Boris Johnson will not be tested for coronavirus despite Nadine Dorries diagnosis, Downing Street reveals
2 min read
Boris Johnson will not be tested for coronavirus despite attending a Downing Street event with Nadine Dorries days before she was diagnosed with the virus.
The health minister was among those present at a Number 10 reception to mark International Women's Day alongside the Prime Minister on Thursday, just hours before she started feeling unwell.
But Number 10 officials said they were following advice from Public Health England which stated the Prime Minister does not need tested because he had not been in close contact with Ms Dorries and was not showing any symptoms of the disease.
It comes as Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she had been advised to self-isolate at home following a face-to-face meeting with Ms Dorries.
On Tuesday, Ms Dorries announced she was in self-isolation having tested positive for the virus but believed she was "over the worst of it".
Parliament authorities have already placed warning tape over her Westminster office ahead of thorough cleaning.
But in a message to Conservative MPs, Ms Dorries revealed a member of her parliamentary staff had already "come down" with the bug.
Health officials are now scrambling to trace those who may have come into close contact with the minister during the days leading up to her diagnosis.
"Frustrating"
York Central MP Ms Maskell said she had been advised by NHS staff to self-isolate at home following her meeting with the minister, but that she would also not be tested because she was not showing any symptoms.
It comes after the number of cases in the UK rose to 382, and a sixth death was confirmed.
Ms Maskell said it was "frustrating" she was having to isolate but it was "crucial" to follow the advice to halt the spread of the virus.
"Of course it is disruptive, of course we don't want to have to isolate ourselves, but it is important that we say that that is a possibility, and if that is then to take that advice," she said.
"I have clearly got plenty of work to be getting on with electronically. We can still turn meetings into teleconferences and so on so it is not that I'm out of action, but that I am physically not in that space."
Elsewhere, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove suggested the next round of trade talks between UK and EU leaders could be postponed because of the virus.
Appearing before the European Union committee he said it was a "live" question whether talks would go ahead as he hinted Bruseels were not keen for face-to-face meetings in the wake of the outbreak.
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