By Our Reporter
British 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.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said: “Really sorry to
hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus. She has done the right thing
by self-isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. We
all wish her well as she recovers.”
Ms Dorries tweeted: “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. (vulcanpost.com) ”
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.
Ms Dorries, who has placed herself in self-isolation, has
met hundreds of people in Westminster over the past week and attended a recent
reception in Downing Street with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Officials have been seeking to identify the names of
everyone with whom Ms Dorries has come into contact in recent days.
