'Stay home, save lives’: Britain’s Boris Johnson self-isolates after becoming first world leader to contract Covid-19

The UK prime minister has been in the company of several key figures in Britain’s coronavirus fightback over the last week

Inside the prime minister's residence, Boris Johnson is self-isolating. Getty

In recent press briefings, as he has outlined the UK’s response to the coronavirus crisis, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has done so from a podium urging people to “stay home, protect the NHS and save lives”.

After testing positive for the novel coronavirus, Mr Johnson will now be practising that mantra more intensely.

In his message to the nation from his Twitter account – also carrying the “stay home, save lives” slogan – the prime minister said he would be continue to lead the country from self-isolation.

“On the advice of the chief medical officer I’ve taken a test, that has come out positive so I am working from home and self-isolating and that’s entirely the right thing to do,” he said.

Health secretary also positive

“But be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus,” Mr Johnson added.

Just over an hour after the British prime minister broke to the world that he had been diagnosed with Covid-19, the country’s health secretary Matt Hancock announced that he had also tested positive for the disease.

These two positive tests which have felled, in quick succession, two key figures in Britain’s coronavirus fightback will stoke fears that yet more cabinet ministers or government advisors have been struck down with the disease.

A 10 Downing Street spokesman explained that Mr Johnson had been advised by medical advisor Chris Witty to take the test.

Mr Witty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific officer appeared with Mr Johnson at Wednesday’s Downing Street press conference.

They have also been meeting with other politicians and civil servants across Westminster.

On Thursday evening as the UK gathered to applaud the country’s health workers, Mr Johnson was joined by the British Chancellor Rishi Sunak although they stood some distance apart.

Downing St doors closed

Before that, Mr Sunak, had appeared alongside the Prime Minister in person at press conferences. However, a spokesman for Mr Sunak said he had not had any symptoms and therefore had not been tested for coronavirus and was not self-isolating.

The prime minister’s office has said all ministers will self-isolate if they have symptoms. This week, the full cabinet meeting was held via video-conference for the first time but some individuals were seen with Mr Johnson. Before Tuesday, ministers were still meeting weekly in person.

During his seven days of isolation, and as he continues to lead operations against the coronavirus, Mr Johnson will have his meals delivered to the door of an apartment at Number 11 Downing Street.

"The doors between Number 10 and Number 11 have been closed off to all other staff who work in the building," a spokesman said. "The PM will work from the office and the study in Number 11."

Aside from his close colleagues, fears have been raised for Mr Johnson’s 32-year-old partner, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant.

The Queen is reported to be in good health after she last saw Mr Johnson on March 11. Normally the monarch meets the prime minister once a week but their regular conversations have instead been carried out over the telephone.

Mr Johnson has faced criticism in the UK and abroad for not appearing to act quickly enough to impose strict measures in the face of the coronavirus crisis. So far, 578 people in the United Kingdom have died after testing positive for coronavirus and the number of confirmed cases has risen to 11,658. The death toll is the seventh highest in the world.