Scottish Secretary Alister Jack latest Cabinet minister to self-isolate over coronavirus symptoms
Alister Jack is the Scottish Secretary
2 min read
Alister Jack has become the latest member of the Cabinet to go into self-isolation after showing symptoms of the coronavirus.
The Scottish Secretary has not been tested for Covid-19 and his symptoms are a cough and a mild temperature.
But his decision to follow government advice on self-isolation comes after both Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive for the illness.
The Government’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has also gone into self-isolation after displaying symptoms.
Mr Jack, the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said: “In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus.
"In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home."
Mr Jack was sat alongside the PM in the Commons before Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson has vowed to “continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus”.
Speaking on Friday, Cabinet minister Michael Gove - who chaired the Government's daily press conference in the Prime Minister's absence - said the latest developments showed that the virus “does not discriminate".
He added: "The fact that the virus is no respecter of individuals, whoever they are, is one of the reasons why we do need to have strict social distancing measures so that we can reduce the rate of infection and reduce the pressure on the NHS."
A total of 113,777 people have so far been tested for coronavirus in the UK, with 14,543 testing positive, according to Public Health England figures released on Saturday morning.
As of Friday evening, the virus had claimed 759 lives in the UK.
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