Health minister contracts novel coronavirus in UK

A minister in the United Kingdom Department of Health has tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP and UK Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, has announced that she is currently in voluntary quarantine at home.

"I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus," she said in a statement.

"As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home."

Dorries said that Public Health England has started a tracing operation to confirm who she has recently come in contact with. According to The Times, which first reported her diagnosis, Dorries met hundreds of people in Parliament in the past week and attended a reception at No 10 with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Dorries has taken the right decision to self isolate at home.

"We all wish her well as she recovers," said Hancock. "I understand why people are worried about this disease. We will do all we can to keep people safe, based on the best possible science."