Dominic Cummings legs it out of Downing Street (Picture: Sky News)

The Prime Minister’s senior adviser was filmed running across Downing Street today, shortly after Boris Johnson announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.

In a bizarre clip widely mocked on social media, Dominic Cummings jogged out of the back gate of Downing Street carrying a heavy-looking bag.

The camera zooms in on Mr Cummings’ face as he looks away from the watching press and then makes a swift exit clutching the rucksack.

Mr Cummings – a controversial figure, seen as the prime minister’s key aide – was reported to have been behind the government’s initial strategy of ‘herd immunity’, to deal with coronavirus.


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After a quick display of athleticism on national television, many took the opportunity to offer a light-hearted take on Mr Cummings’ antics.

On Twitter, James Felton wrote: ‘Nothing screams “remain calm” quite like pegging it out of Number 10 like you’re Indiana Jones fleeing a boulder.’

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Graham Lithgrow added: ‘Dominic Cummings here, going from an advocate of herd immunity to running away from the infected herd as fast as humanly possible.’

Others added comic backing music and voice overs to the ‘epic run’.

You are most welcome Sir. pic.twitter.com/YBOBUpgs2a — fxrdie (@fxrdie_) March 27, 2020

Added a soundtrack to Dominic Cummings’ epic run. pic.twitter.com/aETmAmp811 — Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) March 27, 2020

Mr Cummings leaves his home earlier this week (Picture: Reuters)

It followed news that Mr Johnson had tested positive for Covid-19 and was self-isolating. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, later confirmed that he too had contracted the virus.

Various people compared the television scene to something out of the hit BBC comedy The Thick Of It.

Mr Cummings has denied reports that he said it was ‘too bad’ if elderly people died during the crisis.

Speaking on Sky News, journalist Sam Coates said he understood that Mr Cummings had been avoiding the tube in recent weeks.

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