Labour Frontbencher Yasmin Qureshi Is In Hospital After Testing Positive For Coronavirus
Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi announced on Facebook she was in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus (PA)
3 min read
A Labour shadow minister who tested positive for coronavirus a fortnight ago is in hospital being treated for pneumonia.
Yasmin Qureshi announced on Facebook she had been admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital on Saturday after falling ill.
The 57-year-old MP for Bolton South East posted this morning: “Two weeks ago, I began to feel unwell.
“I then tested positive for Covid-19, so my family and I immediately self-isolated at home. I have not travelled to Westminster or anywhere else.”
The shadow international development minister added: “I continued to work as best I could remotely, attending virtual meetings and doing casework, but after 10 days, I began to feel much worse and on Saturday I was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia.
“I'm being very well looked after and have nothing but praise and admiration for the wonderful staff at the hospital.
“They have been amazing throughout the process and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone working here in such difficult circumstances.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "My thoughts are with my friend Yasmin Qureshi who has been admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
"My thanks go to the staff caring for Yasmin at the Royal Bolton Hospital, along with NHS staff across the country who are on the frontline against Covid-19."
Bolton has seen a surge in positive cases in recent weeks, moving from a seven-day average of fewer than 10 cases per day at the end of August to above 150 now and continuing to rise.
The region has been under extra lockdown restrictions for several months, and the government has been negotiating with local politicians about putting it into the highest tier of measures to try and drive down the spiralling infection rate, but is facing resistance from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham over a financial aid package.
A former barrister who headed the criminal legal section of the UN Mission in Kosovo, Ms Qureshi was first elected in 2010 and served as a shadow justice minister for four years under Jeremy Corbyn, retaining her frontbench position when Sir Keir took over as Labour leader.
She is one of a number of MPs to have tested positive for coronavirus during the pandemic, including fellow Greater Manchester representative Tony Lloyd, who spent 25 days in hospital back in April with the disease.
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