Coronavirus: a timeline of Covid-19 tests in the UK government


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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in intensive care on Monday after his condition worsened since contracting the coronavirus 11 days earlier.

He is one of several ministers and coronavirus experts who have tested positive for the disease.

On March 11, Health minister Nadine Dorries had coronavirus diagnosed.

Mr Johnson announced on March 27 that he was isolating himself after testing positive for coronavirus.

  • General view of the empty Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA
    General view of the empty Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA
  • View of an empty underground staircase at Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA
    View of an empty underground staircase at Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA
  • Large liquid oxygen tanks are seen installed at the rear of the Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber set up at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate, northern England to help with the new coronavirus covid-19 outbreak. AFP
    Large liquid oxygen tanks are seen installed at the rear of the Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber set up at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate, northern England to help with the new coronavirus covid-19 outbreak. AFP
  • Pedestrians, wearing protective masks, walk past a street art mural, depicting "Mass Hysteria" related to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg
    Pedestrians, wearing protective masks, walk past a street art mural, depicting "Mass Hysteria" related to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg
  • Lights are seen inside residential properties in the Barbican Estate in London, England. Getty Images
    Lights are seen inside residential properties in the Barbican Estate in London, England. Getty Images
  • A journalist is seen outside of the St Thomas' Hospital after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. London, Britain. REUTERS
    A journalist is seen outside of the St Thomas' Hospital after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. London, Britain. REUTERS
  • General view of 10 Downing Street after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into the intensive care unit in hospital on Monday evening, after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and he has asked Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab to deputise, in London, Britain. REUTERS
    General view of 10 Downing Street after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into the intensive care unit in hospital on Monday evening, after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and he has asked Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab to deputise, in London, Britain. REUTERS
  • Signage to the entrance of the new NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital has been installed, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain. REUTERS
    Signage to the entrance of the new NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital has been installed, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain. REUTERS
  • A man wears a protective face mask on Westminster Bridge, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain. REUTERS
    A man wears a protective face mask on Westminster Bridge, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain. REUTERS
  • An electronic ad thanking the heroes of the moment is seen on the streets of Manchester, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Manchester, Britain. REUTERS
    An electronic ad thanking the heroes of the moment is seen on the streets of Manchester, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Manchester, Britain. REUTERS
  • A sign on a fence on a popular costal walk, tells people to stay at home as it gives the number of deaths to date on April 06, 2020 in Penarth, Wales. Getty Images
    A sign on a fence on a popular costal walk, tells people to stay at home as it gives the number of deaths to date on April 06, 2020 in Penarth, Wales. Getty Images
  • A woman passes with a stroller a banner showing support for the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS
    A woman passes with a stroller a banner showing support for the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS
  • A food delivery courier carrying a Deliveroo, operated by Roofoods Ltd., backpack stands near a message thanking Britain's National Health Service in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg
    A food delivery courier carrying a Deliveroo, operated by Roofoods Ltd., backpack stands near a message thanking Britain's National Health Service in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg
  • A closed down traditional fish and chips van parked by the river Thames in London, Britain. EPA
    A closed down traditional fish and chips van parked by the river Thames in London, Britain. EPA
  • A bus driver wearing a face mask is seen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain. REUTERS
    A bus driver wearing a face mask is seen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain. REUTERS
  • Rylan (12) playing football with his uncle Aaron, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS
    Rylan (12) playing football with his uncle Aaron, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS

Colleagues recovered

On the same day, his chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty began isolation after experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Prof Whitty said on Twitter that he would be staying at home for seven days.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed shortly after Mr Johnson that he had tested positive after experiencing "mild symptoms".

Mr Hancock and Prof Whitty have both recovered.

"The good news for me is I was lucky and it wasn't too bad," Mr Hancock told the BBC.

He said the "vast majority" of people had mild symptoms "but unfortunately, as we know, for some people it's much more serious".

On the evening of April 5, unable to shake the symptoms, Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital suffering from a persistent cough and a fever.

Downing Street initially said on Monday that Mr Johnson was in good spirits and still in charge.”

About 7pm he was moved to an intensive care unit, where the most serious cases are treated, at St Thomas's Hospital, across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament in central London.

His fiancee, Carrie Symonds, is pregnant with their first child and isolated herself after developing coronavirus symptoms.