British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus, he said in a tweet Friday.

He had developed “mild symptoms” in the last 24 hours and was “self-isolating,” he said. “I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.”

Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives

@BorisJohnson

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.

Together we will beat this.

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In a video accompanying his tweet, Johnson said he had “a temperature and a persistent cough,” and had taken the test on the advice of Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

“So I am working from home and I am self-isolating and that’s 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,” he said.

He went on to thank the police, teachers and the staff from the National Health Service, as well as the 600,000 people who had volunteered to help the public health system during the crisis.