UK Prime Minister Boris
Johnson tests POSITIVE for
Covid-19 infection
RT,
27 March, 2020
British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19
infection, experiencing mild symptoms. He will self-isolate in
Downing Street but will remain in charge of the government.
"Over
the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive
for coronavirus," Johnson
said.
"I
am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s
response via video-conference as we fight this virus."
Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.
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
Johnson,
55, reportedly began experiencing mild symptoms on Thursday and was
tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England's Chief
Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
It
was not immediately clear when he was tested but various members of
his staff had been working elsewhere when the news first emerged that
he had contracted the illness.
The
British leader had spoken in a press conference about shaking hands
with “everybody” during a visit to a hospital that was treating
people suffering from the disease, which has killed over 24,000
people around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Boris Johnson boasting about shaking hands with coronavirus patients. You could not make it up. Britain is about to learn the hard way this is not the man to lead us in a crisis.
5,942 people are talking about this
Less
than two hours after Johnson announced his diagnosis, health
secretary Matt Hancock followed suit and confirmed that he has the
disease. Hancock is self-isolating and working from home as he
battles the virus.
Downing
Street had introduced measures to limit contact, including holding
cabinet and the daily Covid-19 briefing by conference call.
However,
Johnson was in the UK parliament in recent days and also hosted
several senior cabinet figures and the chief medical officer,
Professor Chris Whitty.
For
the time being, Johnson will continue to carry out his duties, but
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominc Raab may be asked to
step in should the prime minister's condition worsen. Were he to step
in, Raab’s official title would be Understudy to the Prime
Minister.
The
latest figures show that the UK has over 11,800 confirmed cases of
coronavirus infection which has, so far, resulted in the deaths of
578 people.
The
news of the prime minister's illness comes amid claims that the UK's
National Health Service (NHS) is facing a "continuous tsunami"
of infection and may soon collapse. The chief executive of NHS
Providers, Chris Hopson, said Intensive Care Units across the country
are filling up and staff absences due to illness are mounting.
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