Health Minister Nadine Dorries first MP to test positive for Covid-19

Senior Government ministers could be tested for coronavirus after Health Minister Nadine Dorries became the first MP to be diagnosed with the illness.

The Conservative MP said she has been self-isolating at home after testing positive and her parliamentary office has closed following advice from Public Health England.

It came after the number of cases in the UK rose to 382, and a sixth death was confirmed.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Ms Dorries said: “As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

“Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

“I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said she first exhibited symptoms at some time on Thursday – the same day she attended a Downing Street event hosted by Boris Johnson to mark International Women’s Day.

Number 10 did not comment on whether the Prime Minister had undergone testing for the coronavirus, or whether he will now be tested.

A DHSC spokeswoman said Ms Dorries, the 62-year-old MP for Mid Bedfordshire who began her career as a nurse, has been self-isolating at home since Friday.

Mr Hancock insisted on Monday he will “do all that I can” to keep Parliament open during the coronavirus outbreak.

Despite a 15-year career as the Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, Ms Dorries is arguably best known by some for her appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2012.

Ms Dorries was born in 1957 in Liverpool and grew up on a council estate.

She started her working life as a nurse before pursuing a career in business, opening a child day-care business called Company Kids Ltd.

In 1998, Ms Dorries sold her company and joined Bupa, eventually becoming a director.

Before being elected to Parliament in 2005, she worked for three years as an adviser to the former shadow home secretary and shadow chancellor of the exchequer, Oliver Letwin.

During her time on the backbench, Ms Dorries introduced a number of unsuccessful Private Member’s Bills, including attempts to reduce the time limit for abortions in the UK.

She was also a staunch advocate for teenage girls being taught the benefits of sexual abstinence at school.

Ms Dorries was thrust into the limelight in 2012 when she was suspended from the Conservative Party for taking part in that year’s season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here without informing the Chief Whip of her appearance.

However she was re-admitted to the party in May 2013.

Ms Dorries has been embroiled in a string of controversies throughout her tenure as an MP.

In 2009, when MPs’ expenses claims were revealed by the Daily Telegraph, she admitted she had got taxpayers to foot the bill for a lost £2,190 deposit on a rented flat.

And in 2010, she was rebuked by parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyon in October 2010 for misleading her constituents on her blog about how much time she spent in Mid-Bedfordshire, admitting that it was “70% fiction”.

Away from Parliament Ms Dorries is also a published author, with her 2013 novel The Four Streets selling more than 100,000 copies.

On Tuesday, Ms Dorries revealed that she was self-isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19.

Elsewhere :

– Wales confirmed a further nine positive diagnoses on Tuesday evening, bringing the country’s total to 15, while ten new cases were confirmed in Ireland

– Mondelez International said workers at Cadbury will be undergoing regular precautionary health checks for the virus

– British nationals on the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland, California, will land in the UK on Wednesday and will be asked to go into self-isolation

– A healthcare worker at Great Ormond Street was diagnosed with coronavirus, leading to the postponing all non-essential cardiac procedures for two weeks

– Some air passengers have complained of being stranded in Italy after airlines including British Airways and Ryanair cancelled flights to and from Italy