Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus and goes into 14 day self-isolation

BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has become the latest high profile personality to test positive for the dreaded coronavirus pandemic that is currently sweeping the globe and has subsequently gone into isolation.

Affecting a total of 537,331 people in 199 countries, the coronavirus pandemic started off in China but after a few weeks it spread like wildfire globally. As of today, the US has the highest number of people affected by the virus with  85,612 affected, although Italy has the highest casualty rate with 8,215 fatalities.

Earlier this week, heir to the British throne Prince Charles, confirmed that he had the virus and has since gone into the mandatory 14-day self. Now, prime minister Johnson has also tested positive after a test was carried out on hum at  No 10 Downing Street by National Health Service (NHS) staff.

A few minutes ago, Mr Johnson tweeted a video message saying: "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus."

According to Downing Street staff, said Mr Johnson had been tested on the advice of his chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, having been experiencing mild symptoms yesterday. Mr Johnson, whose partner Carrie Symonds is pregnant, was last seen outside Number 10 last night, joining chancellor of the exchequer  Rishi Sunak as part of a nationwide applause for NHS workers as they battle the pandemic.

He also appeared at prime minister's questions as normal on Wednesday, sitting in a gap between his home secretary Priti Patel and chief whip Mark Spencer. Mr Johnson's spokesman confirmed a few days ago that foreign secretary Dominic Raab would stand in as prime minister if he becomes unwell.