Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19, the Government has announced.
Mr Johnson experienced mild symptoms and a test confirmed he had the illness on Thursday. He is self-isolating in his Downing Street offices, the government has said.
‘I have taken a test. That has come out positive. I’m working from home, I’m self-isolating,’ said Mr Johnson said in a video posted on Twitter. ‘Be in no doubt I can continue to communicate with my top team and lead the national fightback against coronavirus.’
The UK is still gripped by the pandemic, as the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time. The death toll has risen from 475 to 578, health officials have confirmed, with 11,658 confirmed cases.
The latest figures are for a 24-hour period, but Wednesday's were not - they were only for eight hours – from 0900 to 1700 on Tuesday 24 March. Thursday's figures are for a full 24-hour period, from 1700 on Tuesday 24 March to 1700 on Wednesday 25 March.
In a separate development, it was also announced that the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for the disease. 'Thankfully my symptoms are mild and I’m working from home & self-isolating,' Mr Hancock tweeted on Friday afternoon.