Get well soon, Boris! Messages of support flood in from world leaders, MPs and celebrities as Prime Minister is struck down with coronavirus
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed he has tested positive for covid-19
- Johnson took to social media on Friday to deliver the news to the nation
- Immediately get well messages began to flood in from around the world
- Jeremy Corbyn, Gary Lineker and Lord Sugar were among those to offer wishes
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Boris Johnson has today been flooded with wishes of good health from around the world, after national leaders, celebrities and colleagues offered their support following his positive testing for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister took to social media on Friday morning to deliver the news to the nation, confirming he had been experiencing symptoms of the illness and was prompted to take a test.
Johnson’s diagnosis highlighted the extent of the rapid spread of the potentially fatal coronavirus, despite the 55-year-old’s insistence he only has ‘mild’ symptoms’, and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference.
Boris Johnson has been inundated with well wishing after testing positive for coronavirus
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those who sent regards to the Prime Minister via social media, with the likes of Caroline Lucas, Michael Barnier, Lord Sugar and Gary Lineker following suit.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu immediately made a personal address to Johnson, writing: Dear Boris Johnson, on behalf of the people of Israel I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Your friend, Benjamin Netanyahu’
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, echoed the sentiment and included a heartfelt word for HRH Prince Charles, who has also tested positive for the virus.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with, both HRH Prince Charles and PM Boris Johnson who have tested positive for #COVID19,’ wrote Rajapaksa. ‘We wish and pray for a speedy recovery for them both.’
Despite the government’s own guidance saying people must self-isolate for 14 days if anyone in their ‘household’ develops symptoms, no senior figures – such as Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who was with the PM on Thursday night, or chief aide Dominic Cummings – are thought to be going into isolation.
Mr Cummings was seen making a hasty exit from Downing Street on Friday carrying a rucksack.
Mr Johnson’s pregnant partner Carrie Symonds is believed to be in self-isolation, although it is not known when they last saw each other or if she has been checked.
In the video in which he broke the news to the public, Mr Johnson said: ‘Hi folks I want to bring you up to speed on something that is happening today which is that I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus, that is to say a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the chief medical officer I have taken a test.
‘That has come out positive so I am working from home, I am self isolating.
‘That is entirely the right thing to do 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 fight back against coronavirus.’