Former housing minister confirms he’s now tested negative for Coronavirus
Industry wishes the front-bench MP and Secretary of State all the best for a speedy recovery after he appeared in Parliament on Wednesday looking extremely unwell.
It has been confirmed that former housing minister Alok Sharma has tested negative for Coronavirus after it was reported that he had tested positive. He appeared unwell while delivering a speech in parliament during which he sweated heavily and mopped his face.
The 52-year old was housing minister for less than six months between June 2017 and January 2018 under Theresa May’s ill-fated post-election government and spent most of his short tenure dealing with the aftermath of the Grenfell tower fire.
He is now Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and it was in this capacity that he gave a speech to parliament yesterday afternoon, wiping his brow repeatedly as he struggled to deliver his thoughts from the dispatch box on upcoming legislation.
“Alok Sharma began feeling unwell when in the chamber delivering the second reading of the corporate governance and insolvency bill,” a spokesperson told The Guardian.
“In line with guidance he has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate.”
The announcement of Sharma’s confirmed Covid illness comes just two days after a vote in the Commons during which MPs voted to return to parliament, despite vigorous opposition to the proposal.
Parliamentary authorities have confirmed that the front-bench seat on which Sharma sat on Wednesday has now been deep cleaned. Sharma is currently self-isolating after testing positive for Coronavirus.
