Health Secretary and Suffolk MP Matt Hancock tests positive for the coronavirus

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for Covid-19.

The announcement came just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson also revealed he had contracted the virus on Friday.

  • Matt Hancock gave his first television interview since his diagnosis to ITV News Anglia's Jonathan Wills

Mr Hancock, the MP for West Suffolk, tweeted that his symptoms were mild and he was working from home.

"Fortunately for me the symptoms so far have been very mild so I've been able to carry on with the work driving forward the UK response," he said.

"Thank you to everybody in the NHS, working in social care and right across the board on the response.

"I'll be continuing to do everything I can to get our carers the support that they need. And I’ll be doing that from here but with no less gusto.

"And then from next Thursday, once I’m out of self-isolation and I hope with no more symptoms, then I’ll be able to get back stuck in and into the office where necessary.

"But the truth is that all of us can learn that working from home can be really, really effective."

Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock sat near each at other at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Credit: PA

Mr Hancock sat near the prime minister at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Both kept well apart from each other in line with the government's social distancing advice.

But after PMQs finished, they all congregated near the Speaker's Chair, as this picture below shows.

Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock can be seen close together by the Speaker's chair Credit: House of Commons

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: "Take care and get well soon Matt. Look after yourself and best wishes to you and your loved ones."