BRITISH SHOCKED AS PM BORIS JOHNSON & HEALTH SECRETARY HANCOCK TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

In a massive development on Friday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He announced this via a post on Twitter. He mentioned that he developed mild symptoms of COVID-19 such as persistent cough and fever over the last 24 hours. Thereafter, he took a test on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, which came out positive.

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As a result, Johnson stated that he was working from home and self-isolating. At the same time, he exuded confidence that the UK would get through this phase successfully by complying with the necessary measures. He urged upon everyone to stop the spread of COVID-19 from household to household. 

On March 25, Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne tested positive for COVID-19. As per a spokesperson, Prince Charles was displaying mild symptoms, but remained in good health. At the same, the Duchess of Cornwall is also self-isolating despite not have having the virus. 

He becomes the second high-profile British leader to test positive for coronavirus in recent days after Prince Charles, the heir to the the throne. Some ministers in the Johnson government and MPs have also tested positive for Covid-19.Britain is infected with more than 500,000 coronavirus victims around the world

Boris Johnson: British PM Johnson, health secretary Hancock test ...

Minutes after Johnson’s announcement, his health secretary Matt Hancock tweeted that he too was infected and was in self-isolation.

Hancock, who is a key member of Johnson’s coronavirus “War Cabinet”, said in a video message that he will be self-isolating until Thursday.

“Following medical advice, I was advised to test for coronavirus. I’ve tested positive,” Hancock posted on Twitter.

The 41-year-old minister said: “Fortunately for me, the symptoms so far have been very mild so I’ve been able to carry on with the work driving forward the UK response.”

The two announcements sent shockwaves across the top rung of the UK government, with most senior ministers and civil servants in and out of 10 Downing Street as they work to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The British diagnoses are the latest evidence that no one — no matter how high-profile — is untouched by the global pandemic.

Politicians may be especially exposed, since they interact with large numbers of people. Britain’s Parliament continued to meet as the virus spread, before it was eventually suspended on Wednesday — hours after Johnson held his regular question-and-answer session with lawmakers.

Parliamentary authorities are now facing questions about why they did not shut down sooner.