The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating at home in Downing Street.
After experiencing mild symptoms of coronavirus, namely a temperature and a persistent cough, he was advised to take a test which came back positive.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive for the virus, whilst the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 and is self-isolating.
Johnson will continue to chair COBRA meetings and communicate with world leaders via video conferences.
In a statement yesterday the PM said: “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.
“And I want to thank everybody who’s involved. I want to thank, of course, above all, our amazing NHS staff.”
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. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9Te6aFP0Ri
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 27, 2020
In the US, the number of cases has exceeded now that of Italy, with 113,677 cases being confirmed across the country.
President Donald Trump has tested negative for coronavirus, despite his recent meeting with the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has contracted COVID-19.
New York remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with 46% of the country’s total number of cases being recorded in the city alone.
In Europe, cases have continued to rise across the continent.
The wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, Begoña Gómez, tested positive for the virus.
This news came as two of Pedro Sánchez’s cabinet ministers tested positive for COVID-19 just days beforehand.
The Spanish Prime Minister, however, is fortunately not displaying any symptoms and remains in good health.
Cases in Germany have risen exponentially in the last few days, with a total of 56,202 coronavirus cases being recorded as of Saturday afternoon.
Chancellor Angela Merkel remains in quarantine today, after she found that a doctor who gave her a vaccine has tested positive for the virus.
The Chancellor has tested negative for COVID-19 and is working from home.
In France, the total number of cases has surpassed 32,000.
The French President Emmanuel Macron is not displaying any symptoms of the virus and is in good health.
Macron is contributing to the global effort to stop the spread of coronavirus with other G20 countries.
Very good discussion with @realDonaldTrump. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we are preparing with other countries a new strong initiative in the coming days.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 26, 2020
Italy has the second highest number of COVID-19 cases globally, with a total of 92,472 cases being reported so far.
The country has now been on lockdown for three weeks.
The leader of Italy’s Democratic party, Nicola Zingaretti, was one of the political leaders to have contracted the virus.
The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte remains in good health and continues to lead the country against the fight against this invisible enemy.
