Positive coronavirus test leaves Boris Johnson isolated

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive to coronavirus, creating a crisis at the heart of Westminster.

British PM Boris Johnson has tested positive to COVID-19. Picture: AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and two of his top colleagues have tested positive to coronavirus, creating a crisis at the heart of Westminster.

Mr Johnson has mild symptoms and will isolate at his home in Downing Street. Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty have also been infected.

Other senior cabinet members­ and those tasked with handling this pandemic, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, may also have to self-isolate just as the country is preparing to face a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

That includes the completion of a 4000-bed temporary hospital at the Excel conference centre.

The news adds further concern about the health of Queen Elizabeth II, but Buckingham Palace said the Queen was in good health.

The palace said Her Majesty last saw Mr Johnson on March 11 and was following all advice in regards to her welfare. That meeting with the prime minister was before she met with her son, Prince Charles, on March 12.

The Queen, 93, has been working remotely from Windsor Castle since March 19 with a very limited number of trusted staff. The Queen has also sent her best wishes to Mr Johnson.

The Prime Minister, looking well and wearing a suit and tie, issued a video to reassure the public, saying he will continue via virtual meetings to be in charge of the government’s handling of the crisis that has killed 580 people in Britain, with 11,816 total cases.

Mr Johnson said he had a temperature and persistent cough but added: “I am in no doubt I can continue … to lead the national fightback.’’

If Mr Johnson became too sick, Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab would temporarily replace him.

Take care @BorisJohnson from all of us over here in Oz. Thinking of you and all our UK friends as we work together to get through this.

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 27, 2020

Mr Johnson released the news on Friday morning (10.15pm AEDT) on Twitter, saying: “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.

“I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives.”

Just hours after Mr Johnson’s positive test result was announced, Mr Hancock announced he too had coronavirus. It is understood several other senior members of the government have been self-isolating with symptoms but have not yet been tested.

Mr Hancock issued a video saying he had been ween working from home over the past couple of days and was in self-isolation.

“I also have some mild symptoms of coronavirus and I will be self-isolating here until next Thursday,’’ he said, reflecting the UK’s advice that people must stay at home for seven days if isolating by themselves, or 14 days if with a household.

Following medical advice, I was advised to test for #Coronavirus.

I‘ve tested positive. Thankfully my symptoms are mild and I’m working from home & self-isolating.

Vital we follow the advice to protect our NHS & save lives#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/TguWH6Blij

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 27, 2020

Mr Hancock added: “My symptoms so far have been very mild, I’ve being able to work and help drive the UK response.”

Further bad news at the very heart of the government’s coronavirus team was to come. Professor Whitty, a figure of calm measured authority on the virus, joined Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock in self-isolation after also coming down with suspected coronavirus symptoms.

With Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Professor Whitty succumbing to the disease it means the top three men who were to lead the nation in the coming weeks are all poorly as the virus neared its peak.

Their positive tests follow the same result for Prince Charles, who also has mild symptoms and has been working from his Scottish retreat in the grounds of Balmoral.

It is unknown if Mr Johnson’s partner, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant, has been tested for the virus.

Treasury insisted that Mr Sunak, who has been seen in close quarters to Mr Johnson, most recent­ly on Thursday night, would not have to self-isolate. However, that situation would obviously change if he was to get the disease.

The news that Mr Johnson was able to get a test ­despite only ­displaying mild symptoms when the rest of the country, and frontline healthcare workers, have been unable to access any test, has ­rankled with some members of the public.

At this stage Britain is only testing people who are sick enough to be hospitalised.

Former Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell tweeted: “Doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 cases are entitled­ to ask why they can’t get tests, they are special cases too.’’