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The Australian Minister for Home Affairs said on Friday that he has tested positive for coronavirus.

Peter Dutton, an Australian Liberal Party politician serving as Minister for Home Affairs since 2017, said in a statement that he had been feeling ill and took a test for the illness.

“This morning I woke up with a temperature and a sore throat,” the statement read.

“I immediately contacted the Queensland Department of Health and was subsequently tested for COVID-19.

“I was advised by Queensland Health this afternoon that the test had returned positive.”

The Australian Department of Home Affairs deals with “law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions,” according to its website.

On Thursday, the country advised against gatherings of more than 500 people due to the spread of the virus.

Australia’s tally of coronavirus cases stood at 156, with three fatalities.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians should reconsider their need to travel overseas.