PREGNANT FIANCEE TO SELF-ISOLATE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
CONCERNS have been raised for Boris Johnson’s pregnant fiancée Carrie Symonds following his infection.
Ms Symonds, 32, who is due in late May or early June, is understood to have moved out of Downing Street to the British prime Minister’s country retreat at Chequers in Buckinghamshire.
But it is not known whether she was in contact with him while he was symptomatic.
Crucially, Ms Symonds is understood to be in the third trimester and beyond the 28 weeks of pregnancy at which doctors say women should take extra precautions to avoid the virus.
The data on how Covid-19 affects expectant mothers is limited and health experts are not sure whether they are more likely to get serious complications as they are with flu.
As a precaution, pregnant women have been advised by experts to take social distancing measures very seriously. And the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists urges those beyond 28 weeks to be ‘extremely careful’.
Despite the limited research, there is no suggestion coronavirus increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. However, pregnancy does weaken a woman’s immune system.
This means she will be more at risk of catching the virus and potentially contracting a more severe form.
Dr Michael Head, of the University of Southampton, said: ‘It is reassuring that so far there have been few noted complications during pregnancy with Covid-19. However, the health services will be cautious.’
Downing Street yesterday implied Ms Symonds was not living with Mr Johnson at present, although they did not confirm whether she only moved out when he tested positive for the virus.