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World / Asia

Australia's home affairs minister tests positive for coronavirus

Published: 13 Mar 2020 - 10:03 am | Last Updated: 05 Nov 2021 - 08:55 am
This general view shows part of the exterior of the Gold Coast University Hospital where the US actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were admitted for the COVID-19 coronavirus in Gold Coast on March 13, 2020 / AFP / Patrick HAMILTON

This general view shows part of the exterior of the Gold Coast University Hospital where the US actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were admitted for the COVID-19 coronavirus in Gold Coast on March 13, 2020 / AFP / Patrick HAMILTON

Reuters

Australia's home affairs minister Peter Dutton said he tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

"This morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat. 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," he said in a statement issued by his office.

"I feel fine and will provide an update in due course."

Australia has recorded 156 infections and three deaths from the flu-like disease but authorities expect this to increase rapidly in the coming weeks with the arrival of the southern hemisphere winter.