parents, causing trains to be cancelled and forcing some businesses to close their doors. The government announced at 0700 GMT that Johnson and Sunak had been in contact with COVID-19 patients and that they would participate in a pilot program that would allow them to continue working instead of self-isolating.

But less than three hours later, after a series of criticisms from voters, political opponents and business owners, the decision was overturned.

“We did briefly research our idea of ??participating in the pilot program… but I think it is more important for everyone to follow the same rules,” Johnson said in a video message from his country house, He will be quarantined there until July 26.

The Telegraph reported on Sunday evening Ministers urged Johnson to abandon the requirement of complete self-isolation for fully vaccinated people.

Opposition politicians have stated that Johnson and Sunak’s attempts to free themselves from certain rules are hypocritical.

Labour Party leader Kil Starmer said: “Boris Johnson and Rich Sunak have been criticized again because they believe that the rules we all follow do not apply to them.”

Sunak also admitted his strong opposition to their initial decision.

He said on Twitter: “I admit that even if the rules feel different for everyone, it is wrong.”

The government’s handling of the pandemic has been plagued by incidents that undermine public trust-the last time the then Minister of Health Matt Hancock was photographed kissing a consultant, which violated social distancing rules. He later resigned.

Housing Minister Robert Jenrick confirmed that the government will continue to implement the “Freedom Day” program on Monday, remove the requirement to wear masks, lift restrictions on social gatherings, and allow high-risk companies to reopen. Johnson used his video message to plead the public to take a cautious approach to the changes in the rules.

“Please, please, please, be careful,” he said.

“Tomorrow enter the next step with all the right attitudes of caution and respect for others, because of the continued risk of this disease, and most importantly, please, please, please, when you are asked to accept the second jab… …Please come forward and do it.”

The ministers argued that the vaccination program has largely broken the link between cases and mortality, with 87.8% of adults receiving one dose of the vaccine and 67.8% of adults receiving two vaccinations.

Janrik told the BBC: “The last time we had a case like today, the number of people who died from the virus was 30 times as many as today.”

(Reporting by William James and Guy Faulconbridge; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh; editing by Kirsten Donovan, Jane Merriman and Daniel Wallis)