Peter Dutton has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Home Affairs Peter Dutton has contracted Covid-19.

Home Affairs Peter Dutton has contracted Covid-19. Source: AAP

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has been admitted to a Queensland hospital after testing positive to coronavirus. 

"This morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat," he said in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
"I immediately contacted the Queensland Department of Health and was subsequently tested for COVID-19. I was advised by Queensland Health this afternoon that the test had returned positive.
"It is the policy of Queensland Health that anyone who tests positive is to be admitted into hospital and I have complied with their advice.

"I feel fine and will provide an update in due course."

Mr Dutton is the first Australian politician to contract the deadly virus which has infected more than 150 people in the country so far, including three people who have died.

The Home Affairs Minister attended Tuesday’s meeting of the Federal Cabinet in person and Thursday’s meeting of the National Security Committee via video link, according to a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office.

"In advice provided to the Prime Minister this evening, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer has reiterated that only people who had close contact with the Minister in the preceding 24 hours before he became symptomatic need to self-isolate," the spokesperson said.

"That does not include the Prime Minister or any other members of the Cabinet."
Mr Dutton did not make his usual Friday morning appearance on the Nine Network's Today program.

He had a "stomach bug", the show's hosts said.

On Monday, Mr Dutton opened a new campus for the University of the Sunshine Coast with Education Minister Dan Tehan.
Mr Dutton also met with United States Attorney-General William Barr and President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, while in the US last week.


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Published 13 March 2020 5:55pm
Updated 13 March 2020 8:36pm



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