PM’s pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds spent past week in bed with coronavirus symptoms
Carrie Symonds has revealed she has been suffering from coronavirus symptoms (PA)
2 min read
The Prime Minister’s pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds has revealed she has spent the last week in bed recovering from the “main symptoms of coronavirus”.
It comes after Boris Johnson revealed he is continuing to self-isolate in Downing Street as he still suffers from a high temperature more than a week after testing positive for Covid-19.
It is believed the 32-year-old, who is expecting the pair’s first child this summer, has been convalescing at their home in Camberwell in south London, rather than at the flat above Number 11 Downing Street with her partner.
When it was revealed Mr Johnson was suffering from the diseases his spokesperson said he would be following guidelines to self-isolate for seven days rather than 14, prompting speculation he was by himself, and there was no update on Ms Symonds’ condition.
But on Saturday evening she tweeted: “I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus.
“I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend.”
She added a link to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) website, saying: “Being pregnant with Covid-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be very reassuring.
The former head of communications for the Conservative Party, who is at least six months pregnant, is thought to have left Downing Street more than a week ago.
Soon after Mr Johnson's positive test was announced she posted a picture on Instagram of herself in bed with the couple's dog Dilyn and captioning it: “Self-isolating isn't so bad with this one.”
The official advice for women in their third trimester is to reduce social contact through social distancing measures after the Chief Medical Officer placed them in the vulnerable group last month.
The RCOG say pregnant women do not appear more likely to contract Covid-19 than the general population, but their bodies can be worse at dealing with severe viral infections.
It says while the risks are small overall, health professionals should look out for the more severe symptoms in those who test positive, such as pneumonia and a lack of oxygen.
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