Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus, it has emerged tonight.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care fell ill on Friday last week, The Times reported.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire is now in isolation where she is understood to be recovering.

Dorries has attended a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and was in close contact with hundreds of people in Parliament in the past week.

It is not known who infected the minister, who helped to draw up legislation to tackle the disease and has been working in parliament and the Department of Health and Social Care for the past week.

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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 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."

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Officials are working to identify those who she has been in contact with, including MPs, and test them accordingly, The Times reported.

The 62-year-old politician attended an International Women's Day event along with Johnson on Thursday, the day before she fell ill.

She also attended a surgery in her constituency, which 50 people came to, on Saturday.

Dorries has previously made headlines for reasons other than her political career when she appeared on I'm a Celebrity.

She found herself in hot water when she failed to declare her fee for the show and did not inform the Conservative Party that she would be on television. 

Dorries was voted off the show first and was temporarily suspended by the Parliamentary Tory party.

Before becoming an MP, Dorries trained and worked as a nurse on Merseyside and in London.

She went on to found childcare firm Company Kids, which was later sold to BUPA.

Boris Johnson made her a minister for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety after taking office in July.

Dorries has also penned a series of best-selling but poorly reviewed novels based on her Liverpool Catholic background.

The other high profile figure who has tested positive for coronavirus in the UK is Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The 52-year-old was at the City Ground on Friday for the club's fixture against Millwall.

"Mr Marinakis was diagnosed after showing the first symptoms on his return to Greece," said a Nottingham Forest spokesperson.

"During his stay in Nottingham he did not show any symptoms of the virus.

"The club are seeking advice from medical professionals and the relevant governing bodies to ensure the correct measures are taken."

More to follow.

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