The Health Minister of the United Kingdom Nadine Dorries has tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The MP for Mid Bedfordshire fell ill on Friday, but it is not yet known how she contracted the virus, it is understood.
In a statement Dorries said: “I can confirm I have tested positive for Coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all advised precautions and have been self isolating at home.”
The United Kingdom has recorded a total of 382 cases of the virus with six deaths.
Dorries, who has served as parliamentary undersecretary of state for health and social care since 2019, is self-isolating at home.
“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.
Dorries, 62, attended an International Women’s Day event with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, the day before she fell ill, according to the Mirror.
She was also in close contact with hundreds of people in Parliament in the past week,
Dorries helped draft legislation to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for health and social care, tweeted that he was “really sorry to hear” Dorries had tested positive.
Meanwhile, doctors are warning that routine appointments at surgeries may have to stop as the number of Coronavirus cases rises.
UK Health Minister tests positive for coronavirus
