UK PM Boris Johnson Becomes The First World Leader To Contract Coronavirus

Cabinet Meets To Discuss Post-Brexit Customs PlansLONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Boris Johnson the U.K. Foreign Secretary arrives at 10 Downing Street as the Cabinet meet to discuss post-Brexit customs plans on May 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Back/Getty Images) ***Local Caption *** Boris Johnson
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Boris Johnson the U.K. Foreign Secretary arrives at 10 Downing Street as the Cabinet meet to discuss post-Brexit customs plans on May 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Back/Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first major world leader to come down with the virus.

“Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus,” he said in a statement via Twitter. “I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.”

The announcement included a video in which Johnson explained that he had taken the test after coming down with a fever and “persistent cough.”

Earlier this month, the prime minister had brushed off the coronavirus and the necessity of social distancing, telling reporters that he was still “shaking hands.”

“I was at a hospital the other night where I think a few there were actually coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you’ll be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands,” he said.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Karma in simple words “is getting what you give” or what you sow. There’s good and bad karma.

  2. Wonder how many politicians he personally infected?

  3. Whoops!

    Will the EU quarantine the UK?

  4. Well… all I can say is it COULD happen to a nicer guy

  5. Is there any possibility he could visit tRump and shake his hand?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

113 more replies

Participants

Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for zandru Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for meri Avatar for cervantes Avatar for trnc Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for lastroth Avatar for tao Avatar for pshah Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for pmaroneyb Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for not_so_fluffy Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for hahagoodman Avatar for msc00 Avatar for davidn Avatar for seamus42 Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for redpill Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for Paracelsus

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: