UK top brass self-isolate due to COVID-19 contact

LONDON (AA) - Britain's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and leading generals have started self-isolating for 10 days after the army's top commander Nick Carter tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday.

Wallace and the heads of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Strategic Command were warned by the National Health Service (NHS) test and trace app as they had a meeting with Carter last Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Wallace, army chief Gen. Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, Adm. Sir Tim Fraser, vice-chairman of the defense staff, Sir Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord Admiral alongside Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston and Commander of Strategic Command Gen. Sir Patrick Sanders.

The country's top serving general, Sir Nick Carter, tested positive "after appearing at the Chalke Valley History Festival in Wiltshire on Friday," according to The Telegraph.

"The Chief of the Defence Staff has tested positive during routine Covid-19 checks. Colleagues who were in a senior meeting with him last week, including the Secretary of State, are self-isolating in line with government guidelines," said the Ministry of Defence statement.

Current coronavirus regulations in the UK require all who were in contact with someone who tested COVID-19 positive to self-isolate for 10 days.