Peter Dutton tests positive for coronavirus  

Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton is diagnosed with deadly coronavirus as the number of confirmed infections in Australia soars to 199

By Alisha Rouse For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:57 GMT, 13 March 2020 | Updated: 07:10 GMT, 13 March 2020

Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton has tested positive for coronavirus, making him the first major Australian politician to be diagnosed with the disease.

The Liberal Party politician, 49, is now in hospital after becoming the 199th case of the deadly respiratory infection to hit Australia.

He said in a statement that he woke up on Friday morning with ‘a temperature and a sore throat’.

Mr Dutton then ‘immediately contacted the Queensland Department of Health’ and submitted himself for a test, which came back positive. 

Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton (pictured in February) has tested positive for coronavirus

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 199

New South Wales: 92

Victoria: 36

Queensland: 35

South Australia: 16

Western Australia: 14

Tasmania: 4

Northern Territory: 1 

Australian Capital Territory: 1 

TOTAL CASES:  199

DEAD: 3  

‘This morning I woke up with a temperature and a sore throat,’ he said in a statement. 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.’

Earlier on Friday, Mr Dutton didn’t appear for his interview on the Today Show.

The show’s host Allison Langdon said the politician was suffering from a ‘stomach bug’.  

More to follow. 

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