Dominic Cummings was spotted running out of Downing Street this morning – shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.
The No 10 senior adviser looked to be in a hurry as he dashed out of the front door down towards the residence’s back gate.
Viewers joked that Mr Cummings was attempting to make a quick getaway after finding out about his boss’ diagnosis for fear of getting infected.
Mr Johnson tested positive for coronavirus yesterday evening, after developing a cough and a temperature and was tested by NHS staff in Number 10
The election mastermind wore a green jacket and was carrying a large laptop bag as he made his way down towards the small car park.
Sky’s Sam Coates, who was reporting while the footage was aired, added that Mr Cummings ‘has been avoiding the tube in recent weeks’ as he has become particularly cautious about trying to make sure he doesn’t get the virus.
Mr Johnson tested positive for coronavirus yesterday evening, after developing a cough and a temperature and was tested by NHS staff in Number 10.
It’s understood he learned the test had come back positive at around midnight last night.
But the Prime Minister insisted that he is still determined to lead the UK battle against the crisis.
The 55-year-old only has ‘mild symptoms’, and will be continuing to lead the national response over video-conference.
The PM will stay in his flat in No11 – from where he chaired a meeting of the ‘war Cabinet’ this morning – and aides will leave meals and work outside the door.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
The PM’s spokesman said he would be carry out ‘all of the same functions he was performing before’ and ‘the only difference is he will now have to do that via teleconferencing’.
Mr Johnson’s pregnant partner Carrie Symonds is believed to be in self-isolation, although it is not known when they last saw each other or if she has been checked.
The bombshell news underlines fears that the crisis is escalating, and will increase pressure on the government over the lack of wide-scale testing of the general public. There are concerns that other senior ministers, senior officials such as Prof Whitty, might have been infected.
However, Downing Street insisted there is no need for other members of the government to get tests unless they start displaying symptoms.
And despite the government’s own guidance saying people must self-isolate for 14 days if anyone in their ‘household’ develops symptoms, no senior figures – such as Chancellor Rishi Sunak who was with the PM last night or chief aide Dominic Cummings – are going into isolation.
Boris Johnson was outside No10 last night applauding NHS workers who are combating the virus, in a national show of appreciation – but kept his distance from Chancellor Rishi Sunak
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.
Where did Boris Johnson catch coronavirus… and who did he infect? How PM came into close contact with politicians and health chiefs over past 10 days before testing positive
By Mark Duell for MailOnline
Boris Johnson has been in close contact with dozens of politicians and health chiefs over the past ten days before testing positive for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister has been holding press conferences at 10 Downing Street with the likes of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.
He has also stood near Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance.
The three scientists have appeared at the Downing Street press conferences, and have also been meeting other politicians and civil servants across Westminster.
While the PM has held Cabinet meetings and discussions with the Queen remotely, he still attended the Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Last night Mr Johnson stood outside in Downing Street with Mr Sunak as they both joined in the national clap for NHS staff. They stood distanced from one another.
However a spokesman for Mr Sunak has said he had not had any symptoms and therefore had not been tested for coronavirus and was not self-isolating.
Going further back, the Prime Minister attended the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9 with his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds.
There, the couple spoke to a number of dignitaries and celebrities, and Mr Johnson was photographed shaking hands with boxer Anthony Joshua after the service.
He has also spoken to schoolchildren at No10 on March 5, visited flood defences in Worcestershire on March 8 and been to laboratories on March 1 and March 6.
Here is a pictorial guide to what Mr Johnson has been doing this month:
Boris Johnson joins in with a national applause for the NHS outside Downing Street last night
Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside Downing Street for the applause last night
Boris Johnson in the study of 10 Downing Street on a video call to other G20 leaders yesterday
Boris Johnson on the phone in his office in Downing Street to Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday
Boris Johnson speaks during his first remote news conference on coronavirus on Wednesday
Boris Johnson returns to 10 Downing Street from Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday
Boris Johnson speaks at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday
Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday morning
Boris Johnson chairs a weekly Cabinet meeting remotely from the Cabinet Rroom on Tuesday
Boris Johnson addresses the nation from Downing Street and imposes a lockdown on Monday
Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing at Downing Street on coronavirus on Sunday
Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing at Downing Street on coronavirus on Sunday, with Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s daily coronavirus update in the Cabinet Room on Saturday
Boris Johnson (centre) with Chancellor Rishi Sunak (left) and Jenny Harries (right) on March 20
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (left) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance (right) watch as Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street on March 19
Boris Johnson speaks at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on March 18
Boris Johnson with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance at Downing Street on March 17
Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds speak with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day on March 9
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds arriving at Westminster Abbey for the service on March 9
Boris Johnson surveys flood defences in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley on March 8
Boris Johnson visits the Mologic Laboratory in the Bedford Technology Park on March 6
Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street on March 5, in an event attended by Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who later tested positive for the virus, as well as Trade Secretary Liz Truss (in red next to the podium) and athlete Kelly Holmes (in a black suit, two places to Ms Truss’s left)
Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale, North London, on March 1