South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher says she is not experiencing symptoms after being asked to self-isolate

A Lancashire MP who is self-isolating along with the Prime Minister, after the pair met with an infected colleague at Downing Street, says she is not experiencing symptoms.
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Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, said she has not sought a test to confirm whether she is positive or not, after she was advised to self-isolate by Test and Trace.

The NHS Test and Trace team contacted Ms Fletcher on Sunday morning (November 15) and asked her to quarantine for 14 days, saying she had potentially been exposed to the virus at a meeting with the Prime Minister and a small group of MPs at Downing Street last Thursday (November 12).

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Lee Anderson, MP for the Nottinghamshire district of Ashfield, also attended the meeting and has since tested positive for COVID-19.

Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, is currently self-isolating after being potentially being exposed to COVID-19 at a meeting with the Prime Minister and an infected colleague at Downing Street on Thursday, November 12Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, is currently self-isolating after being potentially being exposed to COVID-19 at a meeting with the Prime Minister and an infected colleague at Downing Street on Thursday, November 12
Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, is currently self-isolating after being potentially being exposed to COVID-19 at a meeting with the Prime Minister and an infected colleague at Downing Street on Thursday, November 12

Ms Fletcher, 44, said she has not sought a test because she is not experiencing any symptoms, but said she will continue to quarantine until November 26 in accordance with the rules on self-isolation.

The latest Government guidance says it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear, but some people can also be asymptomatic, meaning they can be infected without symptoms.

She said: "I have no symptoms so have yet to apply for a test. I will of course do so, should I develop any.

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"In the mean time, I'm going to continue self isolating till November 26 as per the Test and Trace team advice."

The Manchester-born MP, who was elected to the South Ribble seat in 2019, has reassured her constituents that she has not had any face to face contact with anyone since returning to the North West on Friday (November 13).

She said: "I have not had face to face contact with anyone since returning north on Friday lunchtime as I have been adhering to national restrictions, such as only travelling for work, and received a prompt notification from Test and Trace on Sunday."

Ms Fletcher, who studied biology at university, added: "Additionally, and I confess this is my biology background kicking in, even if I was infected during my meeting with the Prime Minister and colleagues, 24 hours is too fast for the virus to have got to the point where I could pose a risk to anyone on Friday.

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"The best thing I, or anyone else can do is follow the detailed instructions sent to me from the excellent Test and Trace team. They do not recommend I need a test right now.

"Be assured if I develop any symptoms, I will get a test and other people's safety is at the front of my mind as we go through this awful pandemic."

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South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher self-isolating after attending meeting with P...

The Prime Minister confirmed that he had tested negative on Monday after taking a rapid turnaround lateral flow test as part of a pilot scheme for Number 10 staff.

But Mr Johnson said he will continue to self-isolate until November 26 in accordance with the rules on self-isolation.

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