UK's Health Minister Nadine Dorries diagnosed with coronavirus

The United Kingdom's Health Minister is in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.

Nadine Dorries fell ill last Friday as she signed a "statutory instrument" making COVID-19 a notifiable disease.

But her full symptoms did not set in until the next day as she was holding a constituency event in her electorate of Mid Bedfordshire, north of London.

"As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home," Ms Dorries said in a statement.

"Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice."

She is Britain's first member of parliament to contract the disease.

Six people in the UK have died of the coronavirus, and nearly 400 have the disease.

While Secretary of Health Matt Hancock holds the senior health portfolio in UK parliament, Ms Dorries is the Under-Secretary for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety.

Mr Hancock sent his well-wishes to his under-secretary.

"Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus. She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant," he tweeted.

"We all wish her well as she recovers.

"I understand why people are worried about this disease. We will do all we can to keep people safe, based on the best possible science."

Ms Dorries has served in Parliament since 2005.

She was suspended from the Conservative Party in 2012 for appearing in the reality show I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here without informing the chief whip.

She was later reinstated.

Cases of the disease continue to rise steeply.

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