Health minister Nadine Dorries, who was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this week, says her 84-year-old mother has now also tested positive.

The Mid Bedfordshire MP confirmed the news in a post on Twitter on Friday, saying her mother is "a pre-war baby" and is "doing ok".

"Made of strong stuff," Ms Dorries added.

We have had my 84yo Mums results through. She tested positive. She’s a pre war baby, doing ok. Made of strong stuff. #Coronavirus — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧 (@NadineDorries) March 13, 2020

Key Points

Mass gatherings in the UK will be banned from next week under plans being drawn up by ministers

in the UK will be banned from next week under plans being drawn up by ministers The London Marathon is among a number of sporting events cancelled

is among a number of sporting events cancelled Anyone entering New Zealand will have to self-isolate for 14 days

will have to self-isolate for 14 days US President Donald Trump has declared the outbreak a national emergency

has declared the outbreak a More than 145,000 cases and almost 5,500 deaths have been declared worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University

Italy recorded 250 cases in a day, bringing its total to almost 18,000

Ms Dorries announced earlier this week that she had contracted the disease and that a member of her staff was ill.


She is self-isolating at home after becoming the first MP in the UK to be diagnosed with COVID-19 following the outbreak, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Image: Nadine Dorries tweeted that her mum was 'made of strong stuff'

Cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Friday that she has tested negative for the virus, but will stay at home for seven days as a precaution after coming into contact with Ms Dorries.

Meanwhile, the wife of MP Andrew Bridgen publicly criticised Ms Dorries for not informing health officials of contact with her husband.

Nevena Bridgen, a Serbian opera singer, claimed her baby and 75-year-old mother had now been "jeopardised".

Ms Dorries dismissed Mrs Bridgen's accusations, posting on Twitter: "Because, I did not sit next to your husband.

The government and MPs have resisted suggestions that parliament should shut down in order to limit the spread of the virus.

But on Friday evening, it was announced that new restrictions are being imposed on visitor access to the Palace of Westminster.

Overseas travel by MPs and peers is also being strongly discouraged to keep parliament functioning during the global crisis.

Commercial tours are being cancelled, MPs, peers and other passholders will also be discouraged from bringing guests into the estate for social visits, and mass lobbies by campaign groups will be banned.

Members of the public will still be able to watch debates and attend select committee hearings.

Image: New restrictions are being imposed on visitor access to the Palace of Westminster

MPs, peers, parliamentary staff and other members of the "parliamentary community" will continue to be able to work on the estate where necessary.

On Friday, a patient in Scotland died after testing positive for coronavirus - the country's first fatality linked to the disease.

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Their death brings the total number of people with COVID-19 to have died across the UK to 11.

The number of confirmed cases in Britain has reached 798 - an increase of 208 over the last 24 hours.