Coronavirus: Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty Self-Isolates With Symptoms

Boris Johnson's chief medical officer Chris Whitty is self-isolating after experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

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Professor Whitty said that he would be staying at home for the next seven days in a statement on Twitter, posted just hours after the prime minister confirmed that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.

"After experiencing symptoms compatible with COVID-19 last night, in line with the guidance, I will be self-isolating at home for the next seven days," said the professor.

"I will be continuing to advise the government on the medical response to coronavirus, supported by my deputies."

Professor Whitty has appeared with the PM and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance at news briefings
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Professor Whitty has been a fixture of the government's daily news briefings on the UK response to the disease, alongside the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

He is the third major figure leading the country's battle against coronavirus to have gone into self-isolation on Friday, following the prime minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

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

Sir Patrick has confirmed that he has not been experiencing any symptoms and so has not been tested.

He tweeted: "I have no #COVID19 symptoms so I have not been tested. I will continue following guidelines including social distancing and hand washing."

Sky News understands that Friday's coronavirus news briefing at 5pm will feature cabinet minister Michael Gove alongside NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens and Professor Whitty's deputy Jenny Harries.

The briefing comes after regional health bodies across the UK provided their latest figures on the number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

The total death count in the UK now stands at 769 after another 185 fatalities were confirmed.

The regional totals stand at:

• England - 689 deaths
• Wales - 34 deaths
• Scotland - 33 deaths
• Northern Ireland - 13 deaths

As the numbers continue to increase, police have begun building a temporary mortuary at Birmingham Airport.

Sky News understands that Birmingham's NEC and Manchester's GMEX exhibition centres are also set to be converted into temporary hospitals by mid-April if required.

Work is already almost complete on transforming London's enormous ExCel Centre into the NHS Nightingale hospital, which will house thousands of beds for coronavirus patients.

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