Mid Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries diagnosed with coronavirus

The Conservative health minister, 62, reportedly became unwell last Friday but continued to carry out an engagement with the Prime Minister at Downing Street before being formally diagnosed this evening.

She is the first MP to be diagnosed with COVID-19 as the number of infected people in the UK leapt to 382 today (Tuesday).

In a statement, Ms Dorries said: "I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus.

"As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

"Public Health England (PHE) has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

"I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support."

Ms Dorries held a constituency surgery at The Flitwick club on Friday, March 6, with a number of members of the public in attendance. The club is undergoing a deep clean as a precaution.

In subsequent tweets, Ms Dorries has posted: "Thanks for so many good wishes. It’s been pretty rubbish but I hope I’m over the worst of it now.

"More worried about my 84-year-old mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow.

"Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he 'may' be tested for the virus. As he prepared to head to Parliament for new Chancellor Rishi Sunak's budget announcements.

Ms Dorries, a former nurse and best selling author, is no stranger to headlines.

In 2013 she left a sitting Parliament and jetted to Australia to appear on the reality TV programme I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. For this infraction she briefly lost the Conservative party whip and caused a national furore.

At the time Ms Dorries gave an exclusive interview to the Times & Citizen, where she said that one of the reasons for going into the jungle was to support Boris Johnson, and tell the country what a fantastic Prime Minister he would be.

More recently Ms Dorries has been a fervent campaigner for Brexit.