Health

Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson will not be tested despite spread


Boris Johnson is not being tested for coronavirus despite being at a reception with infected health minister Nadine Dorries, it emerged today.

Downing Street said the PM did not need to be checked as he was showing ‘no symptoms’ and had not been within two metres of the quarantined MP.

Despite MPs saying he should be tested, sources also insisted there was less risk because Mr Johnson regularly washed his hands. 

Ms Dorries has revealed she has put herself into isolation, just days after attending a reception at No10 with the PM.

The Tory MP gave a speech in the Commons on Wednesday night, was in the tea rooms with other politicians, and held a surgery on Saturday for 50 of her constituents. She is believed to have started feeling ill on Thursday, before deteriorating the following day.

The 62-year-old had the virus and she is now said to be recovering – although she voiced fears for her 84-year-old mother, who is living at her home and ‘began coughing’ yesterday.   

Mr Johnson attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen on Monday. 

Another MP, Labour‘s Rachel Maskell, today declared that she is self-isolating after having a meeting with Mrs Dorries on Thursday. 

The Budget this afternoon went ahead despite the dramatic developments, with senior Parliamentary sources still adamant that the estate must be kept open.  

However, MailOnline understands there are serious discussions about reducing the number of MPs coming to the Commons in future – with perhaps 100 being tasked to oversee essential legislation in a bid to reduce the risk of spread. 

Former Cabinet minister David Gauke said he would be a ‘little bit nervous’ about being in the chamber for the Budget statement if he was still an MP, as it was ‘packed’. 

‘It is an environment where I fear the worst in terms of passing on the Covid-19,’ he told Sky News.  

Health minister Nadine Dorries fell ill on Friday and was diagnosed with coronavirus on Tuesday evening

Ms Dorries was at a reception at No10 last week, and Mr Johnson attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen on Monday

Ms Dorries was at a reception at No10 last week, and Mr Johnson attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen on Monday

The government's Budget went ahead despite the scare today with Boris Johnson (left) and Rishi Sunak in the chamber

The government’s Budget went ahead despite the scare today with Boris Johnson (left) and Rishi Sunak in the chamber

The MP is pictured here with her 84-year-old mother, in 2018

The MP is pictured here with her 84-year-old mother, in 2018 

Another MP, Labour's Rachel Maskell, today declared that she is self-isolating after having a meeting with Mrs Dorries on Thursday

Another MP, Labour’s Rachel Maskell, today declared that she is self-isolating after having a meeting with Mrs Dorries on Thursday

A Tory MP told MailOnline today: ‘I was sat in the tea rooms with Nadine on Wednesday. You think, if she puts her hands on the table and then I put my hands on the table…

‘Then she was in Parliament giving a speech at the despatch box. Everyone needs to be tested, Boris needs to be tested. Jo Churchill was next to her in the chamber.’

The backbencher added: ‘Boris cannot help himself. He shakes hands with everyone. He is obviously trying to stop himself now.’

Ms Dorries met hundreds of people last week, including a large number of MPs, and attended a conference outside Westminster. On Thursday she attended a Downing Street event hosted by Mr Johnson to mark International Women’s Day. 

She started feeling ill on Friday as she was signing a statutory instrument that declared coronavirus to be a ‘notifiable disease’, enabling companies to obtain insurance cover.

The health minister held the surgery in her Mid Bedfordshire constituency on Saturday.

Over the weekend she experienced the ‘classic symptoms’ of the disease – a dry cough, high temperature and ‘vice-like’ pain in her chest. 

Ms Maskell said: ‘NHS111 have advised that I self-isolate as a result of a meeting I had with the Government’s Mental Health Minister last Thursday who has subsequently tested positive for Coronovirus. 

‘Thankfully I am asymptomatic. It is so important that we all follow all public health advice.’ 

Another MP said grimly; ‘It won’t be long before most here have it.’ 

NHS could test 10,000 people a DAY 

The NHS is preparing to carry out 10,000 coronavirus tests a day in anticipation of a massive increase in demand.

The health service is currently performing 1,500 tests daily but this number will be increased by almost seven-fold.

Officials are rolling out a more sensitive method that produces results within 24 hours – the current turnaround is around 48 hours. The tests will also be carried out by NHS hospitals instead of one of 12 labs in the UK.

The NHS will also routinely test patients in hospital including those undergoing surgery.

The development comes as a top doctor warned yesterday that the NHS does not have enough intensive care beds to cope with a coronavirus epidemic.

Dr Ron Daniels, from University Hospitals Birmingham, said an extra 136,000 patients would need intensive care over the coming weeks.

The NHS currently has about 4,050 intensive care beds although Health Secretary Matt Hancock has promised to provide an additional 5,000 beds in time for the outbreak.

But Dr Daniels said that number would still be a long way off, stressing: ‘We cannot escalate our capacity readily enough.’

