PM Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both have Coronavirus

They've taken to Twitter

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 27th Mar 2020
Last updated 24th May 2022

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both confirmed that they've tested positive for Coronavirus. They have both taken to Twitter to share videos of themselves explaining that they have mild symptoms of the illness, and have confirmed that they're both self-isolating.

The PM wrote, '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.'

In the video, Boris said, "I want to bring you up to speed with something that's happening today, which is that I've developed mild symptoms of the Coronavirus - that's to say, a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer I've taken a test that has come out positive.

"So, I am working from home, I'm self-isolating and that's entirely the right thing to do - but be in no doubt that I can continue, and thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team, to lead the national fight back against Coronavirus.

"I want to thank everybody who's involved, I want to thank of course, above all, our amazing NHS staff. It was very moving last night to join in that national clap for the NHS."

Boris added, "But it's not just the NHS, it's our police, our social care workers, teachers - everybody who works in schools and DWP staff. An amazing national effort by the public services, but also by every member of the British public who is volunteering.

"An incredible response - 600,000 people have volunteered to take part in a great national effort to protect people from the consequences of Coronavirus, I want to thank you. I want to thank everybody who is working to keep our country going through this epidemic and we will get through it.

"The way we're going to get through it is, of course, by applying the measures that you'll have heard so much about, and the more effectively we all comply with those measures, the faster our country will come through this epidemic and the faster we'll bounce back.

"So thank you to everybody who's doing what I'm doing - working from home to stop the spread of the virus from household to household. That's the way we're going to win - we're going to beat it, and we're going to beat it together. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."

Mr. Hancock wrote, '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.'

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