UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Health Minister Hancock have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). They join a growing list of world politicians and officials who have contracted the potentially deadly pathogen, which has already claimed thousands of lives globally.
The pandemic has infected 640,589 worldwide, with a death toll of 29,848 and 137,270 recoveries until Saturday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
UK
In addition to Johnson and Hancock, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, also tested positive to the virus last week. The UK Junior Health Minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries and the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier have also contracted the virus.
Moreover, England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has been in self-isolation after experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
Germany
Earlier last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine after meeting a coronavirus-positive doctor. However, she later twice tested negative for the disease.
Friedrich Merz, one of the most likely candidates to succeed Merkel, tested positive for coronavirus.
Canada
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus on 12 March after returning from a trip to London. Trudeau entered 14 days of quarantine, taking to running his country from isolation.
However, Sophie announced on Sunday that she recovered from the disease and received the clearance from her doctor and the Ottawa Public Health.
Brazil
Fábio Wajngarten, the communications director for President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for the virus. The Brazilian official had met US President Donald Trump who later tested negative for the coronavirus.
Bolsonaro’s national security adviser Augusto Heleno, the mines and energy minister Bento Albuquerque, and the head of Senate Davi Alcolumbre all also tested positive for the virus.
Spain
Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, also tested positive for the virus. Both remained in the prime minister’s residence at La Moncloa in Madrid.
In addition, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo tested positive for coronavirus.
France
French Culture Minister Franck Riester tested positive for coronavirus, in addition to five other French parliamentarians. This included Brune Poirson, secretary of state to the minister of ecological and inclusive transition.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s ministers of foreign affairs, mines, education, and interior all tested positive for coronavirus.
Reuters reported that the Italian ambassador to Burkina Faso, Andrea Romussi, also contracted the virus.
Iran
Iran is one of the worst-hit countries by coronavirus. It has the largest share of former officials, politicians, and religious figures who contracted the virus, with a number of them succumbing.
Mohammad Mirmohammadi, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died after contracting coronavirus.
One of the country’s top clerics, HadiKhosroshahi, also died of the virus.
The list of infections includes Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, MP Fatemeh Rahbar, MP Tehran Mohammad Ali Ramezani, Head of Disaster Management Ismail Najjar, , Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati, Minister of Tourism Ali Asghar Mounesan, and lawmaker Mojtaba Zonnour.
United States
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that a “handful” of his Department employees have tested positive for coronavirus.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the first case in the Senate.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also tested positive for coronavirus.
Australia
Peter Dutton, Australian home affairs minister, who recently travelled to Washington DC and met with President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, tested positive for coronavirus.
Queensland LNP senator Susan McDonald has also tested positive.
Italy
Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of Italy’s Democratic Party, one of the national ruling parties, tested positive for coronavirus.
Giorgio Valoti, the mayor of nearby Cene, and Roberto Stella, the president of the order of doctors in Varese, both died of the virus.
Norway
Torbjorn Roe Isaksen, the minister of labour and social inclusion, contracted the virus.
Monaco
Prince Albert of Monaco also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Poland
Jaroslaw Mika, the general commander of Poland’s armed forces, tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from a military conference in Germany. Polish Environment Minister Michal Wos also tested positive for coronavirus.
United Nations
UN World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley announced that he has been diagnosed with coronavirus after returning from an official visit to Canada.
