Boris Johnson is not being tested for coronavirus, despite having attended an event with health minister Nadine Dorries who has the contagious disease, a Downing Street source has said.

Health chiefs are scrambling to find everyone who came into contact with Ms Dorries as parliament prepares to discuss possible restrictions.

Her contacts could potentially include ministers and officials in the Department of Health, MPs who shared the voting lobby with her last week, constituents at a weekend surgery and attendees at a reception hosted by Mr Johnson.

The No 10 source said that the PM was following the advice of Public Health England and the chief medical officer that a test was not needed because he was not in close contact with Ms Dorries at the reception and has shown no symptoms of the illness.

As nervousness grew at Westminster, a Labour MP revealed she had been told to self-isolate after meeting the health minister last week, telling colleagues: “It is so important that we all follow all public health advice.”

The authorities insisted there were no plans to suspend parliament “at present” and the Budget was set to go ahead as planned this afternoon.

However, officials will meet today, amid suggestions they wish to restrict visitors from entering parliament – while Downing Street still wishes to send out a “business as usual” message. Read more

Also Read: Coronavirus: UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries Diagnosed With Disease

hw.hw