NOBODY’S SAFE
» PM, Health Secretary & medical chief all fall victim to killer disease » Deaths in UK soar by 181... as Mirror calls for medals for NHS heroes
BORIS Johnson has coronavirus, he confirmed yesterday.
The PM said he was self-isolating in Downing Street away from pregnant partner Carrie Symonds. But he pledged to keep working to “lead the national fightback”, as the UK death toll hit 759 and the Mirror called for medics to get medals. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive while medical chief Prof Chris Whitty has symptoms. Michael Gove said it was “a reminder that the virus does not discriminate”.
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for coronavirus as Covid-19 hit the heart of Government yesterday.
Both are self-isolating after it was confirmed they had contracted the deadly disease.
The top official dealing with the crisis, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, is also in self-isolation after displaying symptoms.
Amid concerns other high-ranking politicians may have been exposed to the illness, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said it was “a reminder the virus does not discriminate”.
Mr Johnson, 55, earlier posted a video confirming his shock diagnosis.
Revealing he had “a temperature and a persistent cough” he vowed to continue leading the pandemic response from his Downing Street flat.
Dressed in a dark blue suit, pale blue shirt and red spotty tie, the PM said: “I’ve developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus. I am working from home, I’m self-isolating.
“But be in no doubt I can continue to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.”
His pregnant fiancee, Carrie Symonds, 32, is thought to be selfisolating at their South London home, with their Jack Russell-cross, Dilyn.
The revelations came as the UK death toll soared by 181 to 759, up from 578 just 24 hours earlier.
Delivering last night’s No10 statement in place of the PM Mr Gove also said health staff would “immediately” start undergoing antigen testing to see if they have the disease.
It will mean they “can have security in the knowledge they are safe to return to work if their test is negative,” he said. “Tests will be trialled on the front line, with hundreds to take place by the end of the weekend – dramatically scaling up next week,” he added.
Labour deputy leadership candidate and A&E doctor Rosena AllinKhan said she was “very pleased” to hear frontline staff would be tested.
In other developments:
■ NHS England boss Sir Simon who appeared with Mr Gove, said 33,000 hospital beds were available to treat coronavirus patients. ■ He confirmed Birmingham’s NEC and Manchester’s Central Convention Complex would be transformed into “Nightingale” hospitals, similar to that at East London’s ExCeL.
■ Bosses at Birmingham’s Good Hope Hospital said its children’s A&E
department had been closed to “increase coronavirus capacity”. ■ Firefighters are being be drafted in to deliver food and medicine, drive ambulances and retrieve bodies.
■ The Treasury announced it would fund employer National Insurance and pension contributions of furloughed workers.
■ Gatwick Airport is cutting operaStevens, tions from April 1. The North Terminal will close and the runway will only be used from 2pm-10pm.
■ Workers who have not taken all of their annual holidays because of the coronavirus crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years, the Business Secretary announced.
■ Some 27 inmates have now tested positive for coronavirus in 14 British prisons – up by eight in 24 hours.
■ Italy’s death toll rocketed by 919 in a day – the biggest daily total so far anywhere in the world – hitting 9,134.
News that coronavirus had hit Downing Street came in a bombshell No10 statement at 11.14am.
A spokeswoman said: “The test was carried out in No10 by NHS staff and the result was positive.”
Seconds later, the PM posted his