London; 11 March 2020 (UMMN): British health minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, raising fears about the potential spread of the disease in Westminster. She is in self-isolation.
Dorries' diagnosis comes as the UK's coronavirus cases near 400, while six people have died of the virus in the country.
According to CNN, Dorries attended a reception with the Prime Minister and his fiancé Carrie Symonds in Downing Street last Thursday. officials are now racing to trace those who have had contact with Dorries, who has kept a busy diary of engagements in and around the UK's political center.
"I can confirm I have tested positive for Coronavirus," Dorries, a junior health minister, said in a statement released through the Department of Health. "As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home."
"It's been pretty rubbish but I hope I'm over the worst of it now," Dorries added on Twitter. "More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow."
Labour's Rachael Maskell is to go into self-isolation after she met with the minister.
