Iran Press/Europe: The Prime Minister said he had tested positive for the disease, after developing a temperature and cough yesterday afternoon, and being advised by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty to get checked.
The 55-year-old insisted he only has 'mild' symptoms', and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference. He chaired a meeting of the 'war Cabinet' this morning.
However, the bombshell news underlines fears that the crisis is escalating. There will also be concerns that other senior ministers, senior officials might have been infected.
Downing Street insisted there is no need for other members of the government to get tests unless they start displaying symptoms,
In a video, Mr Johnson said: 'Hi folks I want to bring you up to speed on something that is happening today which is that I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus, that is to say a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the chief medical officer I have taken a test.
'That has come out positive so I am working from home, I am self isolating.
'That is entirely the right thing to do but be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fight back against coronavirus.'
Prince Charles was confirmed as infected with coronavirus earlier this week. Other world leaders such as Canada's Justin Trudeau have tested positive.
Downing Street has previously said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will fill in if the PM is incapacitated, although there is little sign that he has stopped working.
London is regarded as the engine of the outbreak in the UK, and many at Westminster have been struck down with symptoms.
Britain's coronavirus death toll jumped to 578 after 113 more fatalities were confirmed yesterday across the home nations, making it the UK's darkest day yet in the escalating outbreak
But officials had changed the timings of how they counted deaths, with the total declared on Wednesday only taking into account an eight-hour period. Yesterday's shocking figure represents a full 24-hour count.
Government scientists have admitted there is likely to be 1,000 infected patients for every death recorded in Britain - suggesting the true toll is in the region of 600,000.
Number 10 has faced fierce criticism for its controversial policy to only test patients in hospital, meaning only a fraction of cases are being spotted and leaving the true scale of the UK's outbreak a mystery.
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