Her shock diagnosis came as: 

  • Interest rates were slashed by the Bank of England amid efforts to stop the coronavirus crisis wreaking havoc on the economy; 
  • The deputy chief medical officer warned the start of the peak of the epidemic could be within a fortnight; 
  • Heath officials announced 61 more patients in Britain have caught the killer infection, taking the total number of cases to 382 and fatalities to six
  • Italy’s death toll rose by 168 to 631 and its 60million citizens went into lockdown;
  • Thousands of Britons were effectively stranded in Italy after BA cancelled all flights and other airlines followed suit;
  • A row erupted over the screening of passengers arriving on the few remaining flights from Italy as some countries closed their borders to Italian arrivals;
  • Tonight’s Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal was postponed after the owner of Olympiacos – whose side played at Arsenal on February 27 – got the virus;
  • A big increase in online outpatient appointments for the elderly is being planned to save on trips to hospital;
  • The NHS is scaling up virus testing capacity to 10,000 a day;
  • Harvard said it would begin moving to online classes, with British universities under pressure to follow suit;
  • A top surgeon was struck down after returning from a skiing trip to Italy – but had treated patients in the meantime.  

Mrs Dorries, who is a mother of three, said: ‘I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

‘Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

‘I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.’

She added on social media: ‘It’s been pretty rubbish but I hope I’m over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84-year-old mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.’

Ms Dorries spoke in the Commons chamber on Wednesday evening, flanked by colleagues including Jo Churchill

Ms Dorries spoke in the Commons chamber on Wednesday evening, flanked by colleagues including Jo Churchill

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Nadine Dorries bricklaying in Bedford last November

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Nadine Dorries bricklaying in Bedford last November

Dorries shared this picture of her mother on her 84th birthday at the end of February 

In a tweet Nadine Dorries said she was 'over the worst of it' following her coronavirus diagnosis

In a tweet Nadine Dorries said she was ‘over the worst of it’ following her coronavirus diagnosis 

Matt Hancock wished his colleague Mrs Dorries well as she battles to recover from the virus

Matt Hancock wished his colleague Mrs Dorries well as she battles to recover from the virus 

Matt Hancock, who as Health Secretary is her boss, was last night understood to be fit and well and not showing any symptoms.

Parliament ‘could be slashed to 100 MPs to avoid virus spread’ 

Parliamentary authorities are considering sittings with just 100 MPs in a bid to avert coronavirus spread, MailOnline understands.

Senior sources insisted the Commons would not be closing despite health minister Nadine Dorries testing positive. ‘We need to keep the House open,’ one said.

There are fears the signal that would be sent to the country would fuel panic and lead to economic chaos. 

However, other measures such as shutting Parliament to visitors and continuing with a skeleton staff are being serious examined. 

One idea said to be ‘gaining traction’ is that the parties could agree to have just 100 MPs working in the Commons – sending the other 550 home to work.

Political parties would need to do an informal deal, and split the numbers along the lines of the result of the last election. 

They would also have to commit to passing only essential legislation.

‘That would probably work,’ a senior MP said. ‘Anyone who broke it would get hammered by the public.’

There is a quorum rule in the Commons that 40 MPs, including the Speaker, must be present to pass laws. 

He tweeted last night: ‘Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus.

‘She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. 

‘We all wish her well as she recovers.

‘I understand why people are worried about this disease. 

‘We will do all we can to keep people safe, based on the best possible science.’

Mr Hancock’s sentiments were echoed by the shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth, who tweeted: ‘I send my very, very best wishes to @NadineDorries and absolutely endorse (what) @MattHancock is saying.

‘I know this is an extremely worrying time for our constituents. 

‘Our NHS & PHE staff are doing us all proud in very challenging circumstances.’

The news will raise fears that Parliament may have to be closed or that restrictions will have to be placed on visitors. 

A government source said: ‘As with everything, we are being guided by the science on this. 

‘This will be treated like any other standard case.’

MPs lined up to offer their support last night after the news broke.

Mrs Dorries had been part of a team that drew up legislation to tackle coronavirus before she fell ill.

Officials are in the process of identifying all people she has been in contact with since contracting the virus, including MPs. 

Any who have displayed similar symptoms will be tested.

Nadine Dorries getting a flu jab last November as part of a campaign to encourage people to remember to get vaccinated

Nadine Dorries getting a flu jab last November as part of a campaign to encourage people to remember to get vaccinated

Labour MP Angela Rayner said: ‘Whilst l almost never agree with Nadine Dorries on anything politically, I do wish her a speedy recovery against this wretched coronavirus.’

It was reported last week that plans were being considered to suspend Parliament for five months.

One source said there were potentially ‘650 superspreaders’ in the House of Commons because its MPs divide their time between Westminster and their seats.

  



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