Fourth cabinet minister self-isolates after showing coronavirus symptoms
Defence secretary Ben Wallace, with foreign secretary Dominic Raab with home secretary Priti Patel, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove. Photograph: Matt Dunham/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Defence secretary Ben Wallace has been self-isolating after feeling the symptoms of the coronavirus, it has been disclosed.
Wallace said he was now recovered after spending a week in his flat.
He had continued to work throughout his illness.
'I felt symptoms last Tuesday and followed NHS guidelines by self-isolating in my flat,' he told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby.
'I continued to work throughout the week and am recovered now.'
You may also want to watch:
He is the fourth member of the cabinet to have gone into self-isolation and his disclosure will heighten concerns that ministers have not been following their own rules on social distancing.
Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock have both tested positive for the virus while Scottish secretary Alister Jack also went into self-isolation after suffering from a cough and fever.
Most Read
- 1 Minister terminates interview after suggesting public's age and weight to blame for UK's high death toll
- 2 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 3 This picture of Boris Johnson on the phone to Joe Biden has caused a stir
- 4 Telegraph columnist blames Angela Merkel for Brexit
- 5 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 6 Nigel Farage loses nearly 50,000 followers after Twitter suspends QAnon accounts
- 7 Former Brexit Party MEP dies in diving accident in the Bahamas
- 8 Brexiteer calls for UK to save Eurostar - by buying it and renaming it 'Britstar'
- 9 Bob Geldof takes swipe at No 10 saying 'lying is second nature' to them
- 10 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
In addition the chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, and Dominic Cummings, the Johnson's senior adviser, have both been self-isolating after displaying symptoms.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.