‘It’s been pretty rubbish’: UK Health Minister tests positive for coronavirus

UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries has revealed her biggest concern after she tested positive to coronavirus.

UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus making her the first MP to be diagnosed with the infection. Picture: PA Wire

UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries is currently in isolation after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Ms Dorries, who has served in Parliament since 2005, has become the first MP to test positive to the virus after she fell ill last Friday.

It has sparked concerns about the potential spread of the illness at Westminster and at an event at Downing Street, where she attended a reception last week.

Ms Dorries’ full symptoms didn’t show until the next day where she was holding a constituency event in her electorate of Mid Bedfordshire, north of London.

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UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus making her the first MP to be diagnosed with the infection. Picture: PA Wire

The Department of Health and Social Care DHSC confirmed that Ms Dorries, who is also a best-selling author of fiction, had tested positive for the infection.

“As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home,” Ms Dorries said in a statement.

“Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice. I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.”

The identity of the individual who infected her is unknown.

Attention is focused on tracking down and testing those who have come into contact with her.

Thanks for so many good wishes. It’s been pretty rubbish but I hope I’m over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.

— Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧 (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2020

MP’S BIGGEST CONCERN

Ms Dorries had attended a reception for International Women’s Day where the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, were among guests present.

Following her positive result, Ms Dorries took to her Twitter late on Tuesday evening (UK time) to thank those who have sent her well wishes — she also revealed her biggest concern.

“It’s been pretty rubbish,” she said, “but I hope I’m over the worst of it now.”

“More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. “She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.”

Her post has been flooded with hundreds of comments by people also requesting she keeps them updated on her symptoms.

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“Keep up the tweets on what it was like, so people know the symptoms, what was the worst feelings/reaction and how long before you started feeling better. You have a first hand chance of elevating some of the fears the media seem to be stoking up,” one person wrote.

Ms Dorries is yet to respond.

So far, six people in the UK have died of the coronavirus, and nearly 400 have the disease.

In Australia, there are now 116 confirmed cases with more than 9000 people having been tested in NSW alone – NSW is the country’s worst affected state with 61 cases.

Three Australians have died so far as Sydney proves a hotspot for the virus.