PRIME MINISTER TESTS POSITIVE
UK Government’s Health Secretary also has Covid-19 – and Scotland passes 1000 confirmed cases of virus
TOTAL CASES NOW IN GREATER GLASGOW: 299
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is among the latest increase in people who have tested positive for coronavirus. He announced that he had mild symptoms and was self-isolating but continuing to work.
Hours later, the UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said he also had the virus.
In a video message, Mr Johnson, said: “I’m working from home and self-isolating and that’s 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 fightback against coronavirus.”
His partner Carrie Symonds, who is expecting the couple’s child is believed to be self-isolating alone in Camberwell, south London.
Prof Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, who has been giving the daily updates with Mr Johnson from Downing Street is also self-isolating after experiencing symptoms.
The announcements came on the day the UK witnessed its biggest day-on-day rise in deaths since the outbreak began.
A total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus and the number of positive tested cases increased to 113,777. The UK saw an increase of 181 deaths, a rise of around one third in a day.
In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave the figures for north of the Border breaking through 1000 positive tests.
As of 2pm yesterday there were 1059 positive tested cases, up by 165 and 33 have now died, an increase of eight in 24 hours.
In Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, positive cases increased to 299, up by 41.
In neighbouring Lanarkshire, cases increased from 114 to 140.
However, the actual number with the virus not tested is thought to be more than 50 times higher.
Catherine Calderwood, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, said: “While it’s dangerous to go day by day, I want to really emphasise that I would now be estimating that there are more than 65,000 people in Scotland infected.”
Ms Sturgeon said she wished the Prime Minister a quick recovery and urged the public to continue to follow the rules over the weekend.
She said: “I know that many of you will already be struggling with being cooped up in the house as much as you are right now and not being able to do all the normal things that you would do at the weekend but it is vital that all of us stick with this.”
She added: “I’d say to young people, make sure you pick up the phone to your grandparents this weekend, or Facetime them, telling them how you’re getting on but also to check in on them and see how they’re doing. I’m sure they would really appreciate it.”
A medics’ organisation said they hoped that the Prime Minister being tested would lead to more testing of health service staff.
Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, of Doctors’ Association UK, said: “We are sorry to hear that Mr Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19 and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“The NHS will always be here should he need us.
“We recognise the importance of key workers being tested for Covid-19, and Mr Johnson is clearly needed at this time.
“Healthcare workers will be hoping that this signals an expansion of testing to them as well.”