KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 – The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and is currently in self-isolation at his Downing Street residence.
Also found to be positive has been health secretary Matt Hancock and England’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty.
Johnson, 55, in a tweet yesterday, stated that he had developed mild symptoms and is now in self-isolation. He stated that he would continue to lead the government’s response to the outbreak via video-conference.
Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 27, 2020
I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.
Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9Te6aFP0Ri
Reuters reports that the Prime Minister will have his meals delivered to the door of an apartment at Number 11 Downing Street.
Discovering that he had a temperature and a persistent cough, Johnson took the test on the advice of Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. Hours later, Whitty announced that he was self-isolating after experiencing symptoms consistent with Covid-19 infection.
Following medical advice, I was advised to test for #Coronavirus.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 27, 2020
I‘ve tested positive. Thankfully my symptoms are mild and I’m working from home & self-isolating.
Vital we follow the advice to protect our NHS & save lives#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/TguWH6Blij
Boris Johnson is the first head of government to announce that he is positive for Covid-19. In countries around the world, more and more senior members of government have tested positive for the coronavirus as they frantically respond to the pandemic.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went into self-isolation a couple of weeks ago after his spouse tested positive.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump have also been tested, but were found to be negative.
The United Kingdom has more than 14,500 cases of Covid-19 so far. There have been 759 deaths, which makes UK with the seventh highest number of reported deaths after Italy, Spain, China, Iran, the United States and France. Health officials have warned that the UK will hit the peak of the epidemic in several weeks time.
