UK junior health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating, she said on Tuesday.
Dorries said she took “all the advised precautions” as soon as she was told of her diagnosis.
“Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice,” she said in a statement issued through the UK‘s health department.
The Times reported that Dorries met hundreds of people in Parliament in the past week and attended a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
UK’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, tweeted that he was “really sorry” to hear of Dorries’ diagnosis. “She has done the right thing by self isolating at home,” he said.
2/2: I understand why people are worried about this disease. We will do all we can to keep people safe, based on the best possible science.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 10, 2020
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.
— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2020
Earlier on Tuesday, the death toll in the United Kingdom from the coronavirus outbreak rose to six, British health officials said.
The health ministry also said the number of people who had tested positive for the virus had risen to 373 from 319.
(With Reuters input)
