The Boris show comes to a halt...

Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Johnson said on Twitter that his symptoms have developed over the last 24 hours and that he was tested on the advice of his chief medical officer.

By CHARLIE COOPER

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, Downing Street said on Friday.

The prime minister experienced mild symptoms on Thursday and took a test on the personal advice of England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

"The test was carried out in No. 10 by NHS staff and the result of the test was positive," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"In keeping with the guidance, the prime minister is self-isolating in Downing Street. He is continuing to lead the government’s response to coronavirus.”

Johnson’s official spokesperson said the prime minister would self-isolate in No 11 Downing Street. He has his flat above the building, which also houses Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s private office. Sunak has moved out of his office, which will now serve as the prime minister’s workspace while self-isolating.

No 11 can be effectively sealed off from No 10 and No 12 Downing Street, and government documents and meals will be delivered to the door for the prime minister to collect, the spokesperson said. Full videoconferencing equipment has been installed in the office.

The prime minister’s fiancé, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant, posted on social media yesterday that she was self-isolating, but she does not appear to be currently living with the prime minister. Johnson’s spokesperson declined to comment on Symonds’ circumstances or condition but said Johnson would be following Public Health England advice to self-isolate for seven days. The advice for those living with others is to self-isolate for 14 days.

Johnson’s political spokesperson said that Johnson began to feel ill late on Thursday afternoon and received his test result at around midnight. In between feeling unwell and testing positive, he was filmed outside the front door of No 10 taking part in a nationwide event to applaud health and care workers.

“From the moment he had symptoms he took steps to make sure he did not have close contact with anyone,” the spokesperson said. “He really wanted to take part in applause for NHS staff,” but stood well away from his neighbor, Sunak, who was also applauding from Downing Street.

As prime minister, Johnson would have had contact with numerous key figures working on the U.K.’s coronavirus response, leading to concerns that the virus could now be circulating throughout the top levels of government. The spokesperson said No 10, as a workplace, had been observing the official social distancing advice for staff to work from home unless absolutely necessary, and to keep at least two meters apart from other people.

“The advice to staff here and also to the prime minister’s colleagues is that they don’t need to do anything in terms of self-isolation unless they begin to suspect they have symptoms, in which case they should follow the Public Health England advice,” the spokesperson said. They added that they were not aware of any other No 10 staff testing positive for the virus, but confirmed that some had already self-isolated after developing symptoms.

Johnson, who would also typically have weekly audiences with Queen Elizabeth II, has not seen the monarch in person for “a significant time” and has been holding the weekly sessions by telephone for at least the past two weeks, the spokesperson said.