Get tested Michael! Gove coughs his way through TV interviews as some viewers fear for his health while others claim he is putting it on
- Michael Gove was interviewed on Andrew Marr’s TV show on Sunday morning
- But the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had to stifle a cough throughout
- His aides have since claimed he was clearing his throat and has no symptoms
- It comes after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock went into self-isolation
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Michael Gove had to stifle a cough during a live TV interview today after a number of his cabinet colleagues were struck down by coronavirus.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was speaking to Andrew Marr this morning after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock revealed they had the virus.
His coughs led to fears that Gove too had contracted the potentially deadly covid-19 which is ravaging through the world.
Michael Gove had to stifle a cough during a live TV interview today with Andrew Marr
But his aides have since insisted he does not have a cough and he was merely clearing his throat.
One aide said: ‘He does not have symptoms.’
Many viewers took to social media to comment on his cough, with some saying Gove was trying to hide the illness.
But other conspiracy theorists believe he was faking the cough and the Tories are claiming to have coronavirus to garner sympathy from the voters.
Both the Prime Minister Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed they had tested positive for covid-19 on Friday.
His aides have since insisted he does not have a cough and he was merely clearing his throat
Johnson said he would keep working but insisted: ‘I’m self-isolating and that’s entirely the right thing to do.’
In his TV interviews today, Gove declined to be drawn on how long the tough measures restricting people’s lives would be in place for, and that ministers would not hesitate to enforce tougher rules if necessary.
‘There are different projections as to how long the lockdown might last,’ he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, when asked about one key expert’s prediction of June.
‘But it’s not the case that the length of the lockdown is something that is absolutely fixed.
‘It depends on all of our behaviour. If we follow the guidelines, we can deal more effectively with the spread of the disease.’
The UK’s coronavirus death toll rose by 209 in 24 hours from 1,019 to 1,228, as the infection rates dropped for the second day in a row.
Boris Johnson is self-isolating after revealing he had contracted covid-19 as the virus continues to spread