Coronavirus: Labour’s Kate Osborne becomes the second MP to test positive for Covid-19

Labour’s Kate Osborne has become the second MP to be diagnosed with coronavirus.

She confirmed this morning that she has been diagnosed with Covid-19 after being tested following a period of self-isolation.

She is the second MP to be confirmed positive with the virus after Health Minister Nadine Dorries revealed she had contracted the illness last week.

Positive test

Ms Osborne, MP for Jarrow, said: “I will continue to self-isolate until I have fought off the illness, but in the mean time I would encourage everyone to band together and support the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Highlighting current guidelines for anyone presenting with symptoms, she added: “The NHS are urging people to stay at home for 7 days if you have either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

“If you are displaying any symptoms yourself, please self-isolate and visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for advice. To all of my constituents, you can still contact me and my staff by emailing kate.osborne.mp@parliament.uk.”

Several MPs isolating

A number of Ms Osborne’s colleagues sent messages of support after she tweeted about her diagnosis.

Labour’s MP for Ealing Central and Acton Rupa Huq, SNP member for Glasgow South Stewart McDonald, Labour’s MP for Enfield North Feryal Clark were among those who hurried to wish her a quick recovery.

Several other MPs have entered self-isolation after coming into contact with Ms Dorries or following the official advice. Currently it is believed that 15 MPs are staying at home.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the Labour MP for Streatham, said this morning that she had begun self-isolating after experiencing symptoms over the weekend.

Cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Friday that she has tested negative for the virus, but will stay at home for seven days as a precaution.

Daily updates from Government

There are no current plans to suspend Parliament and MPs who are not self-isolating will continue to work in Westminster between Monday and Thursday and in their constituencies over the weekend.

The Government has announced it will, from Monday, begin daily televised updates on the status of the virus and ministers’ responses to it.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce stronger coronavirus-tackling measures – including asking wlderly people to self-isolate – after chairing another emergency meeting of the Cobra committee on Monday afternoon.

Mr Johnson is expected to discuss the isolation proposal, as well as banning mass gatherings and isolating entire households if one member shows symptoms, during the emergency meeting.

The death toll in the UK has now reached 35.