UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus. He confirmed the news on his Twitter account, sharing a video updating the public of his condition:

The post read: “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.

“I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this.”

In the video shared on his social media channel, the country’s leader said that, following advice from the Chief Medical Officer, he was tested for the deadly disease.

However, despite displaying ‘mild symptoms’ of a temperature and persistent cough, assured the country that he would be ‘working from home’ and continuing his duties.

The 55-year-old said: “I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern medicine, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.

“And I want to thank everyone who’s involved, of course, above all, our amazing NHS staff. It was very moving last night to join in that national clap for the NHS.”

Mr Johnson went on: “But it’s not just the NHS, it’s our police, our social care workers, teachers, everyone who works in schools, DWP staff, an amazing national effort by public services.

“But also by every member of the British public who’s volunteering; an incredible response, 600,000 people have volunteered to to take part in a great national effort to protect people from the consequences of coronavirus.

“I want to thank everybody who is working to keep our country going through this epidemic, and we get through it, and the way we are going to get through it is, of course, by applying the measures that you will have heard so much about.

“And the more effectively we all comply with those measures, the faster our country will come through this epidemic and the faster we’ll bounce back.”

Adding: “So, thank you to everybody who is doing what I’m doing, working from home to stop the spread of the virus from household to household. That’s the way we’re gonna win. We’re gonna beat it and we’re gonna beat it together.

“Stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.”