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27 March 2020

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Test Positive for Covid-19 Coronavirus




Boris Johnson insisted he has 'mild' symptoms', and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference


Boris Johnson, 55, has coronavirus: PM tests positive for disease as crisis grips the UK

  • Boris Johnson announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus as the outbreak spreads across the UK 
  • Prime Minister insisted he will still lead UK's response to the crisis thanks to 'wizard of modern technology'
  • Mr Johnson took part in applause for NHS staff from Downing Street last night and was in Commons for PMQs
  • Bombshell news will raise fears that other politicians and senior officials will have been infected as well 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Boris Johnson today dramatically announced he is suffering from coronavirus - but insisted he is still determined to lead the UK battle against the crisis.  
The Prime Minister said he had tested positive for the disease, after developing a cough and being advised by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty to get checked.
The 55-year-old insisted he has 'mild' symptoms', and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference.
However, the bombshell news underlines fears that the crisis is escalating. There will also be concerns that other senior ministers, senior figures such as Prof Whitty, and potentially Mr Johnson's pregnant partner Carrie Symonds, might have been infected.  
In a video, Mr Johnson said: 'Hi folks I want to bring you up to speed on something that is happening today which is that I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus, that is to say a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the chief medical officer I have taken a test. 
'That has come out positive so I am working from home, I am self isolating. 
'That is entirely the right thing to do but be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fight back against coronavirus.'  
Prince Charles was confirmed as infected with coronavirus earlier this week. Other world leaders such as Canada's Justin Trudeau has tested positive.
Downing Street has previously said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will fill in if the PM is incapacitated, although there is little sign that he has stopped working
Boris Johnson insisted he has 'mild' symptoms', and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference
Boris Johnson today dramatically announced he is suffering from coronavirus
Boris Johnson today dramatically announced he is suffering from coronavirus
  
'Hi folks I want to bring you up to speed on something that is happening today which is that I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus, that is to say a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the chief medical officer I have taken a test. 
'That has come out positive so I am working from home, I am self isolating. That is entirely the right thing to do but be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fight back against coronavirus.
'I want to thank everybody who is involved. I want to thank of course above all our amazing NHS staff. It was very moving last night to join in that national clap for the NHS. But it is not just the NHS, it's our police, it's our social care workers, teachers, everybody who works in schools, DWP staff. 
'An amazing national effort by the public services but also by every member of the British public who is volunteering - an incredible response, 600,000 people have volunteered to take part in a great national effort to protect people from the consequences of coronavirus. 
'I want to thank you. I want to thank everybody who is working to keep our country going through this epidemic and we will get through it.
'The way we are going to get through it is of course by applying the measures that you will have heard so much about and the more effectively we all comply with those measures, the faster our country will come through this epidemic and the faster we will bounce back. 
'So thank you to everybody who is doing what I am doing, working from home to stop the spread of the virus from household to household. That is the way we are going to win. We are doing to beat it and we are going to beat it together. 
'Stay at home. Protect the NHS. And save lives.' 
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
'The test was carried out in No 10 by NHS staff and the result of the test was positive.
'In keeping with the guidance, the Prime Minister is self-isolating in Downing Street.
'He is continuing to lead the government's response to coronavirus.'
London is regarded as the engine of the outbreak in the UK, and many at Westminster have been struck down with symptoms.
Health minister Nadine Dorries was the first confirmed MP case, and has since recovered and returned to work. 
The declared UK death toll rose by 113 to 578 yesterday - the steepest increase yet. 
Mr Johnson was outside No10 last night applauding NHS workers who are combating the virus, in a national show of appreciation.
He is thought to have chaired a remote meeting of the coronavirus 'war cabinet' this morning. 
Mr Johnson took PMQs in the Commons on Wednesday, which could raise fears other politicians have been infected, even though people have been well spaced out in the chamber.
Cabinet on Tuesday was also carried out over video conference.
Mr Johnson has not taken any of the regular government press conferences this week.
On Monday he gave a dramatic address to the nation in which he declared that the country had to go into lockdown, with no-one leaving their houses unless absolutely necessary,
Mr Johnson's fiance Carrie Symonds is pregnant and is thought to have been self-isolating in line with government advice. 
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday took questions from the media alongside the deputy chief medical officer as he unveiled a bail out for the self-employed. 
Some 3.8million will be eligible for cash grants worth 80 per cent of salary up to £2,500 a month, in a massive boost for taxi drivers, musicians, gig economy workers and freelancers.
However, the Treasury admitted that the scheme will not be up and running until June, and around 200,000 self-employed will not be covered.
Only people turning a profit of less than £50,000 a year are eligible, ruling out many accountants, IT consultants, and lawyers. 
Families where a breadwinner has an income of £50,001 will miss out, while someone turning a £49,999 profit would be covered. 
Those who invest their profits in their business, or set themselves up as a limited company and pay themselves via a dividend, will also be ineligible.
Boris Johnson was outside No10 last night applauding NHS workers who are combating the virus, in a national show of appreciation
Boris Johnson was outside No10 last night applauding NHS workers who are combating the virus, in a national show of appreciation
Mr Johnson was in the Commons for PMQs on Wednesday, raising fears other politicians might have been infected
Mr Johnson was in the Commons for PMQs on Wednesday, raising fears other politicians might have been infected
Downing Street has previously said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will fill in if the PM is incapacitated, although there is little sign that he has stopped working
Downing Street has previously said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will fill in if the PM is incapacitated, although there is little sign that he has stopped working
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday took questions from the media alongside the deputy chief medical officer as he unveiled a bail out for the self-employed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday took questions from the media alongside the deputy chief medical officer as he unveiled a bail out for the self-employed

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