Coronavirus: Politicians react to Boris Johnson getting Covid-19 | indy100 | indy100

The UK prime minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, making him the most prominent politician and world leader to become infected so far.

Johnson confirmed the news on Friday morning, announcing that he had mild symptoms and would continue to work at home while he self-isolates.

This news has sent shockwaves across the globe as people begin to readjust their lives to stay at home and combat the virus, which has already infected more than 500,000 people worldwide.

Across the world many politicians have sent their messages of goodwill to Johnson, wishing him a speedy recovery.

There was a huge outpouring of get well messages from the Labour party, with outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn, wishing him and his family good health.

I wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery and hope his family are safe and healthy. Coronavirus can and does aff… https://t.co/be2CxcB6k4
— Jeremy Corbyn (@Jeremy Corbyn) 1585311674

Wishing the health secretary Matt Hancock a full and fast recovery, along with the Prime Minister. We all must fol… https://t.co/27Bragh7gc
— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1585314603

Get well soon & thanks for what you have been doing to help the country fight this. https://t.co/MvWLdyrEeU
— Andy Burnham (@Andy Burnham) 1585308135

Sorry to hear this and hope you feel better soon. Thank you for everything your Government is doing to help us figh… https://t.co/6SYdOXSqHa
— Sadiq Khan (@Sadiq Khan) 1585309715

We come from different parties, we disagree on many things, we’ve clashed - that’s politics. But in a national cri… https://t.co/w34IATnO07
— Andrew Gwynne MP 🐝 (@Andrew Gwynne MP 🐝) 1585310001

I wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery and thanks to all those working in Whitehall to help the country during… https://t.co/BbqTJlVyYw
— Keir Starmer (@Keir Starmer) 1585311753

Hope the PM recovers soon - very best wishes to him & family. Strength of our cabinet system of Govt is that Minist… https://t.co/dBvUIaVnkG
— Yvette Cooper (@Yvette Cooper) 1585311719

Angela Rayner, who also has symptoms of coronavirus, wanted to clarify that it was just a coincidence that both her and Johnson both had the virus.

So me and Boris Johnson having the virus is pure coincidence- honest 😳
— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1585308751

Although, Labour's Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi did wish the PM a speedy recovery he also shared a video of Johnson boasting about shaking hands of coronavirus patients just a few weeks ago.

Hope the PM has a speedy recovery, but this video may well come back to haunt him and many others in the days to co… https://t.co/NG5umnC039
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP) 1585312718

Politicians from other UK parties also sent their support.

I am sorry to read this & I hope @BorisJohnson makes a speedy recovery. This sadly shows nobody is immune. Everybod… https://t.co/6WdtzEmeCU
— Ian Blackford (@Ian Blackford) 1585309031

I wish both @BorisJohnson & @MattHancock a speedy recovery from #Covid19 Hope their families are safe and well - a… https://t.co/rTTu8oNKgE
— Caroline Lucas (@Caroline Lucas) 1585319320

Wishing him a speedy recovery. https://t.co/EPc6rSLzBg
— Layla Moran 🔶 (@Layla Moran 🔶) 1585308288

Wishing @BorisJohnson well and a very rapid recovery.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel Farage) 1585308125

Curiously, not many Tory MPs have taken to Twitter to send their messages of support.

Cabinet members such as Priti Patel, Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, Rishi Sunak, Steve Barclay, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Liz Truss and Johnson's predecessor Theresa May are yet to post anything but of course may have contacted the prime minister privately.

A few Tories have posted their support including Steve Baker, James Cleverly and Michael Gove, who retweeted this tweet from clergyman Marcus Walker.

Many prayers for the health and wellbeing of the Prime Minister, Carrie, and their unborn child.
— Marcus Walker (@Marcus Walker) 1585311492

Elsewhere, international politicians sent their messages to Johnson after his diagnosis.

Our thoughts and prayers are with, both HRH Prince Charles and PM @BorisJohnson who have tested positive for… https://t.co/6gGkiCIi0w
— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@Mahinda Rajapaksa) 1585319128

Dear @BorisJohnson, on behalf of the people of Israel I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Your friend, Benjamin… https://t.co/lI5havKukP
— Prime Minister of Israel (@Prime Minister of Israel) 1585314706

I wish you a full & swift recovery, dear @BorisJohnson. We will continue to do our best to contain the spread of… https://t.co/1V0IWzkfHW
— Sebastian Kurz (@Sebastian Kurz) 1585320123

We are yet to hear anything from Donald Trump on the matter but the US ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, did tell the PM to get well soon.

Great leadership from you, Prime Minister. Get well soon. Together we will beat this! https://t.co/FZoX2kXLtl
— Chargé d'Affaires Philip T. Reeker (@Chargé d'Affaires Philip T. Reeker) 1585310585

Just to show that there are no hard feelings, the EU's Charles Michel and Michel Barnier, who also has the virus, sent their support.

Get well soon @BorisJohnson Europe wishes you a speedy recovery. I believe we’ll win this fight against… https://t.co/8kLP3wI2jD
— Charles Michel (@Charles Michel) 1585309596

Wishing a speedy recovery to PM @BorisJohnson. My thoughts are with him and, indeed, with all families in the UK an… https://t.co/Ntv1l7SseH
— Michel Barnier (@Michel Barnier) 1585315209

Good to see that even in these trying times people can put their differences aside in the effort to beat coronavirus.