LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become the second high-profile Briton to be diagnosed with the coronavirus this week after Prince Charles revealed he was fighting the illness. The British PM said in a tweet that he had developed mild symptoms over the last 24 hours, and is now self-isolating in his apartment at Number 10 Downing Street.
Johnson said he’ll continue to work, but via video conferencing. He’s not the first Member of Parliament to test positive. Earlier this month, Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP, said she had the virus, but was able to return to work after self-isolating.
As reported, Prince Charles is holed up at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, trying to recover from COVID-19.
Britain is fighting the virus on many fronts: On Thursday night, the New West End Company tried to raise morale and show its support and gratitude for the country’s National Health Service by illuminating landmark retailers with blue LED lights. The NHS colors are blue and white.
New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses — most of them retailers — in central London, worked with Selfridges, Flannels, House of Fraser and Sports Direct on the initiative, which was inspired by the NHS “Clap for Our Carers” campaign.
The latter campaign saw Britons — including Prince Charles, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — give a round of applause on Thursday night to hospital and care workers helping to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
New West End Company has also been asking its members to loan parking spaces for key workers — such as hospital staff and carers — and to donate personal protection equipment like face masks, gloves, overshoes and aprons.