Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, he revealed Friday.
“Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus,” the UK’s leader said on Twitter.
“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,” he insisted, adding the “#StayHomeSaveLives” hashtag.
His infection means he will need to stay apart from new fiancee Carrie Symonds who is pregnant and at a higher risk, according to The Sun.
The prime minister has already been holding Cabinet meetings by the Zoom app, Downing Street had earlier confirmed — and was also shown having his weekly audience with 93-year-old Queen Elizabeth II by phone.
His announcement came at almost the same time as a major political rival, the likely next leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner, said she was self-isolating after developing symptoms.
“So me and Boris Johnson having the virus is pure coincidence — honest,” she tweeted with a blushing emoji
In a video, Johnson, 55, said that his “mild symptoms” were “a temperature and a persistent cough” and took the test “on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.”
He said “working from home” and “self-isolating” was “entirely the right thing to do,” even for the man leading the UK.
“Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus,” he said.
He also thanked “everybody who’s working to keep our country through this epidemic.”
“And we will get through it,” he insisted. “We’re going to beat it, and we’re going to beat it together. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives,” he said.
There have been at least 11,658 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the UK, with at least 578 deaths, according to the Evening Standard.
