BORIS Johnson’s top adviser Dominic Cummings is isolating at home after developing coronavirus symptoms, it’s been reported today.
A No 10 source says he remains “in contact” with the rest of the team.
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Last week he was spotted running out of Downing Street just hours after his boss, the PM, had been diagnosed with the illness.
Aides said he was just late for a meeting.
Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, both tested positive for coronavirus last Friday, sparking panic in Government about who else could be infected.
Both will be working from home for at least seven days in line with current medical advice, although some have called for it to be longer.
The Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, is also isolating at home with symptoms.
It’s not clear whether he has had a test.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack this weekend became the latest member of the Government to say they would be staying home after feeling unwell.
MPs have warned that Westminster is a “hotbed’ of infection” and dozens are isolating at home.
Health minister Nadine Dorries was the first politician to test positive for the virus, who has now returned to work and recovered.
And yesterday Michael Gove – who sat near the PM and Mr Hancock in the Commons – coughed on TV.
Advisers insisted he is not sick and was just clearing his throat.
The PM is continuing to lead the Government from his office in No11, but won’t be allowed out to see anyone else.
He is being brought meals to his door and doing conference calls via video-link.
Press conferences in the afternoons will have to be taken by other ministers instead.
The UK death toll stands at 1,228 – with more than 19,000 infected.
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In more positive news, the coronavirus outbreak is “starting to slow”, a top expert is warning.
Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College in London, who has been advising the government on the pandemic, claims to have detected “early signs” that the spread of the deadly bug is being curbed by draconian government measures.
And he also suggested that up to three per cent of the UK – around two million people – might already have been infected with Covid-19.
Prof Ferguson’s comments come after Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said it’s it’s too early to say when the coronavirus peak will be in the UK.
In particular, Prof Ferguson warned deaths are still likely to rise sharply as they lag two or three weeks behind the new infections.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning, he said: “In the UK we can see some early signs of slowing and some indicators, less so in deaths, because deaths are lagged by a long time from when measures come in force.
“But when you look at the numbers of new hospital admissions per day for instance, that does appear to be slowing down a little bit now.”
Prof Ferguson added that the curve is slowing due to the draconian measures the government has implemented.
“It is the result of the actions people have taken and governments have taken,” he said.
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