Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi In Hospital With Coronavirus

Bolton South East MP, who is shadow minister for international development, tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago and now has pneumonia.
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Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi is being treated in hospital for pneumonia after contracting Covid-19.

The Bolton South East MP, who also serves as Keir Starmer’s shadow international development minister, is 57 and tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago.

The MP said in a statement on Facebook that she had been admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia on Saturday and had isolated at home since testing positive.

The statement reads: “Two weeks ago, I began to feel unwell. I then tested positive for Covid-19, so my family and I immediately self-isolated at home. I have not travelled to Westminster or anywhere else.

Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East
Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East
PA

“I continued to work as best I could remotely, attending virtual meetings and doing casework, but after 10 days, I began to feel much worse and on Saturday I was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia.

“I’m being very well looked after and have nothing but praise and admiration for the wonderful staff at the hospital. They have been amazing throughout the process and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone working here in such difficult circumstances.

“Although I am currently in hospital, my staff are continuing to work as normal – if you have any issues that you need help with, please get in touch by contacting the office on qureshiy2@parliament.uk.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer wishes Qureshi well in a tweet on Monday morning.

My thoughts are with my friend @YasminQureshiMP who has been admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

My thanks go to the staff caring for Yasmin at the Royal Bolton Hospital, along with NHS staff across the country who are on the frontline against Covid-19.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 19, 2020

Qureshi’s constituency is in Greater Manchester, which has been placed in tier 2 restrictions amid rising cases and hospitalisations.

Boris Johnson wants to escalate the area into the highest alert level, tier 3, but the move is being resisted by local leaders – including mayor Andy Burnham.

Former health secretary Burnham has called for a vote on tier 3 restrictions for Manchester, as the move can include the closure of pubs, bars, casinos and other hospitality venues.

In a dramatic stand-off with the government, he has accused the prime minister of exaggerating the level of infection in the city region and demanded ministers introduce an 80% furlough scheme to support people forced out of a job by the curbs.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has so far agreed only to pay two-thirds of lost wages.

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